ALLMO$T. Image: Instagram/@allmostmusic
A catchy melody and easy-to-remember lyrics are surefire ways to produce a chart-topping hit. But hip-hop quartet ALLMO$T believes honesty is their secret ingredient. It helps them balance creating a track that listeners will love and embracing criticism in their songwriting.
If not for the recording equipment surrounding them and staff keeping a close watch, one would see ALLMO$T — composed of Clien Alcazar, Jomuel “Jom” Casem, Russell dela Fuente, and Angelo Luigi “Crakky” Timog — as a laidback group of friends who go with the flow. But as soon as the interview started, it was as if a switch was flipped, and they immediately assumed a professional stance. Yet their honest take on their careers hit songs, and songwriting process is a clear indication they take themselves seriously.
“It’s important to be honest because that’s when you know each other better,” Russell told INQUIRER.net in an exclusive interview as they spoke about being honest among themselves.
The group was setting up for their Wish Bus performance in Manila as part of Spotify Kalye X’s initiative, with excited fans (mostly composed of students) and curious onlookers trying to get a glimpse of them through the window.
“It’s easier to lie. As artists, it’s better to be honest. I want us to leave a legacy of being genuine, pure, and honest,” Jom explained, continuing from where his bandmate left off.
Article continues after this advertisement
Being truthful also helps with the group’s creative process, especially. “It makes us improve. Some people would say it’s okay even if it’s not. Whereas for us, we make sure to be honest. We leave honest feedback. It helps us learn,” Clien said.
Article continues after this advertisement
On songwriting, ‘Boyfriend’s’ success
ALLMO$T’s songwriting process has changed through the years. Currently, they bounce off ideas inside a studio, which they consider a boot camp until they end up falling asleep. The process feels like a cycle: they are on the lookout for lyrics and melodies, create the right beat, write lines, share what they come up with, and repeat. Yet it helps them stay productive.
ALLMO$T during a Wish Bus performance. Image: Instagram/@allmostmusic
Lately, they are more “random” in their songwriting process. “When we create a certain beat, we ask, ‘What are your thoughts about this?’ ‘How do we do this?’ ‘How do we expand on this?’” Crakky shared. “We always base our songs on true events. We always focus on what we feel or what people around us feel.” Despite this, they never hesitate to give suggestions and would outright say if a certain beat or lyric doesn’t feel right.
“We say yes and no to each other. We reject one’s suggestions at times. We’re open to that,” Jom shared. “That’s what the group wants because it helps us grow together. We’re not sensitive when it comes to criticism. Criticism is the key process of our music making.”
This is what challenges ALLMO$T to be the best version of themselves, according to Crakky, following up with his bandmate’s remarks. “We consider ourselves as our best competition. We already battle it out in the studio. There is no ‘yes man’ in the team,” he explained. “If we have suggestions and we believe something is right or wrong, we speak our minds.”
Touching on their hit song “Boyfriend,” which has 48 million streams on Spotify and has been the background music for multiple fan edits, it was inspired by a friend who’s going through a situationship. Hitting the charts is not new for them, but they’re still amazed at how real-life scenarios would have a hand in their recent success.
“We’re happy with its success. We put all our efforts into it. We see our song on social media a lot as well. It reminds us how we worked hard to make sure that it reached our audience. We’re happy that people accepted it, and understood what we’re trying to say,” Crakky said, while Clien noted that it’s the fruit of their hard work.
Dealing with pressure
Of course, ALLMO$T feels the pressure to create a chart-topping hit. But they make sure to go back to their core.
“We just stay true to ourselves,” Crakky pointed out, noting it’s what they always remind themselves when the stress gets to them. “When we make songs, we make sure that it’s for ourselves and for those who listen to us. We try to find the balance between them.”
While they’re aware of their competitiveness in songwriting, they clarified that they don’t view the industry as a constant race.
“We’re here to express ourselves,” Russell said, noting that creating music out of their own and others’ experiences is their purpose. It is also an avenue that allows them to get real with themselves whenever they struggle with being honest.
ALLMO$T during a Wish Bus performance. Image: Instagram/@allmostmusic
“The pressure never goes away,” Jom said. “But pressure is what makes us do more music. We want to create music that people enjoy. And it’s challenging. But the challenge is a good kind of pressure that drives to be greater.”
After all, the quartet finds joy in the pressure, as it helps them fulfill their goal to be one of the “greatest” artists in the country.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
“We want to be remembered as a unique group, one of the greatest,” Jom said. “Of course, we want the future generation of musicians to see us as an inspiration.”
ALLMO$T is also known for their hit songs “Dalagang Pilipina,” “Miracle Nights,” “Bagay Tayo,” “Pagsuko,” and “Crush.”
