‘Sayo Na’ wins Best Score Feature Film in LA film fest

Filipino-American artists continue to make their mark in the international scene with their musical prowess and distinctive artistry. This was highlighted in the recent triumph of Fil-Am musicians whose single, “Sayo Na,” won the Best Score Feature Film at the 2023 Marina del Rey Film Festival

Ryan Radaza composed the song while Rasec Marc produced it. Talented duo of Kenneth Laurente and Klarrence performed Sayo Na, which was featured in the award-winning film, “Tahanan.”

‘Sayo Na’ producer Rasec Marc (leftmost) and singers Klarrence and Kenneth Laurente

Sayo Na, a Tagalog courting love song, perfectly encapsulates the tender, powerful emotion of budding romance.

Radaza, a singer-songwriter born and raised in Bohol, Philippines, but is now based in Germany, is no stranger to capturing the essence of love in his music.

The Vocalist of Chill Blends & FTW reflected, “When Rasec asked me to write a Tagalog courting love song with a chill vibe, I just visualized how it feels when you meet the person who you want to spend the rest of your life with.”

Marc then added layers of depth to the song with his production.

The Los Angeles-based producer made a name for himself by infusing emotional lyricism with colorful pop-oriented instrumentation.

“I wanted a continuously evolving track that ascends higher to push our powerhouse singers. Their growing energy serves as their escalating thirst for a loved one's presence,” he said.

Performing this track are Filipino-American singers Kenneth Laurente and Klarrence. Laurente, known as LA's Master Balladeer, is a multi-talented artist and a US Army Veteran. He has been honored as the 2022 Most Promising Performer/Artist of the Year by Gawad Amerika Awards and the Most Promising Male Recording Artist of the Year 2023 of the America Excellence Awards.

About the song, Laurente shared, “It is basically the foundation of the character's relationship in the film which led to a conversation between Klarrence and I. It serves as an emotional anchor providing the audience a deeper understanding of the main character's emotions.”

Klarrence, on the other hand, complements Kenneth's potent voice with her soulful singing. As a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, she brings her unique flavor and style to the track, enriching the narrative of the song and the film.

“Rasec let me listen to the demo of 'Sayo Na' before the official recording. When I heard the song, it brought back nostalgic feelings. Rasec asked me to sing the girl part, and it was a privilege to be part of the project with talented Filipino creatives in LA. 'Sayo Na' is my first Tagalog song release and my first collaboration with other artists. I was also part of the film 'Tahanan' where I played the role of Candice, one of the lead actor's best friends,” Klarrence shared about her involvement in the project.

The film Tahanan, directed by Nicholas Barber and produced by Juan Raymundo Ramos and Nichole Ruiz, won the Grand Prize for Best Feature Film at the 2022 Culver City Film Festival. A production of Howling Gale Entertainment, Tahanan evidently benefits from the rich collaboration between these talented Fil-Am artists.