46 Hope St., who debuted their first single “Parisukat sa Bilog” in January of 2021, has come out with their new track “Palaisipan”, which is now available on all major streaming platforms. The new song features a lot of new elements that lend themselves to a funkier sound with various synths and rhythmic chops. It certainly stands out not just against the band’s previous releases but in the OPM scene today. The band, composed of Meds Rana on vocals and guitars, Ryan Gonzales on bass, and Aaron Dolleton on drums, started as long-time churchmates in Manila. Rana, who serves as the group’s singer-songwriter, initially had the idea to start a band in 2016 when he felt creatively stifled by being limited to non-secular music.

Rana shares that he’s always been a reflective person. Music has served him both as a creative outlet to express himself and an avenue for self-reflection. In true artistic fashion, he describes the struggles of going through the motions of life while you yearn for deeper connections. His writing process helps put his thoughts to paper in order to understand them better. Whereas performing them allows them to have even just one person in that crowd discover that someone feels the same way they do. When discussing the inspiration for “Palaisipan” specifically, the singer looks back to when the band was first signed to Widescope Entertainment after a serendipitous meeting online with Ebe Dancel, the renowned artist, and the label’s A&R manager.

Rana describes how tumultuous this time of his life was, sharing: “I was going through a lot of difficulties with my family life at the time. While we were getting our big break in the industry, I had to deal with all of these conflicting emotions. It felt like I was constantly balancing spinning plates trying to be present and appreciative of different aspects of my life. It came to a point where I couldn’t even understand what I was feeling at times. One part of me would be ecstatic for the band, but the other part of me would be left with my loved ones who were fighting for their life at the time.”

The three are friends first and bandmates second. Gonzales and Dolleton were there to help Rana sort things out. Echoing his sentiments, the two both agree that if listeners take away anything from their latest single, it would be that sometimes the more you try to understand something, the harder it gets to see the bigger picture. Gonzales, who is most experienced in a band set up among the three, also shares how getting signed amid a pandemic definitely felt a little bittersweet. He says: “We haven’t been able to play together as much as we’d like. Live performances and spending copious amounts of time together just jamming does more than just develop our sound. It helps bring us together too. Despite all of the difficulties we’re still so incredibly blessed.”

In terms of the trio’s personalities, you’d be surprised to discover just how different they all are. Rana so clearly comes across as the group’s creative center. His poetic talents and intricate ideas are destined to be brought to life through their music. Gonzales, on the other hand, takes pride in being the band’s true north. His confidence and experience make for a great check and balance when it comes to covering his bandmates’ blind spots. As for Dolleton, he can’t be anything other than the group’s base, providing stability and strength as the group’s unwavering foundation. His God-given talents and dependability translate to him being known as the group’s one-take wonder during recording sessions.

Dolleton’s calm and collected reputation hasn’t saved him from the occasional jitters before performances though, he shares his experience during their performance for Wish 107.5, stating: “I think every musician has dreams of performing on Wish. It was a surreal experience that felt both intimate and exposed. It was a handful of people on the Wish bus with a camera crew and us. Of course, I was kind of nervous, but more than that, it just hit me how fortunate we were. Despite all the impracticalities of the pandemic, we were here doing what we love to do, and we had people like our label supporting us.”

As the band continues to create, they’ve made the conscious decision not to get boxed into any one genre in the meantime. This has allowed their different musical sensibilities to come together in some pretty amazing ways. They’re determined to keep creating music that speaks to their audience as they explore their sound. The band does an incredible job at weaving important messages into their lyrics and being conscious of its impact on their listeners. They’re currently working on songs dedicated to being vessels for a powerful message regarding the Filipino people and our nation.

When asked for a message to their fans, the three had this to say: “We’re all hoping to be able to perform for you guys someday. We’re hoping for a better tomorrow. For now, let’s all keep safe. Wear your masks, and don’t forget to vote wisely in the upcoming election. The lives of so many of our countrymen depend on it.”

The Widescope Entertainment team can’t wait to see you share your talents with the Filipino people! To witness your dynamics, not just as musicians but as friends and found family, has indeed been an honor. This is only the beginning of a long and fruitful journey, 46 Hope St.!