Metro Manila, Philippines — Asia’s Soul Supreme and award-winning songwriter KZ Tandingan is set to drop her latest single “Toyo” on September 26.
Tandingan shared the personal journey behind the creation of the track in an Instagram post. She revealed that she had been grappling with writer’s block for months, feeling creatively stuck while working on her long-anticipated album.
“I’ve been trying to release a new album for quite some time now, and having a particular vision and sound in my head and heart can sometimes be creatively paralyzing,” Tandingan wrote. The frustration took a toll on her, leaving her desperate for a way to break free from the creative rut.
Tandingan then wrote a song challenging herself to write something completely different from her usual style, she created a bright, easy-listening track that surprised even her.
“I wrote and recorded it on my phone and laughed when I made TJ [Monterde, her husband] listen to it,” she recalled, initially seeing it as a personal project meant to lift her spirits.
However, TJ encouraged her to release the song, emphasizing the importance of being truthful about her artistic journey.
“Sometimes, when things get overwhelming, it doesn’t hurt to take a step back and try doing something you’ve never done to refresh your mind and soul,” Tandingan said.
The singer recently released a cover of her husband’s hit song “Palagi”.
