P-pop Soloist Jace Roque Unveils His Debut Album, ‘Paradiso’
Honest, truthful, and authentic: a glimpse into his life. This is how P-pop singer-songwriter Jace Roque described “Paradiso,” his first full-length album under Star Music. He released the album on May 24 on various streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.
Showcasing what he can offer to the music industry and local audiences, Jace shows his branding to produce authentic music. As he released “Paradiso,” he explained that this is his opportunity to express himself—his life and story.
“And this is my life, my life’s work,” he revealed in the album’s media conference.
‘Paradiso’
“Paradiso,” which took seven years to complete, is the pinnacle of Jace’s career—his hard work and determination all throughout his life. It’s the fruit of all his experiences, making it a special album for him. It includes his international singles as well as new tracks which represent the beginning of his new era.
Inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, “Paradiso” dives into his journey, retreating to paradise, which has four chapters: heart, mind, body, and soul. Hence, it explores different aspects, ranging from self-worth to relationships, mental health to Filipino culture, and other taboo topics. However, the album mainly deals with the various themes of love.
“Pero ang pinaka predominant do’n is ‘yung love. Different kinds of love, na pwedeng positive, pwedeng negative. So revolving around love ‘yung journey ng Paradiso,”
Jace Roque told Village Pipol.
Inspiration and Creative Process
Being a naturally creative soul, Jace worked many late-night hours pouring his honest thoughts into lyrics. His creative process thrived on spontaneity; whenever an idea came to mind, he’d write it all down at once. Interestingly, the bathroom appears to be a usual source of inspiration for Jace. Realizations and visualizations appear amidst the silence created by the space.
“Meron ditong isa, ‘yung Forever wise, napaginitan ko siya. Napaginitin ko ang buong song sa paggising ko, sinulat ko kaagad. So gano’n ‘yung process ko, very random. Pero usually habang nasa banyo ako kasi ang daming epiphany,” he said.
After producing an all-him album, Jace Roque is now opening doors to collaborate with other artists on his future projects:
“Now, very open na ako to doing collaborations, pero sabi ko kasi I wanted ‘Paradiso’ na all-me lang siya,”
The Tracks of Jace Roque
Offering a variety of music genres and styles, such as Pop-EDM, Jace included 13 tracks from his old singles and mini albums, hoping that even one resonates with the listeners. From the dance energy of “Casual” to the profound feelings of “Di Para Sayo” on his mini-album “Inferno,” and from the reflective “Sober” to the hopeless romantic “Days With You,” Jace offers an array of musical palette that will bless your ears.
However, when asked about his favorite song, the Awit Awards 2023 nominee answered “Casual”. Aside from being the current single, it is his personal way of expressing his heritage and keeping his grandparents’ memories alive.
“And it showcases kasi my heritage na Spanish descendent ‘yung family ko, which I don’t get to showcase often. And I know how much it means sa grandparents ko, kasi majority of my lolas are gone,” he shared.
Additionally, Jace’s previous discography was international, so he will debut his releases in the local music scene as Jace Roque’s version. This will give a different feel because he gave them an extra boost and touch.
He’s also an EDM artist, but he promises to offer a unique sound from others. After all, he wouldn’t be nominated for various awards or win the Philippine Pop Male Star of the Night at the 8th Philippine Pop Ppop Awards.
