Jose Villanueva III needs no further introduction other than this: you might know him as singer-songwriter and producer Quest.
"I want to take you on a quest, an adventure, a journey," he explained on his choice of moniker. "I hope my music takes you from darkness to light, brings clarity to your confusion, and carries you from sorrow to joy."
Since he started making music full-time in 2007, and since coming out with his debut album Revolution in 2010, all the way to releasing his series of bop-worthy anthems (like Gilas Pilipinas' theme song, Sige Lang, and the LSS-inducing Back To Love), and heartbreaking ballads (like his most-streamed single, Walang Hanggan, with well over 27 million plays on Spotify as of this writing), Quest has done just that.
Still true to his name, Quest promises to take us on yet another heart-wrenching and altogether inspiring journey through his upcoming album which he's dubbed as a 'battlefield'. His fourth LP upon its release, he considers this "the most 'Quest' album yet".
And this season of giving, this multi-awarded artist gives us a generous glimpse of exactly what that means.
In case you missed it, Quest quietly snuck two singles from his upcoming album into public streaming consciousness some months ago. They're currently available on your favorite platform to listen to while you read through this article.
'DYECMO' (Don't You Ever Count Me Out) and 'Committed' are his premier teasers lifted from the 11-track wonder to come in February 2023. Even without promoting the individual tunes, each song has garnered well over a couple thousand listens wherever it has been released.
Cryptic though the title might look, DYECMO reveals itself clearly in the song's declarative opener — don't you ever count me out. This anthem-worthy track masterfully layers danceable synth-rock melodies atop encouraging lyrics, all-encompassing a definitive theme: bravery.
Telling of a 'war' within himself and around him, Quest romanticizes becoming stronger, wiser, and tougher despite life's challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic, in particular, was a catalyst for the production of this song and many of his new songs with the same battle-ready theme.
"I've been consciously fighting for many things throughout my life — myself, my sanity, my heart, my clarity, my calling, my love. It was only during the pandemic when I decided to really sing about it," Quest said.