Whether you’re grappling with heartache, seeking solace, or simply enjoying the quiet moments before dawn, Al Jang’s newest EP Witching Hours, offers a soundtrack to the emotions you might not even realize you’re holding onto.
This four-track indie folk project, released October 2024, invites listeners into the vulnerable, unguarded moments of the early hours, when thoughts stir, memories surface, and emotions demand attention.
The minimalist instrumentation—primarily classical guitar accompanied by carefully chosen guest musicians—creates an intimate listening experience. The songs are not just tracks to be streamed but emotional landscapes, each with a narrative that resonates deeply.
“Witching Hours is personal,” Jang admits. “I have a small following, but I hope these songs reach the people who need them.”
Al Jang is an independent and homegrown singer-songwriter whose music is deeply rooted in folk music. His artistic identity revolved and emerged as a dynamic force in the Philippine regional music scene, which becomes instrumental in honing the talents of aspiring music artists in the Bicol region.
Folk Roots Reimagined
For Jang, this EP marks a return to his folk roots, shaped by a pandemic-born urge to reconnect with music that feels raw and genuine.
In an interview with BicoldotPH, Jang bravely shared his doubts and hesitations with pursuing the said EP. Although the songs were initially recorded in 2021, he was very hesitant to release it.
“I was honestly scared doing this. Being vulnerable,” he shares. “But I thought, I just had to do it. I was able to bring my folk influences, especially from my father.”
Jang’s folk sensibilities are woven throughout the EP, which was highly shaped by influences from his father and both Western and Filipino folk legends.
“I grew up listening to Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, and Filipino folk artists. After hearing Passenger’s Whispers album, I felt this drive to reconnect with those roots.”
That rediscovery shines in the EP’s introspective lyrics and understated arrangements, making the songs feel both timeless and relevant.
The pandemic also served as a catalyst for the EP’s creation, offering Jang not only time for reflection but also a renewed sense of purpose.
“I wrote the songs years back. I wanted to make an indie folk EP with English songs. It was so different from when Al Jang launched where we played rock, jazz, and folk-pop. So we took the time to plan this EP,” Jang furthered.
Witching Hours serves as Jang’s sophomore EP following ‘Al Jang’, a five- track EP released in August 2023.
A Blend of Collaborations and Solitude
Though rooted in simplicity, Witching Hours also thrives on carefully curated collaborations.
The opening track, “Oblivious,” enlists John Owen Castro, a flutist from the Filipino band Munimuni, whose soft, evocative playing complements the song’s narrative of unrequited love and regret. The lyrics—framed through the metaphor of the Earth unknowingly falling in love with an evergreen—set the tone for the EP’s reflective mood.
“Dito Muna,” featuring rising singer-songwriter Lalab Francisco from Masbate City and long-time collaborator JP Lanuza on keys, embraces the bittersweet act of pausing before moving on. The song’s poignant refrain—“Paalam alaala, hindi na luluha” (Goodbye, memories, no more tears)—adds emotional depth, especially given that the earliest version of the song was written in memory of a friend Jang lost to cancer. Dito Muna is also one of the songs that adds melodic flavor to the 2023 hit Bicolano musical, Higit sa Pag-ibig: The Musical.
“Swirls” dives into the tension between sadness and hope, driven by Jeman Parungao’s trumpet work. The song offers an honest reflection on artistic depression, while also hinting at the promise of eventual healing. It’s an anthem for those needing permission to mourn before turning over a new leaf.
The EP closes with “Infinite Floors, Infinite Doors,” inspired by Hilbert’s paradox of a hotel with infinite rooms. This song takes the listener into a night manager’s conversation with a traveler burdened by regret, failure, and broken promises. Its stripped-down arrangement of only guitar and vocals reinforces the song’s solitary, contemplative nature.
Jang’s strength lies in his ability to make the personal feel universal. His lyrics and melodies, though simple, carry the weight of lived experience. In Witching Hours, he gives us a glimpse into his inner world, and in doing so, offers listeners a mirror to their own late-night reflections.
Music for the Quiet Hours
What makes Witching Hours remarkable is its unflinching embrace of stillness. It doesn’t demand attention or chase trends; instead, it creates a space for listeners to breathe, think, and feel.
If you’re someone who lives for those introspective soundtracks—the ones that wrap around you like a second skin during the witching hours—then this EP is for you.
Jang didn’t just create music here. They’ve bottled up a whole vibe, and it’s waiting for you to dive in. Just make sure you listen when the lights are low. It hits differently that way.
“Perceptive, sad, hopeful, (and) honest,” this is how Jang described the entire EP, which somehow resonates not just to the lyrics woven into each track, but to the journey that brought the Witching Hours into life.
At a time when life often feels noisy and rushed, Witching Hours is a reminder of the beauty found in slowing down, sitting with your thoughts, and embracing whatever emotions come your way. It’s not just music—it’s an invitation to pause and be present, if only for a little while.
With its gentle, evocative sound and emotionally resonant themes, Witching Hours cements Al Jang’s place as a compelling voice in indie folk. And though his following may be small, his songs speak volumes—quietly, but with lasting impact.
Witching Hours and other Al Jang’s songs are available on all streaming platforms worldwide. I Ken Oliver V. Balde
Photos by Al Jang