One of the OPM scene’s hottest singer/songwriters, Top started out in the industry in 1996 as lead vocalist/lead guitarist for the R&B band Freestyle. He wrote nearly all of the band’s hits, including “Before I Let You Go,” “So Slow,” “Til I Found You,” and “Once In A Lifetime” among others. In 2005, he left Freestyle because of personal issues. While other artists would’ve appeared on talkshows here and there to air their grievances, he fought to keep his privacy and kept out of the limelight. A lot of people thought he’d turned his back on the OPM scene, so when Top resurfaced some months later performing gigs at bars like (the now-defunct) Tapika and Suburbia, it was a welcome surprise.
Despite his “vacation,” the songwriter in him just wouldn’t quit. Whenever he’d perform new songs at his gigs, they were well-recieved by the audience. It was this kind of positive feedback, support of family and friends plus his sheer love for music that inspired him to make a comeback. Now he has a solo album under Universal Records, called “Carry On…” in which he composed, produced and arranged all 15 tracks.
Yes, even in this day and time when revivals are all the rage, Top has chosen to stay true to his own music. The carrier single “Sabihin Mo Na”, is a pop-rock ballad that shows a slightly different Top than the one the public is accustomed to. In fact, the whole album has a pop-rock feel, something vaguely similar to the styles of bands like Creed and Incubus—but, at the end of the day, still pure Top Suzara. So go get a copy of “Carry On…” now, and watch out for more great things from this outstanding artist. |
