From Houston to Manila: Recording the Acoustic Version of ‘I Surrender'

At 5 a.m. in Houston, I was sitting in my home studio listening to three singers record one of my songs live from Manila.

The pianist was in New York.

And one of those singers was someone I first worked with 15 years ago.

It was one of those moments where you suddenly realize just how far music can travel—and how long some creative relationships can last.

Back in 2011, I had the opportunity to remix “OMG” for Karylle’s album Roadtrip. At the time, I obviously had no idea that more than a decade later we would find ourselves working together again, this time on an acoustic version of my single, “I Surrender.”

For this new version, Karylle was joined by John Mark Saga and Kim Nemenzo.

John Mark was the runner-up on the Philippine singing competition Tawag ng Tanghalan, while Kim finished among the top six during the same season. Hearing all three of their voices together brought an entirely different dimension to the song.

Karylle also brought in pianist Jeff Cox, someone she had previously worked with during the international production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

So there we were: singers recording in Manila, Jeff contributing on piano from New York, and me listening and giving feedback from my studio in Houston.

Technology has completely changed what making records can look like.

While the session was happening, I was able to hear every take in real time while watching the Manila recording session over video. It was around 6 p.m. for them.

For me, the sun hadn't even come up yet.

There was something surreal about sitting in a dark studio in Texas, coffee nearby, listening to musicians thousands of miles away reinterpret a song that originally started with me sitting alone writing music and lyrics.

“I Surrender” has already had an incredible journey for me.

The original version featuring Madalina Cretu was released in August, and since then the record has reached radio stations and listeners in places I never could have predicted when I first wrote it.

But hearing the song stripped down changed my relationship with it again.

When you remove the production, drums and electronic elements, there is nowhere for the song to hide. It comes down to the melody, the lyrics and the performances.

That is exactly what I wanted from this version.

The acoustic recording gives the vocals room to breathe and lets the emotion behind the lyrics sit front and center.

It also made the session feel much more personal.

I've been making music for a long time. You meet hundreds of artists, singers, producers and people along the way. Some collaborations last for one record. Some relationships disappear and unexpectedly come back years later.

Working with Karylle again after 15 years was a reminder that the music business isn't always a straight line.

Sometimes a project you did years ago becomes the beginning of a completely different chapter.

And sometimes at five o'clock in the morning, you find yourself sitting in Houston watching that chapter being recorded on the other side of the world.

I'm excited for everyone to eventually hear what Karylle, John Mark Saga, Kim Nemenzo and Jeff Cox brought to “I Surrender.”

This one feels special.

More soon.

— DJ Riddler