Belle Mariano's "And Solemn" Album Delves Further Into Music as Narrative

Music is a form of storytelling. And in every song in her albums, there’s a piece of Belle Mariano that can fit into a bigger puzzle that is other people’s narrative. 

Just as how life is a series of events, there is a sense of continuity and flow in Belle’s musical repertoire and emotional reservoir. She’s intentional in setting the tone of her music and sustaining it. And Solemn—the second installment of her two-part record, following the Somber album—is like “the resolution,” Belle said.

Whereas the tracks in Somber tackle the complex stages of loss, And Solemn has a reassuring mood that hopes to inspire people to make peace with their broken pieces. Once whole again, the search for one’s purpose continues, a journey that constantly feeds one’s heart and soul with the positivity to get through any day.

“I wanted it to be more of, like, a storytelling: how a person goes through life, encountering ‘sombers’ in life, but at the same time, there’s always something to look forward to and that’s the ‘solemns’ in life,” Belle pondered. 

Themes of highs and lows encapsulated in the relatable lyrics meld beautifully with Belle’s mellow voice. And Solemn features the tracks “Walang Pake,” “Shot Me Right Through,” “Nobody Else,” “I Choose Me,” and “Autumn” (which is in collaboration with Ben&Ben and also part of the Can’t Buy Me Love soundtrack). 

When asked to describe And Solemn using the letters B-E-L-L-E, the quick-witted Belle answered with a well-crafted sentence instead: it’s that the album is about “Being Enlightened in Life and Love Everyday.”

With Belle’s songs in the background, fans and casual listeners alike can have a constant source of inspiration from, for instance, hearing stories about not letting anything or anyone dictate their next steps, like in “Walang Pake.” “Shot Me Right Through” is about being hopeful for brighter days when it comes to relationships. Loyalty, eternal love, and that constant yearning for someone are at the core of “Nobody Else.” Self-love during a healing journey is the timeless and universal topic explored in “I Choose Me.” Finally, “Autumn” sends the message that no matter the uncertainty that comes along with being away from a significant other, know that seasons come and go, and that happier and more vibrant seasons in our lives await.

Currently, the song Belle can relate to the most from this track list is “I Choose Me.” “Lahat tayo makaka-relate du’n,” she said of the empowering song that emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the progress one has made in a difficult journey.

Belle co-wrote two songs in Somber (“Roadtrip” and “Somber & Solemn”), and although she has no songwriting credits for And Solemn, she made sure to share her input and give justice to her collaborators’ works. Trisha Denise (“Walang Pake”), Angelica Tagadtad (“Shot Me Right Through”), KZ Tandingan (“Nobody Else”), Anjila Lim (“I Choose Me”), and Paolo and Miguel of Ben&Ben (“Autumn”) shared their songwriting/composing talent and expertise in Belle’s latest EP.

“We recorded [And Solemn] at the same time Somber was recorded, too. Maybe I just love not just being able to sing those amazing songs composed by amazing artists but also having my input in them. Have a bit of my taste in them. How I would imbibe the song and how I would translate the song to the audience—I think that was the most memorable for me [during recording], like how I would articulate them to the listeners,” Belle shared.

She did add, though, that she intends to further exercise her songwriting skills. “Hopefully, in the future, I get to write more songs and, you know, be able to inspire more people through my songs,” she said.

On January 27, Belle will sing these songs live for the first time at “The Solemn Album Launch” to be held in Skydome. In July last year, she held her first-ever sold-out solo concert at the New Frontier Theater titled “Beloved: Belle,” showcasing her strong and charming stage presence. Now, on what to expect from her upcoming event, this actress-singer teases, “Maraming pasabog! It’s going to be very exciting, hopefully inspirational… I hope they [her fans] receive the solemness I’m sharing with them.” 

What is a “solemn” moment for this busy lady anyway? Every day can be a solemn moment, Belle emphasized, saying, “One thing I really look forward to whenever I go through my day [is], you know, just having a cup of coffee in the morning or being able to, you know, dine with my family, eat with them, watch a movie, like those small things make it solemn. Like, interacting with my supporters, too, to be able to see them. Working, and being able to be with my team.” It’s a little bit of everything, inspiring storylines worth sharing in a new narrative.  

Photography by Pat Buenaobra

Interview by Mikaela Yusay