Filipino independent record label Lillystars Records (run by the multi-talented Clem Castro who is also the frontman and guitarist for Orange & Lemons) has done it again.
Lilystars Records has partnered with Swedish indie pop band Koala Bar and has released on all streaming platforms the band’s new single, “Lions.”
Koala Bar – Jonatan Duregard, Petter Goransson, Axel Ploman, and Olof Yassin – is making a conscious effort to reach out beyond their Scandinavian base especially in Southeast Asia; the Philippines in particular.
“We know the Philippines has a big music scene whether you are in the mainstream or an independent band,” said Duregard. “We believe that our music that is inspired by our environment because we love nature, as well as the heartfelt lyrics will appeal to Filipinos.”
Aside Orange & Lemons, Lilystars Records also has on their roster Sunflower Station, Kubra Commander, and the Geeks to name a few. Their foreign artist roster includes Day & Dream from the United States and Sweden’s The Sun Days. Previous foreign artists include Filago (France), Lomboy (Belgium), Magnetic Poetry (Russia), and Yea-Ming and the Rumours (United States).
The music of – is described by the band as “something melancholic but hopeful as inspired by our surrounding environment,” as shared by Duregard. “And we love nature.”
The newly released single “Lions” which is a collaboration with Dutch experimental electronic artist Leon Den Engelsen. The song came about when Koala Bar and Den Engelsen were working in a studio that was located in a nature preserve that was bounded by a woodland area.
The song is about a son dealing with his parents who are in the twilight of their days.
“’Lions” brings about this quiet introspection,” suggested Ploman. “Through our music, we are sharing more communal space with fans all over the world.”
“Lions” is the result of an open-ended collaboration with pianist, composer and producer Leon den Engelsen,” added Duregard. “The production is characterized – and inspired – by the forest area and nature reserve in which the studio is located. Leon likes to use his own samples from the forest and various other environments to fuse the organic with the electronic.”
In the song, the son feels powerless to turn back the ravages of time, but he searches for daylight or the meaning of all this.
The single “Lions” is Koala Bar’s first foray into the foreign market.
“We are happy to be working with Lilystars Records to bring our music to the Philippines and Southeast Asia,” enthused Duregard. “We look forward to building those lines of communication with a new community.”
“And maybe, just maybe, we will play in these new shores and Manila someday soon,” summed up Goransson.