A band she can call family
Isay Olarte is no stranger to competition, and she has grown accustomed to winning—and losing—alone. As a child, she took home seven gold medals at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles in 2019. Three years later, she achieved six consecutive wins in the sixth season of “Tawag ng Tanghalan (TnT),” before returning last year for the contest’s “School Showdown Edition.”
There, a mere 0.3 percent difference separated her from the grand title.
But while her path seemed destined for a career as a solo vocalist, little did she know that it would be in a band where she would feel most at home—and, in a way, reclaim her confidence.
After her heartbreaking loss in “TnT,” Olarte regrouped with her bandmates—guitarist Jhon Ramos, bassist Don Don Baculo, and drummer Angelo Galendez—and together they won the recent Jameson Distilled Sounds Battle of the Bands. Sharing the victory with them made it all the sweeter.
“Masakit po ‘yung pagkatalo. Ang dami kong pinagdaanan na hardships, and put in a lot of effort. But my bandmates helped me move on. To finally win this time is a dream come true, and it feels more special because we’re all together,” Olarte says of their band, simply called I Zay.
“Mas masaya kapag kasama ko sila. Mas buhay at mas ramdam ang tugtugan,” she tells Lifestyle Inquirer. “I feel like I’m not alone—that we’re a solid team.”
Equal roles
As a kontesera, she knows all too well what it feels like to hope and fall short. And somewhere along the way, she knows she will face that again. But she takes comfort in the fact that, no matter the outcome, pain and disappointment eventually give way to acceptance, because she gave it her best shot.
This time, she—scratch that—they didn’t fall short. “We spent a lot of time practicing and stayed open to the fact that anything can happen,” she says. “We just told ourselves that it’s okay to lose—perhaps it’s just not the right time. The important thing is, win or lose, we didn’t get complacent.”
Hailing from Oriental Mindoro, the four were church musicians who crossed paths every so often at local gatherings. But after Olarte’s first “TnT” stint in 2022, they linked up to see where their newfound collaboration may lead. Soon, invitations started rolling in for events across town, and the thought of staying together as a band eventually grew on them.
“Pinagtagpo kami. It’s easy to find someone who will play with you, but it’s difficult to find people you can call family,” Olarte says. And indeed, one of the principles they adhere to is that everyone is equal: earnings and prizes are distributed evenly. “We all have different skills, but we play equal roles. Kung wala ang isa, wala ang lahat.”
Just getting started
The first thing that strikes you watching I Zay onstage is Olarte’s powerful vocals, which pack the band’s pop-rock sound with immediate and serious wallop. But she can also dial it back as needed for more easygoing fare, as in their inspirational single, “Sa Ilalim ng Liwanag,” a curious blend of alternative rock, synth textures, and hints of J-rock.
While covers and torch pieces are the norm in singing contests, Olarte says the band—expected to sign with Warner Music Philippines—will focus on original music. In fact, they have already written plenty of songs just sitting in the vault, just waiting to be released.
“One of the most important things we have learned is that we all have our unique voice and that we must use it to tell our own stories,” she says. “Hearing people sing along to your own songs is gratifying and overwhelming.”
And while still riding high from their win, there’s no resting on their laurels, because their journey, they all agree, is just getting started. “Just because we’ve had a taste of victory doesn’t mean we stop learning,” Olarte says. “We’re always ready to learn from new people and new experiences.”
