LISTEN: Gabba, ALICIA DC collaborate on new track ‘Fall’

A fresh sound has emerged from Southeast Asia's indie scene with Filipino multi-instrumentalist Gabba (Gabba Santiago) unveiling his inaugural collaborative single, "Fall." This exciting new track features the distinct talents of Singaporean singer-songwriter and producer ALICIA DC, marking a significant cross-border musical alliance.

Released on August 6 and co-produced with Francis Lorenzo, "Fall" is a captivating math-rock piece. It delves into the turbulent dynamics of a lovers' dispute, vividly portrayed through Gabba's intricate instrumental shifts and ALICIA DC's evocative lyrics. As Alicia explains the song's core message, "If the door stays locked regardless of what keys you use, the house isn’t yours!"

The genesis of this unique partnership began when Alicia, seeking to connect with artists beyond Singapore, reached out to Gabba. Recalling the early stages, Gabba shared that choosing from her impressive demos was challenging due to their quality. However, "Fall" resonated most strongly, offering a musical landscape where both their artistic expressions could seamlessly intertwine.

Despite the geographical distance, the experimental duo discovered a remarkably fluid creative rhythm. ALICIA DC noted how effortless it felt to exchange ideas, resulting in a track that clearly stands as an "equal collaboration," rather than leaning towards one artist's style over the other's.

While Gabba is renowned for his instrumental compositions, "Fall" introduces a vocal-led dimension, marking a distinctive turn in his discography. He emphasized that this wasn't a pre-meditated shift, but rather an organic evolution driven by his desire to explore Alicia's musical perspective and allow her vocals to guide the song's direction, making the production more intentional.

Listeners had the opportunity to experience "Fall" live for the first time at the inaugural SPUR LABS show on August 2 in Diliman, Quezon City. This successful debut has since inspired Gabba to seek further collaborative ventures with fellow musicians across the region. "Fall" is now widely accessible on all major digital streaming platforms.