Interview w/ Optacure

We sat down with Optacure upon the release of hiw new single 'With The Moon' to discuss what influenced the track and more. Be sure to listen at the bottom and follow him on his journey!

Thank you for sitting down and talking to FLEX, can you tell us a bit about how you got into music?

Edmund - I got into music in my early teens trying to Iearn the guitar. Really got into music and the live scene during my days at the University.

Ean - at age 12 my uncle taught me how to play guitar and he also made me listen to local music here in the Philippines

Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?

Edmund - Deftones, Muse, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine, etc. It doesn't really show in Optacure's music, but I guess those are what I listened to the most during my formative years in the appreciation of music.

Ean - Eraserheads, Rivermaya, Oasis, Death Cab For Cutie

Congratulations on your brand-new single 'With The Moon' —what inspired this particular release?

Edmund - It's just a simple moment with dear friends sitting by the beach watching an unexpected full moon rise out of the ocean. It's amazing how you can extract something meaningful and profound in an otherwise ordinary experience.

How do you channel personal experiences into your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners gain from connecting with your music?

Edmund - I usually think about perspectives and how to present them in hopes of getting the listeners to ponder. I do want listeners to own the music as much as we, the arists/creators, do. I hope they feel something from it that attaches them to the song. I would be honoured for them to say "this is my song" and relate it to their own experience. It's a beautiful thing.

Ean - I just write lyrics as honest as I can without pretentions and without the need to sellout. I want my listeners to cry when they hear the song.

Each aspect of music—writing, recording, practicing, and playing live—offers something different. Can you share a particularly meaningful moment from each?

Edmund - writing and recording is a very raw experience for me because I usually just put the microphones up and start the takes in my room or lounge area. It's usually not a pro studio or anything. But it always feels honest and imperfect which I want to convey in the process. I do cry a lot in general and emotions are a powerful tool for me in music.

Ean - Using my DAW, Reason, has inspired me a lot. The drums for this track was created using a Drum Map player which I used for the 1st time ever. And I have been using this tool ever since. It was such a delight discovering it.

Is there a song in your repertoire that holds a particularly deep personal meaning for you? Can you share the story or inspiration behind it?

Edmund - The song Mingaw which I wrote with Ean and had a guest singer, Debb. It was written at a time when I was deep in depression and had to cry out for help. This song was the fruit of my cries. Mingaw in my mother tongue, Visayan or Cebuano, means to miss someone and also means being alone. In that moment of my life, I definitely felt both. It was a very tough time to go through and somehow I know I will carry that with me until the day I die.

What are your goals for the future with your music?

Edmund - I don't really dream big with my music. I do still think there's a lot of great music out there to be consumed. I hope people find music in their hearts, and if I am able to contribute to a bit of comfort, inspiration, and perspective for whoever listens, then that's all I ask for to make it worthwhile.

Ean - I just hope to write more songs with friends and have meaningful collaborations.

What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music?

Edmund - For "With The Moon", I hope people will start focusing on appreciating the people they have because you never know when it will change. Some of the people you hold dear may not be there anymore or may choose to not be in your life anymore, so go and be present every single time you experience moments with your loved ones. Be true to what you feel and let them know how important they are to you. When the good times come to an end, there will be no regrets and you will still have the truth of the experience trapped in those moments in your memory.

Ean - I want my listeners to truly relate to the song, with the lyrics being forever stuck in their hearts.

To wrap things up, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Edmund - I hope people will love hard, cry hard, and live life to its unbound potential. Please don't hesitate to reach out on my socials for a chat or to exchange energy. Stay tuned for more music from myself and Ean.

Ean - Watch out for more music from me and Optacure. It’s gonna be great!