Calein gives pandemic-era song the comeback it missed

When Calein released “Oras” in March 2020, the band was ready to introduce the song to a wider audience. But just days after its launch, the pandemic brought live performances and promotional plans to a halt, leaving the track’s story unfinished.

Now, six years later, Calein is giving the song a fresh start through a newly remastered version, hoping it can finally reach the audience it was meant to find.

“I wanted to give the song new life and give the band a clear path this time,” vocalist and songwriter John Dale “JD” Mustacho said.

The band had originally celebrated the single’s release with an intimate launch in Makati attended by fellow musicians, including Unique Salonga, Arthur Nery, One Click Straight and Blaster.

“I was surprised that so many people came to support us,” JD recalled.

The excitement, however, was short-lived.

“Everybody was shocked and we all had to adjust,” he said. “We didn’t really get to promote it properly, so most of what we did became online content.”

Drummer Benjo Criste remembers the frustration of watching the band’s momentum disappear almost overnight.

“The fire was there, but when the pandemic happened, everything was cut short,” he said.

Rather than rerecord the song, the band chose to preserve what fans had first connected with. Remastered by Jan Aries Agadier Fuertez, the updated version retains the original recording and arrangement while enhancing its overall clarity, depth and sound quality.

“We didn’t change anything about the song because we wanted to keep its identity and emotions,” JD explained.

For bassist Oliver Salaysay, the remaster also offers a chance to introduce “Oras” to listeners who may have missed it during its original release.

“Because the promotion was stopped before, this feels like the perfect time to reintroduce the song,” he said.

The song itself was inspired by an almost-confession gone wrong. JD had invited someone he liked to one of the band’s gigs, intending to tell her how he felt — only for her to arrive with her boyfriend.

“That was where the first line of the song came from,” he shared.

Over time, however, its meaning has evolved.

“Before, it was about someone else,” JD said. “Now, it feels more like a hidden love for myself.”

The remaster also reflects a new chapter for Calein, now composed of JD, Oliver Salaysay and Benjo Criste.

“This version of Calein feels fresh and more mature,” JD said. “We have a clearer path now. But the sound, the heart, and the identity are still there.”

For the band, revisiting “Oras” is about more than polishing an old recording. It is a chance to reclaim a moment that was interrupted — and to finally let a song born in uncertain times find its place years later.