IN THE dimly lit studio, Nolan Villamor, Jr. turns the knobs and switches with quiet confidence, his actions precise and purposeful.
From reviewing video productions to discussing themes with the team, he speaks the language of music with fluency and ensures every performance reflects the artist’s vision – be it through tempo, mood or storytelling. Each detail is refined to let every note carry its intended weight.
From there, Villamor steps into the technical arena. This is just another day for him as the head of a record label – helping compose harmonies on and off the booth.
He may not be the one in the spotlight, but his presence is felt in every perfectly timed beat and transition.
“I administer the songs and take care of our artists, ensuring they’re ready for their releases and supporting them in every way I can, even with personal issues,” Villamor said.
A junior in the UST English Language Studies program, Villamor recalled the dreams of his youth as a drummer and musician, which have now been tempered by time; not lost but redirected as he finds himself down a path he never expected.
“It was always my childhood dream to be known for music.”
Although Villamor dreamed of commanding the stage behind the percussion in front of adoring crowds, he now finds fulfillment in orchestrating the magic behind the production scenes.
Different dreams, same passion
Villamor once saw himself as the heartbeat of the band, a drummer who was lost in the rhythm of a live performance.
While he signed up for the battle of the bands during his high school years in hopes of carving out a place in the music scene, it never quite worked out the way he expected it.
“Like grade eight, I said ‘I want to make this happen,’ pero hindi, hindi nangyari (but it didn’t, it didn’t work out).”
But all was not lost for Villamor.
In 2024, his friend and blockmate, Joseph Mirabete, made an offer that would mark his way into the music industry.
Mirabete is the creative director of unstable records, a Singapore-based Filipino record label that handles OPM hitmakers Eliza Maturan, Teys, and other rising acts in the country.
“In January, he mentioned that he was the content director of a record label and that they needed someone to manage their social media,” Villamor said. “So I said, ‘Okay, G!’ since I didn’t really have anything else going on.”
Aside from his artistic vision, Mirabete had a deep fascination with the 90s and viewed everything through a lens of nostalgia. This fixation led to an inception: Taped Sessions, the prized creation of unstable records.
Villamor spent three months handling marketing and social media for unstable records, laying the groundwork for his stint in the industry before being promoted to arts and repertoire director. A year later, he became head of the record label.
“I managed social media for about three months, and then our label head (at the time), who isn’t from UST but is from Singapore…promoted me to A&R (artists and repertoire)” he said.
As the A&R director, Villamor was tasked to administer the songs and ensure these were ready for release. This also made him a friend to the artists, someone who not only shaped their sound but also stood beside them through every triumph, struggle, and song that never made it to the stage.
“You don’t just release music. You market it,” he said.
This skillful practice has been evident in the label’s countless hits across many genres ranging from hip-rap collectives to acoustic serenades.
Now the executive, Villamor seeks to reach new heights and create connections with other record labels to actualize their artists’ unique visions and put their projects on the map.
“We are planning to expand our team… to further boost the reach of our songs in the local scene, and hopefully, to reach the global charts.”
Along with his musical endeavors, Villamor has also stepped into the spotlight to star in Eliza Maturan’s hit music video “Museo,” a project that has garnered over 10 million views across social media platforms and more than 77 million streams on the music streaming platform Spotify.
The song also debuted on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 at number 81 on July 10, and peaked at number 8.
The role brought him back to his roots in acting, rekindling memories of his days with Kabataang Teatro, where his love for performance first began.
“Back when I was in Grade 7, and even when I was in Grade 6, my older sister was super interested in those kinds of things. And me, being a ‘delulu’ (delusional) kid, I really wanted to become an actor back then, like join ‘Goin’ Bulilit’ or something, but my mom didn’t want me to,” Villamor said, referring to hit ABS-CBN kiddie gag show that features child actors.
“It was a dream come true that I have to do what I want to do right now, even as a student.”
A love letter to the past
Paying tribute to his younger self’s aspirations, Villamor joined forces with Mirabete to establish Taped Sessions, a retro-themed live performance series that showcases the stars of the local music scene. According to Villamor, the installment is the brainchild of Joju Valentino, the creative alter-ego of Mirabete.
Inspired by the grainy charm of 90s aesthetics and vintage camcorders, the two dared to craft a project that aims to honor the past and redefine live music’s future. It served as an endearment to the past, an ode to nostalgia, sung by the youthful voices of evolving genres.
“He has a distinct aesthetic with all his works,” Villamor said, describing his business partner.
According to him, Mirabete insisted on his fourth attempt at pitching the idea to producers. After relentless effort, the team rented a condo in Arca South and transformed it into a haven of lo-fi artistry.
After several late-night brainstorming and persistent pushes to then-label head Dave Anonuevo, also a Billboard-charting mixing engineer, the concept evolved into a live music platform unlike anything in the Philippines.
“I want to make this happen,” Villamor said, quoting Mirabete.
With flickering analog cameras and moody lighting, they captured raw, soulful performances from artists like Hev Abi and Illest Morena. Taped Sessions was not just a production but a cinematic revival of an era reimagined for the modern music scene.
Uploaded on the Nine Degrees North YouTube channel, Villamor and his team open their stage to artists of all genres. It provided a space where even the most intense styles could thrive.
“We can accommodate artists, even those in drill, because other live performance setups often struggle with drill and similar intense genres,” Villamor said, highlighting how Taped Sessions brings a fresh perspective to the local music scene.
“They are welcome with us. We can handle that kind of style and genre.”
The team has also traveled across the country to reach and discover new talents. From the misty heights of Baguio City’s Cozy Cove to the sun-kissed beaches of Cebu, unstable records remained true to its goal by traversing all grounds to propel original Filipino music forward.
Artlets in music
Villamor’s team is also dominated by Artlets students, leading the helm alongside industry giants and guided by Shadiel Chan, who mixed “Uhaw” by Dilaw and “Pasilyo” by SunKissed Lola, and Jan Fuertez, the mastering engineer of Billboard PH, Dionela, Cup of Joe.
Other Artlets who have joined him in creating music are Alliyah Malalad, the set designer and camera operator; Kevin Reyes, the recording engineer and Mirabete, all hailing from English Language Studies.
“It makes it extra special that we’re Thomasians. We can communicate better because we’re classmates, and it’s so easy to reach out to each other. We personally know each other, so everything always runs smoothly,” Villamor said.
Recent additions to the label include Tunog Tomasino 2024 grand champion and Artlets pride, COALESCENCE. The quartet is composed of lead vocalist and Journalism student Ethan Christensen Cardaño, lead guitarist and fellow Journalism student Jianzen Deananeas, rhythm guitarist Von Zyron Alimorong and bassist Janssen Anne Versy Mendoza, both from the Literature program.
READ: Artlets band inks deal with Singapore-based record label
Despite all the highs of ‘living the dream,’ Villamor still looks back to his roots with bittersweet nostalgia.
“Back then, I wanted my drumming to land me a spot in bands that really composed their own music, but I wasn’t part of that circle. So, I said to myself, ‘I’ll embrace this back-end role.’…I’m a social butterfly, and my job involves meeting people from other record labels, which I really enjoy,” he said.
Villamor’s history is a transformation of ambitions reshaped rather than discarded. Standing behind the camera or adjusting the levels on the soundboard, he sees fragments of his younger self reflected in every artist who steps onto the Taped Sessions stage.
Each note sung and each chord strummed carry the weight of a story waiting to be heard. To him, it is akin to an unshakable pride of being the vessel that brings such stories to life.
As he watches the artists pour their hearts into every performance, he realizes that his dream did not fade but rather matured. The music he once played now becomes the soundtrack to the stories he helps tell.
Now, he not only strikes his sticks to the beat of a metronome but creates rhythm and life in the careers of other musicians.
“The artists will be known,” he said not with a tone of hope but of certainty. F
