Award-winning songwriter and tech executive Dodjie Simon’s 'Best of All' enters 2027 Grammy consideration

Renowned Filipino songwriter and executive leader Elzar “Dodjie” Simon has submitted his latest album, Best of All (The Music of Dodjie Simon), for consideration in the 69th Annual Grammy Awards.

Released 11 August, the seven-track collection of Original Pilipino Music showcases four-part vocal arrangements and qualifies for the Recording Academy’s 2027 award cycle.

The album and two featured singles were submitted across four Grammy categories. Best of All is under consideration for best global music album and best engineered album, non-classical.

Additionally, "Ikaw Lamang" was submitted for best arrangement, instruments and vocals, while "Kulang Ang Paleta" was entered for best arrangement, instrumental or a cappella.

Produced by Simon and acclaimed choral conductor Joel Navarro, Best of All features prominent Philippine music figures, including Moy Ortiz, Nica Tupas, Bianca Lopez-Aguila and Joshua Cadeliña.

A central highlight is "Kulang Ang Paleta," a historic collaboration featuring a melody by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, Tagalog lyrics by Simon and a four-part a cappella arrangement by Navarro.

The album also includes "Ikaw Lamang," an updated rendition of Simon’s classic OPM anthem accompanied by cellist Francisco Llorin and oboist Japs Bautista.

Recording engineer Martin Andrew Guevara and Grammy-winning mastering engineer Jett Galindo helmed the technical production, alongside keyboard contributions from Marvin Querido.

A decorated OPM icon, Simon bridges creative artistry, executive leadership and emerging technology. He won the 1988 KBP MusicFest Grand Prize for "Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi, Isang Musika," the 1997 Asia Song Festival Grand Prize in Hong Kong and the 1999 Metropop Song Festival Grand Prize. His catalog includes classics like "Can Find No Reason" and "Kung Alam Mo Lang," with recordings by Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano and Sarah Geronimo, among others.

Beyond music, Simon holds an industrial engineering degree from the University of the Philippines, where he was named a distinguished alumnus. His extensive global IT career includes serving as chief information officer for international entities like P&O Ports, Asian Terminals, Maher Terminals and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the Philippines, as well as vice president for IT at AIG. He is currently a senior IT director at a research university in New York. An AI author and lecturer, Simon is a member of The Authors Guild and has completed executive training at MIT, Oxford, Cornell and Boston University.

"Participating in the Grammy consideration process is a privilege that allows us to demonstrate how Philippine songwriting, choral arranging and vocal performance hold a rightful place on the global recording stage," Simon said.

The first round of Grammy voting runs from 12 to 22 October. Nominees will be announced 16 November, and the 69th Annual Grammy Awards will take place 7 February 2027, in Los Angeles.