back in the philippines, i was used to being an all-rounder. producing, writing, arranging, engineering… building everything from the ground up and leading every session. coming to the states really shifted that for me. for the first time, i was stepping into rooms where everyone already had their role. a writer on the lyrics, a producer shaping the sound, an engineer catching every detail. everyone locked into their own genius. i had to unlearn the need to control everything and just listen, observe, and trust the room. i remember sitting there at first just taking it all in. how fast ideas moved, how naturally everyone bounced off each other, and how effortless it looked when everyone was operating at that level. it was intimidating, but being out of your comfort zone is where you grow. meeting Shy in Jersey was one of those moments that didn’t feel real. these are the people behind records that reach all the way back home and shape what we listen to. after leading sessions, there’s ...