After nearly a decade in the music industry, Alisson Shore has carved out a niche for himself, creating a world of his own told through the full length format. He has a knack for selecting soundscapes, writing lyrics, and curating overall structures that set his work apart from most of his contemporaries. There are times where Alisson’s creative process often results in music that belongs in the electronic music spectrum than it is in the r&b spectrum.
In his last album, Garuda, Shore explores the metaphor of a black bird soaring high and falling hard, blending elements of trap and R&B in a way that creates a cohesive imagery. Moreover, the album uses the bird figure to craft a fantasy-like tale or a tragedy seen through the eyes of a fictional character. It’s as if Shore is building a new realm with each track in different approaches in production style and vocal acrobatics.
Fast forward to post-lockdown, with “Ako Pa Rin” featuring Yuridope, Shore continues this world-building, creating a musical universe reminiscent of a telenovela sequel jammed into one throwback piece. This single follows “Ako Ba Talaga?”, which subtly positions itself as a response to the previous single’s dynamic, almost nasty singy-songy dialogue between KLLY and Alisson over themes of infidelity. Rather than merely echoing 2000s music video aesthetics from Channel V or BET, Shore maintains a cohesive sonic thread through his singles with the help of strong visuals that portray a relationship in shambles as shown in cable television and told through old online forums. Each single builds on each other, blending nostalgic R&B with contemporary 2010s production in a hazy, dreamlike sequence. This approach highlights Shore’s storytelling ability and musical strengths, transcending beyond clickbait-y nostalgia.
A Messenger app call alarm introduces the listener; It plays along as a narrative device. At the same time, a tool queued right when the kicks and snares go in. With Yuridope puncturing every bar and every invitation for a one-night stand, the featured rapper on the track plays with the flow along its rattling hi-hats, sliding pianos and record scratches. Alisson, on the other hand, follows through in a stronger, much more potent vocal presence and ingenious production that’s equally effective in “Ako Ba Talaga?” which had the nifty Ashanti “What’s Luv?” sample flip.
One is to argue that on the surface, this is to highlight a bygone era of r&b, acting out of pure novelty and nothing in between. But listeners here would think otherwise, both singles belong in an era where Alisson Shore chooses to delve narrative-wise in hopes of elevating the story and its sonic cues.
Is there a new album on the horizon for Alisson Shore? We’ll have to wait and see until the next episode!
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