“Naiilang ‘pag nagkatinginan.”
Have you ever experienced the feeling of having an unspoken but genuine connection?
Maybe it was when both of you stole glances at each other across the room and gave broad smiles under your shirts.
This was what Filipino pop/alternative rock band Over October wanted to kindle from one’s memories in their new single, “Dahan.”
The band’s latest song officially launched at their anniversary concert on Sunday, October 12, at the MOA SkyDome Amphitheater, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Over October is known for their song “Ikot,” which was released and gained popularity in 2024. The band is composed of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Josh Buizon, lead guitarist Josh Lua, bassist Joric Canlas, drummer Janessa Geronimo and guitarist Anton Rodriguez.
Lua said they wanted to tell a slow-burning trope with this “short and sweet song.”
“It’s about falling in love with someone that you’ve known for quite a while,” Lua said.
“Kilig is for all…We want sana everyone, no matter what your age is, to relate to our song,” Geronimo added.
According to the band, “Dahan” was more about a positive love, which was different from some of their previous singles.
“I think from the previous songs that we’ve been releasing kasi mostly have been love songs pa rin pero more on the heartbreak side or longing, yearning,” Buizon said.
“This new song is more on the kilig, happy ending [or] good ending,” he added.
While it was not inspired by their own experiences, Lua said that the feeling was a universal experience, adding that they started writing the song by creating stories.
“I think it’s a common experience, though, that feeling. So, it’s a universal feeling that we’re talking about. So, I’m pretty sure all of us have gone through that process or that feeling,” Buizon said.
“When we write songs, we make stories muna. So, meron kaming parang plot na nakasulat sa Google Docs namin…So, we wrote a scenario, and then we just added lines,” Lua added.
Geronimo and Rodriguez clarified that the song was not intended to evoke nostalgia and that they planned to jump from heartbreak songs to heartfelt ones.
“More classic OPM ‘yung vibes niya. Kaya may mga nagsasabing parang sinadya ba namin yung nostalgic feel. Sa totoo, hindi naman namin siya sinadya pero yun yung lumabas,” she said, while pointing out that their previous songs leaned toward pop music.
“Because, like, parang to capture different experiences of love, ‘di ba? Para hindi naman exactly overlapping but at the same time still relatable,” Rodriguez said.
“Dahan” was released on September 26 and is now available on all digital streaming platforms, including Spotify, YouTube Music and Apple Music.
Anniversary concert
For the band, holding a free concert served as a way to “give back” to fans.
“We always like treating our fans and giving them something special every October,” Buizon said, while emphasizing that their anniversary is celebrated this month.
“It’s a way that we wanted to give back to the people [who] have supported us and have allowed us to achieve, or not really achieve, but reach our dreams and hopefully, go far,” he added.
Inspired by hangouts and picnics, the concert also featured interactive activities with the Octobears, the fandom name.
“We intentionally put a portion where there will be activities with the fans para we can actually talk to them, learn more about them, where they’re from, how they learned about Over October, and all of that,” the lead vocalist said.
He added that they previously had no interactions with their fans after performing in events or tours, which pushed them to foster a connection with their listeners through the activities.
Fans enjoyed the band activity booths at the venue from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The band performance started at 7 p.m.
The band also aimed to nurture connection and “be personal” with their fans and listeners.
“They’re not just fans. They’re community-building. That’s what we want to achieve,” Geronimo emphasized.
After the concert and the release of their new single, the band said they still had shows lined up for the month.
Over October started their journey as artists during their university days and debuted in 2014. Some of their songs included “Sandali Lang,” “Intertwine,” and “Kaakit-akit.”