Today we’d like to introduce you to Bema Tadey.
Hi Bema, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Bema Tadey and I was born in Baguio City, Philippines. Ever since I was born, music has always been a big part of my life. Growing up, I was a part of school and church choirs/bands, numerous theater and musical productions, and singing competitions. At 8 years old, I started learning the piano and I would always be the “star singer” when it came to karaoke. Everything I watched revolved around music and singing as well.
I remember my brother and I singing and dancing to Disney songs in front of our teachers, classmates, and my mom’s co-teachers with so much confidence and enthusiasm. My love for music did not stop when my family and I moved to the United States. When I got to middle school, I heard “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz for the first time and a light turned on over my head and I decided I wanted to learn the guitar. Mind you, my dad, who is a musician, tried teaching me the guitar beforehand, but I hated it.
The song inspired me to start playing and slowly, I got the hang of learning chords and chord progressions. I would post covers of my favorite songs on YouTube and I eventually got thousands of views, but the momentum got cut short because I started becoming shy and insecure. High school came around and I wrote my first song titled, “Spend My Life.” It was a song about wanting to spend my life with someone no matter how hard life gets. I didn’t know anything about love at the time. I was 13, but I guess it was a cute song. After that song, I never stopped writing.
When I was around 14 years old, I watched a video of Justin Bieber recording a song in the studio and I wanted to do what he was doing, but I didn’t know where to begin. I did my research and I downloaded GarageBand on my phone. Nothing came out of that except for noise, I would say. Still, I was learning what certain buttons did, what reverb is, what eq does, and such. A few years passed and my mom bought me my first MacBook for college.
I was a Nursing major at the time, but after my classes, I would always go to the Performing Arts Building and check out the software they have and look at what they are doing. Then, I’d go home and play around with GarageBand on my Macbook this time— a little upgrade. I was extremely interested in recording and producing music, so I bought Logic Pro X. I loved it so much that I secretly changed my major to Music Technology. Once my parents found out, there was a bit of back and forth, but I expressed my passion for it and eventually, they supported me.
I was getting A’s after A’s in my production, music business, and theory classes and I graduated a summa cum laude. After I graduated in 2021, I had enough time and confidence to record, produce, and release my first song, “Off My Mind.” That song is my baby and to this day, it’s still a song that captures the hearts of so many listeners around the world. “Off My Mind” popped off and it inspired me to keep doing what I loved doing. A few months later, I released “Show You Off” and “Fixer Upper.” I started getting called to open for artists. I’ve opened for Filipino Artists: Moira Dela Torre, Ice Seguerra, and Silent Sanctuary.
As things started to shape up, I quickly realized that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Along the way, I met people who have the same passion for music as I do and are now my closest friends. I formed an independent label with them called WRIZZARDS which is a music collective of individual artists— recording, producing, and writing songs together. J Matty, LEIF, Tina Carzon, and I have been helping and elevating each other to further our careers as well as our journey together as a group.
With the friendship we’ve built and with the loving community we have created, we continue to reach great things. We got featured on various media outlets including the Washington Post, EARMILK, BeatthisPH, SoFar Sounds, and international radio stations. We got invited to perform at multiple festivals and open for more artists including well-known Filipino artist, Jay R. Our first year alone, we’ve had our debut show as a musical collective at Songbyrd DC and had our most recent show at Union Stage selling 300+ tickets.
Currently, my songs are reaching places I’ve never even heard of. My name is on people’s daily rotations and playlists. This was something I’ve only dreamed of and I could not be more grateful. I am so excited for what the future holds and I can’t wait to share more for the world to hear.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not a smooth road getting this far. Along the way, I got caught up in situations that pulled me away from music. I was very clueless when it came to love and it caused me to make decisions that ultimately interfered with my ability to concentrate on my craft.
Love is both a challenge and an inspiration. There were moments of self-discovery and loss. I lost sight of who I was and my dreams were in the shadows for a bit. Navigating my way back was a struggle. In the middle of the chaos, love became my biggest inspiration. Writing songs became my outlet. I kept writing one song after another and slowly, I found the courage to release songs that have helped me express myself in ways that were new to me.
My first Tagalog song, “Walang Kasama,” co-produced by my talented friend, LEIF, “Nothing At All,” alongside my good friend, J Matty, and “One Night Stand,” with the amazing Tina Carzon, are a few musical snapshots of my journey. “Tayong Dalawa” and upcoming releases delve deeper into my post-heartbreak era that a lot of people will be able to relate to.
Life’s been a wild roller coaster ride, no doubt, but it’s the unpredictability of it that lets me channel my creative endeavors and individual growth. If I learned anything, it’s that no matter how chaotic life gets, music has this way of turning the mess into something beautiful.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Of course! I am a Filipino singer, songwriter, and producer, but I can’t say I specialize in one thing. I love every step that goes into crafting a song. I like to think that what makes my music different is that it comes from my own emotions and my own experiences. As a singer, I am aware of what I am capable of.
As a songwriter, I am very particular about how I want to tell my story and what emotions I want my listeners to feel. As a producer, I take pride in creating music that complements the emotions within each song. I pour my heart into every word and every melody in every song I’ve done and it’s what connects me to my listeners because for me, creating music that speaks to people is the essence of being an artist.
What I’m most proud of is having my Filipino roots very evident in my discography. Filipino music is the foundation of my love for music. In every song of mine, you will find a piece of the Philippines. It’s not just a genre— it’s a feeling and I’ve made it my goal to showcase the sound of the Filipinos. As I make my way into the music scene, I will continue to be a trailblazer for Filipino music. I am very excited and honored to contribute to its evolution.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I believe taking risks is necessary in this industry. There is no growth without risk. It’s a risk collaborating with other artists because there’s unpredictability and you don’t know if it’s going to work or if goals are aligned. It’s a risk trying out a new genre or style because your listeners are used to a certain sound or image. The biggest risk of all is putting yourself out there.
Looking back, I realize that each song I’ve put out shows my vulnerability because it’s a piece of me on display. It’s like handing the world a window into my perspective on life and how my mind and heart work. It’s a risk to expose that level of authenticity, but in doing so, I was able to connect with my listeners and fellow artists.
Living with regrets is something I choose to avoid as much as I can. I would rather face the uncertainty and challenges that come with taking risks. From collaborating with fellow artists to exploring different genres and putting my vulnerabilities into songwriting, every risk fuels an artist’s growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/bematadey
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bematadey
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bematadey
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bematadey
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/bematadey
- Other: https://www.bonfire.com/store/tadey/
Image Credits
Myrben Benerayan, JJ Logue, Emily Singh, and Ryan Solivio
