Zelijah, a rapper/producer, takes a ride down memory lane with his song “17”

Zelijah’s new song “17,” which is out today through Sony Music Philippines, takes a ride down memory lane. The Filipino rapper/producer strikes a balance between honing a music palate that distills today’s algorithm-driven sounds and addressing the convergence of different music genres with a pop flair, trading verses with fellow hip-hop artist Ellis G on bossa-infused, lo-fi beats and stripped-down guitars.

“17” was supposed to be a sad little tune about cherishing the best years of our lives in a bubble, tucked away from the hassles of adult responsibilities. “But the vibe it gave us when we were working on the song was just purely nostalgic so we thought of writing the lyrics about the 2012 and 2017 era where both of us were 17 years old,” the multi-talented artist admits in a statement. “Personally, this age bracket is where we worry less about the world and only think about ourselves and all the mundane things— free from our life problems,” said Zelijah

Zelijah produced, mixed, and mastered the track alone in his home studio, reasserting creative control over his art. The multi-hyphenate artist is used to doing these by himself, having worked with several artists behind the scenes, from big names such as Young JV and Jason Dy to record-breaking behemoths such as Loonie and John Roa. “It was hard at first but then it just grows on you till it becomes a normal thing to do,” he shares. “Personally, having control over these sections makes the song more authentic to me. It also allows me to play around with different techniques and approaches that other engineers wouldn’t do.”

“It’s always fun working with Ellis to be honest,” says Zelijah. “We both push each other’s boundaries. We tend to one up each other but in a good way. There’s no room for sugar coating and fake compliments between us. We prefer to keep it blunt in everything we do for us to grow.” Zelijah thanked Ellis G for his contribution to “17.” Ellis G, for one, freestyled on the mic with a particular theme in mind, delving further into the enjoyable side of nostalgia in order to capture the feeling of everlasting youth.

Zelijah’s “17” is out now on all digital platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines. The song will be part of the upcoming EP, ‘Press F to Drop Out’—to be released soon.