Ralph William Datoon (born November 27, 1999), professionally known as Maki, is a Filipino singer and songwriter from Quezon City.[1] He first gained attention with his viral songs "Saan?" and "Bakit?" from his debut EP Tanong, released on September 22, 2023, both of which saw significant success on Spotify.[2]
In 2024, Maki reached mainstream popularity with his single "Dilaw", which charted on the global Spotify chart, making it the third Filipino song to do so.[3][4] The song also became the first number-one track on Billboard Philippines' relaunched Philippines Hot 100 chart.[5] Maki is currently signed with Tarsier Records.[6]
Early life
Ralph William Datoon was born on November 27, 1999. He began writing R&B songs during his high school years and independently auditioned at various recording companies. In a media interview, he recalled being traumatized by the treatment he received during an audition at the age of 15, he was treated poorly and may have faced inappropriate behavior. The experience upset him, and he quietly cried on the jeepney ride home. He did not tell his family about it because he had kept his dream of becoming a singer-songwriter a secret from them.[7]
During his high school, he struggled to find his direction as a singer, eventually deciding that a career in music might not be for him. This led him to shift his focus towards his college, ultimately graduating from New Era University with a degree in communications.[7]
Maki auditioned for the first season of the reality TV singing competition The Voice Teens.[8] Early in his career, he left the music scene as he was about to graduate from college, planning to step back from his career as a musician.[9] However, a friend discovered his demo tape, which ended up with an A&R representative at Tarsier Records, catching the label's attention.[8]
During his career, he adopted the name "Maki". He mentioned in an interview that he personally chose "Maki" as his stage name, though neither he nor Tarsier Records executives, including Jonathan Manalo and Rox Liquigan, have provided a detailed explanation for the choice. The name "Maki", which has androgynous connotations, is relatively common in Japan as both a first name and a surname, and is also widely recognized in Japanese cuisine, particularly with the dish California maki.[7] Initially, the plan was to give him some exposure as an indie artist, but he eventually signed with the label.[8] He began appearing on TV shows such as It's Showtime.[10]
Maki also performed at gigs and busking events to promote his music. His debut single, "Halaga" (Worth), was released on December 17, 2021, under Tarsier Records. In 2023, he released "Saan?" (Where?), a song for people struggling to express feelings of separation anxiety. He initially teased the song on TikTok by posting a series of snippets, which went viral and garnered over 500,000 views.[11]
He released his debut EP, Tanong (Question), on September 22, 2023, featuring the tracks "Saan?", and "Bakit?" (Why?). Maki described the songs on the album as questions directed at people who are no longer in his life, missed opportunities, and reflections on himself. The tracks originated as journal entries that eventually became a collection of songs reflecting his personal journey.[12]
Maki gained widespread recognition in 2024 with the release of his song "Dilaw" (Yellow). The song topped local Spotify and Billboard charts and even made its way onto the global Spotify chart. It became the third OPM song in history to achieve this, following Juan Karlos' "Ere" and gins&melodies' "Babaero" featuring Hev Abi. The school-themed music video for "Dilaw" featured Maloi Ricalde, the main vocalist of the P-Pop girl group Bini. Maki shared that the song had been in his vault since August 2023, waiting for the right moment to be released.[8] On August 30, Maki released a single titled "Namumula" (Blush).[13]
On October 12, 2024, Maki appeared as a guest performer at a concert by the American pop rock group LANY at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.[14]
On August 2, 2024, Tarsier Records announced that Maki would be holding his first solo concert, at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City in November.[15] Titled "Maki-Concert",[a] the concert was originally scheduled on November 29, but was extended to November 30 after tickets for the first day sold out within four hours of their release. The tickets for the second day were also sold out.[16]
^Bonoan, Christian (September 21, 2023). "Maki Releases 'Tanong' EP". Myx Global. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
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