Brianna Bunagan and Mitzi Josh offer musical therapy for love and heartache

MANILA, Philippines — Brianna Bunagan and Mitzi Josh lend their voices to respective singles, Kung Masasaktan Lang and Let Me Down Easy, to narrate the emotions that come with starting to love again but feeling scared, and being in a situation to close a romantic chapter.

Released under GMA Playlist, the songs will provide those who are in such a plight the musical space to further reflect and clear their minds, as one may put it.

“I got to talk to the composer, and (the latter said) that it’s about a couple that are on the verge of breaking up,” said Mitzi of the inspiration behind Let Me Down Easy in a recent interview with the press. “Nanlalamig na ang pag-ibig kaya alam kong maraming makaka-relate na Kapuso natin po dito (their love for each other is waning, and I think a lot can also relate to it).”

The Kapuso singer hopes to record another single as a follow-up to the heartbreak song and look forward to do OSTs or official soundtracks.

Meanwhile, Kung Masasaktan Lang is the first single of Brianna under GMA Playlist and it had a teaser-“soft launch” in the weekend family program “Pepito Manaloto: Tuloy ang Kuwento.”

“I actually sang it first (there),” shared she. “It was the song Chito (portrayed by Jake Vargas) would perform on a livestream. I was part of that episode and it was (in it) that we tested it first. It (was like) a teaser for the single.”

Prior to it, she released the song Ayoko Na, also played in the film “Family History,” starring Brianna’s dad, Michael V.

GMA Playlist artists Mitzi Josh and Brianna Bunagan have recently released their songs, Let Me Down Easy and Kung Masasaktan Lang, as welcome additions to the growing playlist about falling in love again and being on the verge of breakup. These recordings are a testament of their love for music and singing. — Photo courtesy of the artists’ publicity team

“It’s (Kung Masasaktan Lang) like a huge jump from the first, Ayoko Na. (The latter) can be likened to a hugot song,” she compared the two tunes. “Emotions (being explored in it) were kind of heavy, whereas in Kung Masasaktan Lang, there’s that heartbreak feeling, but at the same time, it’s more playful energy in the song. Yung tipo bang, ‘OK, gusto kong nang magmahal ulit pero takot pa rin ako kasi nasaktan na ako dati (it has conflicting feelings of being ready to fall in love again, but at the same time, being afraid because I got hurt before).”

Before the call of doing showbiz beckoned her, Mitzi attended training and said she could do pop, R&B, Broadway and a little of classical. She hoped to showcase all this, genre-wise, in the future. Mitzi also expressed her interest in doing theater and collaborating with artists such as Julie Anne San Jose.

During the press conference, Brianna and Mitzi were also inquired about how their enthusiasm in music and love for it started.

“We’re a family of singers, especially from my father’s side,” said she. “If you know Kuya Pocholo Bismonte from ‘Pop Star Kids,’ he’s my cousin. Growing up, I watched him (on the show) and what the competition was like before. I told myself then that I wanted to be like him someday.” Mitzi added that her parents saw her musical interest when the two-year-old Mitzi would try to sing the ABCD song at a higher pitch.

From there, she nurtured her knack for singing and fast forward to the present, Mitzi had this to say: “And until now, I’m so in love with music.”

As for Brianna, she has loved music ever since she learned to talk.

“I remember growing up always watching Disney movies, and of course, my parents would sing along with the songs,” recalled she. “However, the time that I became conscious that I love music and I love singing was when I was eight years old. That was when ‘High School Musical’ came out, and for some reason, that was the movie that really brought out the singer in (my) little young (self) back then, and of course, I would listen to Lea Salonga.”

The Pinay award-winning Broadway star, recording artist and actress has become “a huge part of my journey as a singer,” said Brianna. “She has become my inspiration, not only in singing, but also in (trying my hand at) theater as well.”

She started to explore musical theater in college and is now part of the theater production titled “Liwanag sa Dilim,” featuring the songs of Rico Blanco. It is Brianna’s first professional theater work.

Although Brianna and Mitzi may venture into other creative fields, their love for recording new songs remains strong.

Give Brianna’s Kung Masasaktan Lang and Mitzi’s Let Me Down Easy a listen on all digital music platforms worldwide.