A year after his solo debut “‘Homework’ Machine,” Zild’s sophomore record seems like a 180-degree turn from the former’s poppy, chiptune sounds. While the first came to grips with isolation in childlike tones, “Huminga” accepts it as well as the loss attached alongside.
Released on Apr. 8, the 10-track album—which Zild calls “100 percent human” and “all about a person’s life in 2021”—laments loss in every sense of the word. Title track and opener “Huminga” takes the world’s chaos into account, allowing listeners to accept sadness and to feel feelings. It’s a stark reminder and the foundation that previews how the rest of the record deals with mourning.
“Huminga” shifts into “Apat,” noted by its distinctive drumming throughout the song. It’s almost upbeat, but the lyrics say otherwise, which speak about estranged friendships and the inevitability of growing apart. “Bungantulog,” on the other hand, is a reality check about the darker side of daydreams, and how, at the end of it, the only one who can help yourself is you.
Loss is the most palpable theme in “Paalam Mahal,” where the idea of sorrow almost shakes in both lines and wistful melody. It’s a confession to a loved one just as they’re on the brink of giving up to death itself, punctuated by vital signs coming to a stop. But at the same time, it begs for forgiveness in lines like “Pasensya na kung naiwan kang mag-isa.”
If “Paalam Mahal” takes loss in literal form, “Kyusi” is its lovesick sibling, dreaming of simpler, long-lost days associated with coming of age. The next track “Hari” deviates from these when it’s more similar to a diss track, a tongue-in-cheek call-out to someone arrogant.
The two English tracks “A Love Song” and “Glyndel” come together almost complementary. “A Love Song” has echoes of The Beatles’ simple yet sweet “I Will,” where it’s a love letter in its purest form. It’s a precursor to “Glyndel,” as it talks about love and how someone doesn’t deserve a lover’s affection. Here, loss enters the picture again, this time fearing the thought of it. (“I’m in love with you / You can hurt me too / I’m scared to lose you / Don’t leave me”)
While the past few tracks entered a lighter dreamscape, the final stretch circles back to the start. “Wala Nang Kumakatok” is a desperate plea for a will to live, while “Hele” takes cues from “Huminga,” dealing with sadness all over again with some consolation. It’s a fitting end for an exploration of grief contained in 10 songs, leading to its eventual acceptance and finally, the breath of relief it speaks about.
Listen to “Huminga” below.
Read more:
Zild archives our pent-up isolation feels in “‘Homework’ Machine”
Zild’s ‘Bungantulog’ lets us accept the harsh side of dreams
Zild’s ‘Kyusi’ MV is a nostalgic trip to lovesick, college days
Photography by Shaira Luna, courtesy of Amplified Entertainment