Maki paints goodbye in 'Kahel na Langit'

In a time where music is often loud, brash, and immediate, Maki chooses softness. Vulnerability. Stillness. And in his newest single, “Kahel na Langit,” the rising singer-songwriter paints the sky with a melancholic warmth—honoring endings, loneliness, and the quiet resilience of those who choose to keep going.

“This one is for all the people who are challenged to be alone,” Maki shared during the Kahel na Langit music video launch held at the Mall of Asia’s Sky Amphitheater on June 14, hosted by MYX VJ Eya. His words, gentle yet piercing, reflected the heart of the song: a tribute to those who hold space for others even when no one holds space for them.

A song drenched in orange

Inspired by the bittersweet beauty of sunsets, Kahel na Langit explores how endings, though painful, can be tinged with grace. “Sunsets are stunning,” Maki reflected, “but they also symbolize the end of a day. Endings can be beautiful and warm like kahel (orange).”

In contrast to the vibrant blues, reds, and yellows he’s explored in earlier releases, Kahel na Langit occupies a quieter emotional space—where sorrow doesn’t scream but gently lingers. The single is the fourth track in his color-themed upcoming album Kolorcoaster, a ten-song journey exploring the many shades of love through music. Each track is tied to a specific color; Kahel na Langit stands as the hue of loss wrapped in hope.

“It’s for those who try to be warm for others,” Maki explained, “but sometimes also want someone to run to when they’re tired.” It’s a song for the exhausted, the emotionally generous, the left-behind—and those who, somehow, learn to live through it all.

Metaphors unspoken

Though the Kahel na Langit music video carries strong visual storytelling, Maki has deliberately chosen to leave much of it open to interpretation. “I don’t want to explain the metaphors,” he said. “I want listeners to find their own meaning.”

Still, he gave a glimpse into the personal touches embedded in the visuals. One of the shirts he wears in the MV was handcrafted by him and the production team. “Para siyang bagay na luma at sira na, pero it still gives you warmth,” he described. An object worn and torn—yet comforting—much like the hearts this song hopes to soothe.

Maki also highlighted the presence of his close-knit creative circle, the zushi boys, in the MV. Their inclusion is no accident: “They’re the ones who give me warmth during tours,” he said. The song may be about solitude, but the artist is never truly alone.

A live premiere, a shared experience

The Kahel na Langit launch wasn’t just a celebration of a single—it was an intimate gathering of kindred souls. Maki performed the track live for the first time, alongside fan favorites like “Namumula,” “Bughaw,” “Dilaw,” “Kailan?”, and “Saan?”. Special guest artists Muninn, Jarea, Janine Teñoso, and Angela Ken also graced the stage, turning the night into a warm collective of voices.

The performance was a homecoming of sorts for Maki—born Ralph William Datoon—a 1999-born Quezon City native who rose to fame through viral heartbreak anthems like “Saan?” and “Bakit?” from his debut EP Tanong. With over a million listeners on Spotify and a growing fanbase drawn to his emotional clarity and raw storytelling, Maki is emerging as one of this generation’s most compelling voices.