7 Rising OPM Acts Vie for Wishcovery Originals Top Prize on Finale Night

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After a pandemic-prompted break, the long-awaited grand finale of the Wish 107.5-produced singing-songwriting competition Wishcovery Originals will feature seven of the most promising music-makers in the country. The event will be streamed on November 7, 2021, at 8 p.m. PHT on the Wish 107.5 YouTube channel.

The grand finals night shines a spotlight on the music of the competition’s top contenders — alt-folk up-and-comer Peniel Roxas, rock troupe From Outtakes, acoustic outfit White Caps, pop-rock band PIP, pop-R&B singer-songwriter JC Sales, acoustic heartthrob Anthony Meneses, and lady tunesmith Mei Teves.

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The musical revelry will also be graced by A-list OPM creators juan karlos, Oh, Flamingo!, and Mayonnaise.

The road to the finale

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During the launch of Wishcovery Originals in September 2019, the competition received audition videos from thousands of singing-songwriting hopefuls from different parts of the country.  

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READ: Soon on YouTube: ‘Wishcovery Originals’ Premieres on September 29

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Through a series of weekly and monthly eliminations, seven acts emerged victorious —  and all of them are now vying to win the grand prize. The grand champion will win 1 million in cash, 1 million-worth of contract courtesy of KDR Music House, a house and lot, and a brand-new car.

But before taking on the grand finals stage, the finalists attended a two-session virtual boot camp with the competition’s esteemed panel of reactor-judges — hitmaker and sought-after producer Jungee Marcelo, Mayonnaise frontman and YR Music founder Monty Macalino, and King of Philippine R&B Jay R.

A special boot camp episode featuring the reactors’ mentoring sessions with the contenders will premiere on Wish 107.5’s YouTube channel on October 31, at 9 p.m. PHT.

Before the grand finals night, the seven acts were housed in Bataan for pre-grand finals activities such as rehearsals, Wish Connect gigs, and tapings following strict Covid-19 health and safety protocols.

The finalists’ grand finals tracks will be up for power-viewing from October 25 until November 5, 2021, on Wish 107.5’s YouTube channel with over 12 million subscribers. Wishcovery grand finalists’ total scores will come from their power-viewing scores (20%) and the reactors’ scores (80%).

The future of OPM

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Music is vital. And just as the art form remains essential especially during these challenging times, the singer-songwriters behind each sonic piece are all the more important in keeping the music industry thriving.

Reactor and original music advocate Jungee Marcelo stressed in an interview that “songs are very, very important especially the original ones — the ones coming from grassroots kasi alisin mo ‘yung kanta, walang industriya. Lagi nga naming sinasabi na ang baterya ng industriya ng musikang Pilipino at ng musikang pangdaigdigan ay ‘yung songwriting.“

Kuya Daniel Razon, Wish 107.5’s originator, remarked that Wishcovery Originals sheds light on the importance of crafting and performing fresh, exceptional, and original songs.

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“This time we will be discovering not only a singer but also a composer who can actually sing. Personally, I believe that a singer can effectively send a message across if he himself created the song. The full emotion that the song wants to express — every scene, every image, every memory that is associated with every lyric that the songwriter wrote, I believe that it can be expressed better by the one who composed the song,” Kuya Daniel, who is a songwriter himself, enthused in a 2019 interview.

Amid the difficulties brought about by the pandemic, the reactors acknowledged how instrumental the show is in continuously discovering talented Filipino artists and how it is integral to the gleaming future of OPM.

“It is very encouraging to know that life goes on, along with its limitations, but most especially heartwarming to be invited again to journey with Wishcovery. Tinuloy natin ang lakad, ‘yung natigil ay pinagpapatuloy natin, with a common goal to uplift the industry and community of Pinoy music enthusiasts,” Marcelo shared.

The Wishcovery judges also spoke with gratitude to all Wishers for their tireless support. “Thank you so much for your support. This means a lot to us, siyempre coming from an artist who also writes original music, you know, it’s you that we’re writing this for. Not only [for] ourselves but for you, we want you to like it and you’re liking the songs so far. Kaya maraming, maraming salamat. Sana you continue to support our contenders dito sa Wishcovery,” remarked Jay R.

“Maraming salamat sa suporta niyo sa programa na ‘to kasi malaking bagay ‘yun for me especially for me na bago dito sa Wishcovery Originals. At sana makaulit kasi gusto ko lang talagang tumulong,” said Monty Macalino.

“So kung sinoman sinusuportahan ninyo, go lang nang go, laban lang nang laban. At sana sa dulo, panalo tayong lahat,” he added.

This event is presented by Lumina Homes — Every Juan’s Home, CDO Ulam Burger — So Crispy, Ang Saya!, J&T Express — Express Your Online Business, and GAC Motor — Go and Change; co-presented by Puregold — Always Panalo; together with our major sponsor Pag-IBIG Fund — Umibig nang wagas pero ‘wag kalimutang ibigin ang sarili. You’re worth it! Deserve mo ang Pag-IBIG; and our partners, BES House of Chicken, Morong Star Beach and Resort, EFS Apparel, Marcid Blue, ERC Travel Services, Wisemen Insurance, Smallville Dive Center and Resort, Salut, Daniel’s, KDR Adventure Camp, KDR Studios and Productions Inc., KDR Music House, KDR Distribution and Marketing, and UNTV News and Rescue.

Don’t miss the premiere of our special boot camp episode on October 31, 2021, at 9 p.m. PHT, on our official YouTube channel. Follow Wish 107.5 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates about the competition.