Hitmaker Ogie Alcasid Shares Songwriting Tips, Thoughts on Current OPM Scene

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Kung Mawawala Ka, Nandito Ako, Ikaw Lamang, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang, Ikaw Sana. Apart from being certified OPM classics, these songs have another common denominator — they were crafted by one of the best hitmakers in the local music horizon, Ogie Alcasid.

From the classic confession of undying love to love arriving at the wrong time, name every kind of romantic narratives, he would have a composition or two about it.

But what does it take to create a song timeless and generation-transcending? The OPM legend shared some songwriting tips during our WISHclusive interview with him last Tuesday.

“Writing a song is story telling,” Ogie introduced, adding that composing is an art of communication.

“If you will compose a song, in a span of three, two or two-and-a-half minutes, you should be able to tell a story. It’s a communicative process. That’s the reason why lot of people will identify with and relate to the song,” he continued.

“Though a song has a form — it has a verse, pre-chorus, chorus and bridge — what’s most important is the theme of your story,” the OPM legend emphasized.

Apart from imparting songwriting lessons, Ogie, who is also the president of the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), shared his thoughts on the current status of the local music industry.

“I am very happy because a lot of music is being produced in the independent scene — there are many independent producers, independent musicians — and all of them are part of a big world of OPM,” he said.

Ogie further delved on the shift that is happening in today’s music market — from the gradual decline of physical album sales, to the rise of digital streaming and the return of vinyl records.

“Now, we also see that there is a rise in the vinyl market, the return of turntables. I am optimistic that this could be the future of our music because a vinyl record cannot be copied or reproduced easily, unlike the digital ones,” he remarked.

Ogie boarded on the Wish 107.5 Bus to promote his latest album, “Ikaw ang Buhay Ko.”