During challenging times, it’s comforting to hear a random song reminding us to breathe and take a rest. This is one of those random songs that we never expected to hear, but it magically aired as we were having a tough time. OPM band Ben&Ben offer words of genuine compassion and encouragement to every person out there who might be going through a lot in these difficult times. On their latest single Magpahinga, the nine-piece collective wrote a lovely piano ballad from the point of view of someone who is in dire need of guidance.

“It’s a song that reminds us to check up on ourselves and address our own inner struggles,” lead vocalist and guitarist Paolo Benjamin points out in a statement. “But also, it is a song that aims to accompany the listener, and remind them that in those moments of hardship, they are not alone.”

Without resorting to being preachy, the band’s latest offering also reminds listeners that there’s nothing to be ashamed of in taking some time to step back from the situation and heal on your own terms. Written by Miguel and Paolo Benjamin, and produced by JP Verona with the band, Magpahinga was recorded in the house where the band is currently staying. The remote place has a beautiful baby grand piano, which keyboardist Patricia Lasaten used as an instrument to complement the band’s introspective lyrics.

Percussionist Andrew de Pano takes pride in how everything came together beautifully to convey a sense of cinematic earnestness: “The piano helped give the song a nostalgic texture, magnified further by Pat’s emotional performance. The sound design elements were added in by our lead guitarist Poch, using a unique instrument called a Seaboard. These bass and pad sounds definitely helped widen the soundscape and set it apart from our past ‘stripped-down’ releases.”

Here, the quiet moments filled with lovingly sparse details, take the lead, while the instrumentation speaks volumes even when it retreats inwardly, giving off that sweater-weather vibe.

“We wanted to make sure that above all else, the message of the song stands out,” lead vocalist and guitarist Miguel Benjamin adds. “The piano, violin, and pads are all present to reinforce the melody and support the emotion that the lyrics holds. We hope that the listener feels the song as much as if it were their own experience.”

I hope this song was able to give you some sense of peace just as much as it did for me. 🙂

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