It’s common for people to let someone go, whether romantically or for other reasons. This is the theme of Agsunta’s new song 'Palayain Ka.'

However, in an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, the band's frontman, Jireh Singson, revealed that writing the song was about something much more personal.

“Actually, super personal kong kanta ko. To cut the story short, meron talaga akong tito na namatay. Pero ginawa ko siya, ‘yung mismong song, ‘di ko siya gusto maging para sa patay. Pero ‘yun talaga ‘yun. Kaya siya ‘Palayain Ka’ kasi meron akong tito na namatay na I saw his life. Parang kwento siya ng isang anak na nagle-let go dun sa tatay niya. Kasi parang anong nangyari dun sa life nila,” Jireh revealed.

The band member further explained how he witnessed his cousin's relentless fight to save his uncle's life through the trials and challenges they faced.

“Ang daming nangyari. Tapos in the end, parang ‘yung anak niya na bunso — ’yun ‘yung close ko, si Kuya David, pinsan ko — parang talagang nakita ko na sobrang nilaban niya ‘yung dad niya. Until the end — kumbaga nagkasakit, nagkaroon na parang nag-deteriorate na ‘yung katawan — na-witness ko how yung’ pinsan ko talagang nilaban niya ‘yung tatay niya despite everything na nangyari sa buhay niya,” he added.

Jireh also shared how he channeled that emotional experience into writing the heartfelt song.

“One morning lang yun. After niya mamatay, mga siguro second day niyang nasa burol. Nagising lang ako ng 6am. Tapos I felt the feeling of my pinsan kasi close ko siya. Kaya siya ‘Palayahin Ka’. Tapos may hidden, may wordplay akong ginawa doon,” he said

He went on to reveal how he also intended the song to be for a father figure: “Naaalala ko pa. Kasi ‘papa’, maraming ‘pa’ yun. Kasi about siya sa tatay talaga. Pero ayokong maging para siya sa patay. So ginawa ko, hindi siya sobrang obvious. Parang ano lang siya, about letting go. Letting go na thankful ka.”

With that, he explained that people who listen to the song may find their own personal meaning in it as well.

“Parang sa lahat ng mga taong nagpapalaya. Tapos hindi sila bitter dun sa pinapalaya. Parang, imbes na negative feeling, parang siyang ‘pinapalaya na kita. Salamat sa lahat’,” he mentioned.

Meanwhile, he also explained how Agsunta’s recent EP, titled Kung Sino Tamaan, explores a range of different emotions.

“Yung Kung Sino Tamaan EP, actually, kaya yan ganyan ‘yung title kasi very random ‘yung lahat ng mga songs na lalagay namin dun. So kanya-kanyang experiences ng bawat isa sa band,” he shared.

Jireh continued, explaining how the tracks on the EP are randomly diverse:  “Merong isa dun na sobrang in love naman ‘yung isang kanta niya; ang nagsulat nun ‘yung bassist namin. Tapos ‘yung isa naman, ‘yung nagsulat dahil sa isang movie na sobrang na-move siya, ganyan. ‘Yun ‘yung mga nakapaloob. Very random siya. Kaya Kung Sino Tamaan. Kasi may pang-in love, may pang-let go.”

Agsunta’s recent EP is now available on streaming platforms and features 5 tracks, including “Palayain Ka” and “Pinagtagpo”.