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‘Payapa at Puno ng Pag-asa ’: How Syd Hartha Discovered Solace, Collaboration, and Healing in "Dito Muna Tayo"

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Filipino singer-songwriter syd hartha is known for making beautiful music out of tough personal experiences. Usually, her songs are quiet and deep, but her new single, &quot;Dito Muna Tayo,&quot; is a bit different. It’s a collaboration with TONEEJAY that feels light and breezy. Instead of focusing on heartbreak, the song is about taking a break and enjoying nature.In an exclusive interview with Metro.Style, syd opens up about her love for the beach, the effortless chemistry of working with TONEEJAY, and why she sees self-growth as a lifelong commitment—one she’s more than happy to embrace.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784132039985syd.hartha_1778921287_3898194325539494972_313351517.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>syd hartha for &quot;Dito Muna Tayo&quot; | Photo by @andygen.photo via @syd.hartha</div><div> </div>syd&#x27;s songs often feel very personal, like a diary. For &quot;Dito Muna Tayo,&quot; she started with the music first. She wanted her guitar to sound like the calm feeling she gets at the beach. &quot;Bata pa lang ako, sobrang love ko na &#x27;yung beach,&quot; she says. Even as she grows up, that love stays the same. &quot;Inuna ko naman &#x27;yung sound ng guitar ko. I wanted it to sound like &#x27;yung feelings na nakukuha ko when it comes to the beach—&#x27;yung calm niya na very simple lang. The lyrics just followed.&quot;This love for the ocean comes from a time she spent in Botolan, Zambales. &quot;Ang favorite ko talaga, na super lapit sa puso ko, ay ang Zambales,&quot; she said. She lived there for a few months and felt much better physically and mentally. &quot;Sobrang peaceful ng life ko doon. Lahat ng allergies ko nawala. Hindi ako nagkakasakit... kasi sobrang fresh ng hangin doon and sobrang walang gulo. Grabe ang healing nu&#x27;ng experience ko doon.&quot;<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784132308265syd.hartha_1778921287_3898194375183319938_313351517.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>syd hartha and TONEEJAY | Photo by @andygen.photo via @syd.hartha</div><div> </div>Her favorite line in the song is from the bridge: &quot;Payapa at puno ng pag-asa.&quot; syd says the peace she finds by the sea makes her feel optimistic. &quot;I always feel hopeful &#x27;pag galing akong beach. It makes me feel lighter for me to deal with my problems. Being around nature reminds me na whatever problem na binigay sa&#x27;yo, kayang-kaya mo. Nature makes me realize kung gaano tayo kaliit... na there&#x27;s a whole wide world outside of us.&quot;TONEEJAY joins her on this track, and syd felt he was the perfect choice because they work in similar ways. &quot;Na-imagine ko na &#x27;yung boses niya dun,&quot; she shared. She described the process as fun and natural. &quot;Feeling ko may chemistry din kami when it comes to working. Medyo similar &#x27;yung style namin... parehas kami ng style when it comes to songwriting. Very introspective, storytelling, and very folk.&quot;<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784132342462syd.hartha_1778921287_3898194308988738293_313351517.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo by @andygen.photo via @syd.hartha</div><div> </div>syd is very careful about who she works with. She wants to be around people who share her values. &quot;Ang priority ko talaga kung mag-iisip ako ng collab ay gusto ko same kami ng beliefs, parang nag-resonate kami sa isa&#x27;t-isa,&quot; she said. She chooses her circle wisely because she knows people influence her life. &quot;Lalo na ako, pinipili ko talaga &#x27;yung mga taong nakakasama ko. Kung feeling ko hindi siya magandang influence for me personally, hindi ko gusto.&quot;She feels the same way about her fans, whom she calls her &quot;siblings.&quot; She loves hearing how they connect with her songs. &quot;It really means so much to me,&quot; syd said. &quot;It reminds me na being an artist, you touch people&#x27;s lives and parang may responsibility ka rin. It has to make people feel something. Your vibe attracts your tribe.&quot;syd looks back at her old project, Gabay, as the start of her journey toward feeling better. Now, she feels much clearer-headed. &quot;Andun na ako and ninanamnam ko na siya—&#x27;yung healing na ginawa ko for myself. I&#x27;m so proud of you na hindi ko akalain na makakaabot ka dyan,&quot; she shared a message to her past self.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784132361263[image] - 4823985.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo by @andygen.photo via @syd.hartha</div><div> </div>For syd, healing isn&#x27;t just for her; it’s so she can be better for others. &quot;Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit gusto kong i-heal &#x27;yung mga bagay... because it also affects other people. Gusto ko ibigay &#x27;yung pinaka-okay na version ko. I&#x27;d like to also inspire other people na it&#x27;s possible to heal. As long as you work on it, and if you really care about the people around you, may pag-asa talaga.&quot;While she likes to joke about being a pop star, she really enjoys folk music. In the future, she wants to write more about mental health. &quot;Dati na-tackle ko na &#x27;yung adventures and misadventures ko sa Gabay. Ngayon, I&#x27;d like to talk more about healing and mental health awareness. How it affects people and how to deal with it—&#x27;yun &#x27;yung masasabi kong next goal ko with my music.&quot;Her fans can expect a lot more from her soon. &quot;Expect more music kasi ang dami kong nasusulat ngayon,&quot; syd said. &quot;And excited na akong ilabas sa kanila... more surprises and more merch for sure!&quot;syd hartha continues to be an authentic voice for anyone going through a hard time. If you need some peace, give &quot;Dito Muna Tayo&quot; a listen and enjoy the calm energy she and TONEEJAY put into it.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/artist/3BQ7MYNeB0wMPtHYPWvu1C?utm_source=generator&amp;si=b6c7607655364907" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align:center"> </div>Lead photos by @andygen.photo via @syd.hartha

syd hartha opens up about how she finds peace by the beach and embraces self-growth as a lifelong journey.

syd hartha opens up about how she finds peace by the beach and embraces self-growth as a lifelong journey.

‘Payapa at Puno ng Pag-asa ’—How syd hartha Discovered Solace, Collaboration, and Healing in "Dito Muna Tayo"

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‘Payapa at Puno ng Pag-asa ’—How syd hartha Discovered Solace, Collaboration, and Healing in "Dito Muna Tayo"

Sophia Ancheta

Published July 17, 2026 06:20 AM PHT

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