Filipino singer-songwriter and producer Fern. (Fern Tan) released his 12-track debut album“DREAMWALKER” on Sept. 10, through Island Records Philippines and MCA Music Inc. The album features the previously-released singles “Whatever This Is,” “Whatever This Is-Side B,” “Baby Rye,” “Kagandahan,” and “LOOPING.”

Daydreaming an ethereal feeling

Since entering the local music scene in 2017 with his hit single “Into You,” which is from his self-titled debut EP, the 21-year-old singer surely has grown personally and creatively.

In an interview with The Benildean, “DREAMWALKER”  is Fern’s most personal project yet. “It was basically just me creating and creating until it felt right and I was happy with it. I guess that newfound confidence in my art is what makes it different, for me at least,” Fern. shared.

Created amidst quarantine, Fern. has made stronger friendship bonds and found his people during isolation. However, staying comfortable with the art one creates can be a challenge, stating that their heads can blur the lines in creating.

“I guess the only ‘low’ of having full creative freedom is the war between your authentic self and what you [want to] show the world, it can get tough arguing with yourself. As for the highs, it’s working with the people I love. It’s creating something that feels like an extension of everybody on the project,” he emphasized. “Working with your friends is the best thing in the world. All the moments were memorable. It just felt like an RPG game and we were at a party or something trying to beat a boss.”

“As a person [who] always wants to be in control of everything, [the album’s success] really gives me anxiety. The whole process was not as stressful as people think just because this is what I love to do and this is exactly what I’ve been dreaming of my whole life, but my friends and family have been my main source of sanity,” he added.

“Whatever This Is” and its Side-B version marked the beginning of this new era from Fern., succeeding his 2019 “LOVELESS EP” and 2020 singles, “Blinded,” “Want U Bad,” and “Angel Eyes.”

In relationships, we’d have uncertain emotions that need to be addressed. As the chorus goes, “I just wanna love you like I'm losing all my days. But whatever this is I want it,” is a statement of falling too fast and going through the hell of it.

Meanwhile, “Baby Rye” comes with a banger music video that features a dreamy fantasy mythological aesthetic.

“Kagandahan,” on the other hand, is a track that’s short but sweet. In his first and only Tagalog track so far, Fern. yearns for one’s alluring beauty that leaves you in awe.

While “LOOPING.,” the last single off the album, resembles the repetitive feeling of quarantine and the cycle of falling in and out of love with someone, there’s definitely that person that feels as if they’re no one else like them. “I just wanna be your lover. I don't wanna feel another,” surely, we have felt this way for someone in one way or another.

Leading up to the album’s release, these singles more or less sprung out of his honest emotions throughout his journey to adulthood. Coming-of-age retrospective truly resonates with most people and “DREAMWALKER” is no stranger to that feeling.

Portrait of an artist

From the perspective of an artist, the arts are essential because “people tend to struggle when it comes to understanding what it is they really feel, and sometimes they even feel isolated.” For Fern., music is an outlet for comfort and a personal escape that narrows the gap between the consumer and the artist, as “most of the time we all go through the same things, just different versions of it.”

For Fern., the works of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami have been a great source of inspiration. It’s worth noting that Fern. released a track called “Murakami” from his LOVELESS EP. Definitely a slept-on track, you surely need to give it a listen. 

In addition, he also cited the works of German-American poet Charles Bukowski, the films “Her” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” as well as artists such as Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter Moses Sumney and Guamanian-American Alternative/R&B singer Dijon.

Supplementary recommendations 

• “DREAMWALKER” - the title track sets the tone for a dreamy escape into Fern.’s nostalgic trip. The upbeat and hopeful tune packs a lifeful ode of “falling too deep” and not letting go of someone. Surely, the person you love feels like heaven when they’re around you, “Don't you love when I come around. Got a lot of faces making a sound. Every breath you wanna take. Every night you overstay. Pray that we can stay like this together.”

• “In The Summer” - a more laid-back track that you’d play under the palm trees during summertime. The beach vibes juxtaposed with the fleeting emotions that “flew by too fast” still describes an adoration into a heavenly feeling.

• “LOTUS” - “Sometimes I get so lonely without you. Lonely when you're not around. I feel like we're just bounded by faith, girl. I promise I won't let you down.” This resembles a Frank Ocean track that messes up auto-tune in its own artistic fashion.

• “Bring Me To Your Light” - One of the latter tracks opens with the verse, “Lover don't you stay, Haunted by your grace. Everybody's watching over you. Distant as we pray. Solitary ways. Beauty in a different point of view.” Surely enough, that illuminating feeling with a lover is something you’ll always run back to.

• “Floating Away” - “I wish I was special enough it's true, it's true.” Fern. extends his more honest self and his plight of struggling to wake up from a dream, feeling lonely, and a little bit worse. Now, this is a solid album ender, encapsulating his trip into a collection of memories.

Overall, “DREAMWALKER” is a cathartic experience from an artist wanting to forge a sense of honesty and personal growth.

If there was one thing Fern. could say to his past self, it would probably be to “stay authentic, everybody will learn to love who you truly are and don’t ever change for anyone.”

Moving forward, he hopes to stay happy with the art he creates and share it to his loved ones and those who believe in him. 

To artists and creatives struggling during these times, he shared this: “You are exactly where you want to be, you are in control of your life so never ever let anyone take the steering wheel away from you.”