Fil-Am artist Troy Laureta celebrates joy of coming out with 3rd OPM album
“Like me char…she’s OUT NOW!!” These were the concluding words of the award-winning Filipino-American musical director, Troy Laureta, as he posted on Instagram that he has already released his third and final OPM album.
But what makes this album, “Dalamhati: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective, Vol. 3,” special is that it holds a place in his heart, as he mentioned it is the first album he completed as an openly gay man.
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“For over a year and a half, I’ve worked hard to produce an album that I believed authentically represented who I am as an artist, a producer and a musician,” the caption reads. “For over a year and a half, I’ve worked hard to produce an album that I believed authentically represented who I am as an artist, a producer and a musician.”
This final OPM chapter is a heartfelt farewell, a love letter to the genre, and a celebration of self-discovery as its completion marks a significant milestone, not just in his musical journey but also in his personal growth.
More than an ode to himself, the album features 24 tracks with an impressive lineup of artists and a list of classic OPM hits, reinvented and harmonized in the global artist’s signature style.
The album’s lead single, a reworking of the OPM classic “Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika” featuring Martin Nievera on vocals, was released earlier, setting the stage for what’s to come.
Lyric videos of some of the tracks, including “Gusto Ko Nang Bumitaw” by Loren Aldred and Pia Toscano, “Ang Huling El Bimbo” by Morissette, and “Pangarap Ko’y Ibigin Ka” by Ogie Alcasid, are already available on YouTube, giving fans a taste of what to expect from this album.
“I pray that this album brings inspiration, representation and pride to the OPM scene and to the Filipino people. I pray it becomes a beacon of hope for any Filipino creative that believes their voice matters…because it does,” he further added.
“Dalamhati” is his follow-up to the previously released albums “Kaibigan: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective Vol. 1” and “Giliw: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective Vol. 2,” in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
The Fil-Am artist, known for his collaborations with global stars like Ariana Grande and David Foster, has a diverse musical repertoire, having worked with singers ranging from Andrea Bocelli to Justin Bieber. And these are living proofs that Filipino talent and passion for music deserves to be shown to the rest of the world—more importantly for Laureta on finally being fully himself.
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“And it took a while for me [to] realize and embody that. We matter. I am and forever will be a proud, GAY, BROWN, full-figured, Filipino-American, who only wanted to just be seen and heard in such a crazy industry.”
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