Dionela Is Making Waves on the Billboard Charts
If Ne-Yo, Ginuwine, and Bruno Mars had a musical love child, it would be Dionela. I stumbled upon his name while watching an Instagram reel—one of those campus-style interviews at the University of Hawaii where students were asked to share their favorite songs. A few clips in, I found myself deep in a rabbit hole of new music, guided by the diverse tastes of strangers. That’s when I discovered Filipino R&B artist Dionela.
It’s been a long time since R&B has had that Ne-Yo feel to it—the smooth, high range, and soulful sound that became popular in the 2000s. R&B has evolved, like every genre has, creating different styles and popularizing artists with unique sounds. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining—I mean, what would the music industry be without SZA, Jhené Aiko, and Frank Ocean? The industry will always be changing as new artists emerge and record labels seek future trends. Still, the sound of the past will always come back and remain special for what it is, and it’s exciting to see current artists take that influence to create their own craft. I know I keep mentioning Ne-Yo, but this might be the beginning of Dionela starting his own influence on music.
Originally part of Republic Records, he released his single Musika, which he wrote after his girlfriend made him the melody. The love song is dedicated to her, which he references in the lyrics: “You're the one that I love, origin of the poem, sound of my strings, and melody of the song.” The way it came to be resonates with all those young in love, but also full of life and determination. There’s something about a young artist writing about love that can’t be replaced—and the fans love that. It was real: a girlfriend playing a melody on the piano, and the boyfriend turning it into something fully dedicated to her, even putting it on a billboard. That is a way to introduce yourself as an artist.
He was later transferred to EMI Imprint, a sub-label under Universal Music Group, where he has made a major impact with two singles. Sining, featuring R&B artist Jay R, landed on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100, peaking at No. 1. The popularity was partially due to its music video, which marked Dionela’s directorial debut, creating a deeper sense of the love song’s theme and inspiration. The lyrics themselves feel like a confession about personal flaws and lost love, trying to make peace with decisions made. The song leans into a slower tempo, almost like lo-fi instrumentation, giving it an overall emotional feel. Not much different from his following single Marling, both tracks incorporate reverb elements and emphasize emotion through vocal arrangements. However, Marling feels more stripped of instrumentation and features less vocal layering, making it more fluid and melancholic. It carried the same 2000s feel, even becoming the first single to top the new International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Official Philippines Chart. Both singles have propelled Dionela to another level of success for his style, creativity, and the messages in his music.
Go ahead, take a listen.
Recently, he announced that he will be going on tour this summer, with dates in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the Philippines. It might be unusual to attend a concert by a foreign artist without understanding the language, but trust me—when it’s good music, no translation is needed.
