Featured image courtesy of UMG Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines — Award-winning multi-faceted artist, Elijah Canlas, who performs musically under the name elijah, announces the release of his highly anticipated album, “South II”, a deeply personal and reflective body of work that traces the emotional landscape of his upbringing and adolescence.
Known for his powerful performance from the screen and the stage, elijah now channels that same emotional intensity into his aural adventures, offering listeners an unfiltered look at the formative years that shaped his identity.
Image courtesy of UMG Philippines
“South II” unfolds as a memoir in sound. Across the album, elijah revisits defining teenage experiences—moments of being wrongly accused, misunderstandings, and the pressure to belong. Rather than responding with bitterness, the project leans into introspection, examining themes of perception, trust, and reputation.
The record also captures the everyday textures of youth: immaturity, teasing, and the quiet insecurities that often go unspoken. Basketball references run throughout the project, symbolizing discipline, brotherhood, and resilience—grounding the narrative in familiar spaces of growth and self-discovery.
Image courtesy of UMG Philippines
While the record touches on reckless phases and risky environments, it does so with nuance and accountability. These chapters are framed not as glorification, but as part of a broader journey toward understanding identity and consequence.
Leading the project is the focus track “u wanna be?”, an introspective anthem that questions external validation and societal pressure. The music video, directed by Kiyo, brings a raw and intimate visual approach that mirrors the song’s themes of confrontation and self-definition.
A standout moment arrives with “Bituin,” originally written by elijah’s late brother JM and later completed together as a tribute with their eldest Jerom.
With South II, elijah enters a new creative chapter that serves as an invitation to listeners to reflect on their own past and build new, shared experiences grounded on truth with people that surround them.
Listen to the 10-track record below:
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