Barbie Almalbis’ newest single, "Secrets," is a song about her children, the inevitability of change, and being thankful for “every waking moment.” On Barbie: Factory shirt. Photo by RALPH MENDOZA

Manila (CNN Philippines Life) — Barbie Almalbis has a cultural footprint that does not fade; years after she first made her debut, her mark remains fixed upon the ground, unaffected by time and all other factors. Her work is still resonant — pop music that people almost naturally gravitate toward. It is almost impossible to write about an artist who has been around for a relatively long time without bringing up the past, but her latest single — “Secrets,” a song about her children and being thankful for every waking moment — weaves the listener into the present, the here and now, sounding fresh, urgent, and of the moment. She describes the song as a “snapshot of where [they] are in life,” condensing something intangible, precious, and temporary into an object charged with memory.

Almalbis says that the song is also about the inevitability of change, especially in terms of her children, who “continue to grow into something new.” She says, “We discover so many interesting things about them every day: for example: that our daughter Stina can see actual colors whenever she hears musical notes, a different color for every note. It is a gift called synesthesia.”

“Secrets” presents itself as a box full of secrets; it is filled with a number of delightful, passing moments: math rock-influenced guitar-playing weaving in and out of the arrangement; a glorious hook, the agile buildup to the chorus; bittersweet lines about the wonder of the present and the persistence of time, and that a melody realizes its goal when it ends. Listen to “Secrets” below.