Filipino-American indie pop singer-songwriter Labit makes a powerful and evocative return with his newest single “PARALLEL,” a sweeping, soulful meditation on the quiet revelation of unexpected love that serves as a captivating preview of his forthcoming album, ‘SOL,’ arriving October 17th. Built on a foundation of shimmering melodies, spacious arrangements, and Labit’s signature honeyed vocals, the track soars as both a universal love song and a moment of profound self-discovery, produced by Travis Heidelman and co-written with Gabriella Mejias to layer warm instrumentation with an emotional candor that has become the artist’s calling card. “This song is such an uplifting, a-ha moment type of song,” Labit shares. “I wanted it to portray the feeling of when someone catches you by surprise. The moment where you realize the one you need has been right there all along.”
The accompanying cinematic music video, directed by the filmmaking duo hazart, brings the emotional heartbeat of “PARALLEL” into full focus by weaving together the everyday connections between strangers. The concept was inspired by the simple yet transcendent experience of hearing a great song in the back of a New York City cab, though it was reimagined with a deeply personal touch: the story unfolds inside a Buick Lasabre, the very same car that Labit’s grandmother, Sol—the namesake of the upcoming album—drove him around in as a child. This creative partnership with hazart, which blossomed from a friendship bonded over play-dates with their dogs, resulted in a video that depicts 12 different groups of people from all walks of life, each representing seemingly separate worlds yet bound by the shared ‘parallels’ in their experiences.
The visual narrative is enriched by choreographer Genevieve Carson, whose dance direction bridges gestural references to contemporary viral moves with symbolic gestures that underscore Labit’s lyrics, while visual artist Collin Black contributes stunning VFX work that transforms the outside world during the chorus into an abstract visualiser—a nod to both WinAmp graphics and Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’—all coming together to create a heightened reality of “dancing to a great song in the back of the car” that emphasizes the joy, surprise, and connection at the heart of the track.
This release reflects Labit’s growing regional momentum across Southeast Asia, with recent singles earning coveted placements on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlists in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. This rise in visibility is concretely matched by streaming data, with Southeast Asian markets now dominating his Top 10: the Philippines sits notably at #3, followed by Indonesia at #6, Malaysia at #7, Taiwan at #8, Thailand at #9, and Vietnam at #10.
Since his debut in 2019, Stephen Ordoñez (the artist behind Labit) has built a reputation as a genre-blurring, Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist known for his heartfelt lyricism and ability to make the deeply personal feel universal, a versatility that has also led to songwriting credits for artists like Emei and BYRNE. His forthcoming 18-track album, ‘SOL’, captures this ongoing process of self-discovery; written as a personal journal while navigating the intricacies of adulthood, it promises to be a work that finds strength in vulnerability and grace in growth, inviting listeners into moments that feel both intimately shared and beautifully human.
Rome is a freelance writer and photographer. He brings a fresh perspective to the indie music scene and highlights emerging artists and underground movements. His writing style is drawn from personal experiences and a deep love for the art form.