For some artists, music and art exist in separate worlds. For Reanne Borela, they breathe together. The University of the Philippines Cebu Fine Arts student moves gracefully between melodies and canvases, building emotional realms where songs feel visual and paintings seem to hum back. Signed to a record label while balancing academics, gigs, and her own art practice, Borela inhabits multiple creative spaces but insists they all originate from a single source.
Art and Music as One
“Art and music aren’t really that far off from each other,” she said. “Both are used for expression but as different mediums. It’s similar to storytelling. Music is for the content, the heart of the story, while painting is giving a visual image of that story.” That emotional intensity defines her work. Her sound, often described as “softcore sad pop,” draws inspiration from storybooks and childhood imagery. Her visual art follows the same thread, featuring soft, dreamlike forms and doll-like figures. She cites artists like British-Filipina singer Beabadoobee and American singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez as primary inspirations.
Creative Ownership Above All
But beyond her aesthetic lies something far more rigid: control. For her, creative ownership is not just a preference but an identity. “Unfortunately artists really are prone to wonder whether they should make songs that are sellable to the masses or songs that are true to them,” she expressed. Yet remaining true to her values, she shared, “It won’t be my art anymore, it would be theirs. What would be the point of it all if that’s the case? I just refuse to become a puppet of society and this applies to both art and music.” At one point, she even stepped back from making music entirely to recalibrate. “I took a step back for me to gain control again. Control on what I want and how others perceive me and my music. The reward I’d receive from this is gaining back my identity and that is enough for me now.”
A Quiet Standout
And that is where Reanne Borela quietly stands apart. In her world, painting is not just an image and music is not just sound. Her work is not built on curated identity or trends, but from the depths of her very soul.
