The making of 'Multo' and the rise of OPM band Cup Of Joe to global success

Locked in the four walls of their house during the lockdown restrictions, Cup of Joe lead vocalist Rapha Ridao and his brother, Red, poured out their emotions and gave birth to the hit song "Multo."

Little did they know that the song will come crashing into the Billboard Global 200 charts five years later and help catapult the band into a different level of success.

"Kaming dalawa (ng kuya ko) 'yung nagsulat nung pandemic kasi nung time na 'yung 'di kami makalabas, wala kaming ibang (alam) gawin. It gave us time to reflect din kasi there's no escape nung (time) na 'yun eh," Ridao told GMA News in an interview.

Released in 2024, "Multo" has since fetched more than 60 million streams on Spotify. It's become so popular on TikTok, and has been used as an unofficial love song for popular PBB love team Will Ashley and Bianca de Vera.  

With listeners having different interpretations and entries to the viral hit, Cup of Joe discussed the meaning behind the song and how important it is to them to raise the flag of OPM after the song's success.

Shadows of the Past

In 2020, Rapha was feeling a lot of things with the pandemic and felt like something was holding him back.

"Naumpisahan namin 'yung song with the thought of some feeling, some people feel things na kahit ano'ng gawin mo, kahit pilit mong nilalayo, sumusunod sa'yo," he recalled.

With the idea of someone following a person, the singer thought of a ghost or "multo" in Filipino and worked on the song with the said word.

"Napunta sa 'min 'yung thought na what if we use 'yung 'multo' as a figure na sinusundan ka. 'Yung feeling na 'yun, 'yung medyo scary," he said.

For Rapha, he wanted the listeners to feel how it's like to be haunted by your unexplainable thoughts and the past like a ghost.

"Gusto naming mapadama sa kanila 'yung element of being haunted. 'Yung feeling na parang wala ka namang nakikita pero andun pa rin eh, andun 'yung bigat. 'Yung mga emotions that can't be explained naturally 'yung mga ganoon," he said.

With the idea of making their album, "Multo" also helped Cup of Joe to circle around the five stages of grief with their album "Silakbo" released in January.

While the song quickly gained traction, processing its success was slow and enduring. 

“Actually na-feel lang namin nung time na nagpahinga kami, nag-break from gigs tas doon namin nakikita na ‘ito na pala ‘yun’ ‘yung song na ‘to, No. 1 na,” said Gab Fernandez.

“Hindi namin siya ma-feel nang maayos kasi hindi kami magkakasama pero parang nung nagkasama-sama na kami parang doon lang namin na-feel ‘yung success namin,” he added.

Lead vocalist Gian Bernardino was glad with the reception of the song stressing how the varying interpretations of people with the song are valid.

"It goes along with the other songs na ni-release namin. We created the song with an initial thought then we shared it with the world then they came off with a different perspective and interpretation of the song," the singer said.

"Dahil doon marami rin kaming natututunang perspective which inspires us, which motivates us. Kung ano man 'yung interpretation niyo ng 'Multo,' it's all valid," he added.

Long Overdue

Recently reaching 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify — the most for a Filipino act — Cup of Joe stands among the likes of equally successful OPM acts like Juan Karlos, BINI, and Earl Agustin. Gian is just proud to be in the elite cadre. 

“Nakaka-proud, we're very thankful na part kami ng generation ng OPM na talagang nare-recognize internationally,” he said.

Keyboardist Xen Gareza is quick to point to social media in helping them reach a wider audience, saying "'yung generation natin, we have the platform to reach international audiences so that's a big help and I believe na even then 'yung talent ng OPM talagang meron na."

“It's only now that we have the platform to go global or to reach further audiences na nare-recognize na rin nila 'yung skills ng Filipinos making art, music,” he added.

Gian stressed how it’s “long overdue” for more OPM acts to gain recognition internationally and it’s time for more artists to join them.

“Actually, long overdue na eh. OPM is very beautiful. It's very unique. It's something na could make waves internationally and I think it's time na rin kasi dati pa talaga dapat 'to. We're glad na we're part of that movement or mechanism na nag-start ng pagkilala ng mundo sa OPM,” he said.

Rafa and CJ Fernandez thanked their supporters and stressed how they made their success possible.

“Thank you kasi ever since 'yung support niyo ramdam na ramdam namin dito (sa puso) ... We're gonna make you guys happy and show you the love na pinapakita niyo sa amin,” Rafa said.

“Sobrang excited namin sa mga following months pa para sa lahat ng mangyayari kaya ayun sana abangan niyo,” CJ added.

Right now, Gian said that they are in the works of introducing more of the other songs in the “Silakbo” album to their listeners noting how there’s more to show with the tracks.

“Gusto lang namin sabihin, you're gonna like this, you've been waiting for this pero in terms of our music, we still have the whole year to introduce the whole album to, not only the Philippines but to the whole world, kasi there's more to see, to hear, to know about the 'Silakbo' album,” he said.

That, and relishing the moment's success. 

"As a band we're very much immersing ourselves at the moment, kumbaga, we're living the moment. We're not really pressuring ourselves to achieve greater heights at where we are right now,” the lead vocalist said.

“As much as possible, we do our best every time and bonus na lang kung ano 'yung magiging reception ng tao,” he added. — LA, GMA Integrated News