Listen Now: ‘My Safe Place’ EP Featuring Five Singaporean and Filipino Artists

In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, Singaporean musicians KIRI and kotoji, and Marian Carmel, as well as with Filipino musicians Trisha Denise and LU.ME, have come together for a cross-cultural collaboration track "My Safe Place". The track was released on all major digital streaming platforms last Friday, October 7, 2022. "My Safe Place" is available in the collaborative EP of the same name.

Fueled by their shared belief in the importance and significance of music and its role in one’s emotional and mental wellbeing, the focus single, "My Safe Place" aims to inspire people to embrace music in times of difficulty and need—to create a safe place as a means to seek comfort and help. Accompanying the single is also a music video directed by award-winning Singaporean director, Kelvin Sng.

The EP features individual singles from each of the 5 artists involved, all with their own story to tell.

Award-winning Filipina singer-songwriter, Trisha Denise, sheds light on embracing one’s imperfections with her single, "Cracks". In Trisha’s own words, “We always think that when we are broken and bruised, we are flawed and undeserving. The journey we are facing in life, even with all the hardships, makes us even more beautiful, loved, and understood. Even if we feel incomplete, we are whole.” 

Bilingual Pop-soul singer, LU.ME, brings across a message of hope and bravery in her R&B single "Surrender". Written by Starpop Head and award-winning producer-songwriter, Rox Santos, and Trisha Denise, the song encourages everyone to let go of all worries and fears because in the end, everything will be alright.

kotoji’s "Survive" is an electronic ambient dreampop that speaks to the listener about getting through a difficult night. The single comes from a place of reassurance and the acknowledgement of the harsh realities that one faces, and that no matter what happens, anyone can pull through even in the darkest of times.

Mental health advocate and singer, KIRI, "Get Well Soon" single is a soft R&B tune on never losing hope in finding healing and peace after getting hurting and the struggles we go through. KIRI shares, “The future may be uncertain for all of us, no matter what happens, we can heal from and find a way out through the pain that we experience.”

Born in the Philippines and raised in Singapore, singer-songwriter Marian Carmel has an innate ability to evoke gut-wrenching emotions with her songs. "Wish That I Could Tell Me" is a folk-pop song about giving comfort to a younger version of oneself. The single speaks of what Marian Carmel would tell her younger self 6 years ago what she wished she had heard back then—that things do get better even though it does not seem like it at the moment. The song is about the other side of healing that is not talked about as often: living with symptoms even through years of therapy and medication.

About the single, Marian Carmel explains, “Wish That I Could Tell Me" sheds light on the nuanced journey of healing, the honest truth that although it does get better, some days are still challenging—and that is perfectly okay. Though the main essence of the song is hopeful, “Wish That I Could Tell Me” touches on learning how to live with panic disorder years after being diagnosed. The song talks about how healing is not linear, and the inner work needed throughout the journey.”

A portion of the revenue from digital streams of the EP will also go to non-profit organizations, Shan You and Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) in Singapore, and Bantay Bata 163 in the Philippines.

Stream the 'My Safe Place' EP below: