So close, so close to forever,
when we move to each other's beat.
Try to keep it together,
as if we're strangers when we meet.

Why can't we be, this time around?
We crash like waves without a sound.

This time,
we'll rise and fall
to the call of our summer.

This time,
we'll give in to the heat
as the waves that we make
break us down,
'til they take us closer,
gonna break us down,
'til they take us closer, closer than ever.

So close, so close we can feel it,
but we pull away before we touch.
All we want is each other,
but the feeling's just too much.

We can't hold on, we can't let go,
survivors drifting in the flow.

feat. Aia de Leon - Closer Than Ever (This Time)

To the most beautiful, persistent, courageous soul I have been the luckiest to meet. Thank you for getting me back on my feet. While we're still shopping for your other birthday gift, here's the first track off the Tiny Room EP. Happy birthday @ainainthesky I love you!

(Special thanks to @buwanbuwancollective, @lencalvomusic, and @alfonseenriquez for constructive critique. Image courtesy of Billie dela Paz)

Tiny Room

(final track, Karma Zero EP)

I just wanna slow down,
I just wanna slow down with you,
feel the world twisting like a tourniquet
'til we don't feel anything anymore—
we won't even breathe,

'cause if we breathe we might start an avalanche,
and every move the consequence could be tectonic,
every ripple, every echo that led us to each other
can be traced through causality,
can be broken by us—

slow down, I just wanna slow down with you,
feel the world twisting like a tourniquet
'til we don't feel anything anymore,
until we forget what we slowed down for,
we won't even breathe

Tectonic

Buy the Ourselves The Elves "It'll Be Allright" EP!
http://ourselvestheelves.bandcamp.com/album/itll-be-alright-ep

Thank you for trusting me with your material, Ourselves the Elves!

Ourselves the Elves - Shelter (Nights of Rizal remix)

Support the very inspiring tide/edit—buy the Foreign Languages LP! http://tideedit.bandcamp.com/

(image edit c/o Super Pixel Time)

tide/edit - Odd & Even (NoR Deep House Remix)

This remix has seen countless iterations, as it was first finished sometime in 2013.

2 years later, the song now also has a music video! https://youtu.be/XZy1Tvzo2sQ

"Tama Na Ang Drama" is from the album Tama Na Ang Drama under Wide Eyed Records Manila. Available at Team Manila Stores in Trinoma, SM North Edsa, Rockwell and SM Mall Of Asia, Moonleaf Tea Shops - Maginhawa, Katipunan, Ayala, Congressional Ave and BAGUIO, The Grey Market Records in White Plains, Katipunan Ave, Four Strings Cubao X and on iTunes and Wide Eyed Records Manila Shop @ BigCartel.com

Ang Bandang Shirley - Tama Na Ang Drama (NoR "Hikbi" remix)

First release off the summer/salt album. (Still experimenting with mastering/loudness!)

Penelope (Made Up)

Her mind's made up,
there's no reason, it just is.
Her mind's made up,
and I want her more for it.

Her mind's made up,
like my mind is made up too.
Her mind's made up
and there's no way to get through.

Penelope pulls another thread,
she's telling me "I don't think he's dead; 
'cause I don't want him to be."

Penelope (Made Up) F R E E  D O W N L O A D

WORK IN PROGRESS feat. John Clarence Garcia (tide/edit) on guitar.

Album summer/salt is out now! Order your merch + hi-res copy here: http://bit.ly/2rDeU3g

Hear the final version of this song on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3ysnaGn7t5r5MXQoHZU4E9

Night Swim feat. Clarence (instrumental preview)

submission for BuwanBuwan's Bakunawa Volume 6:  Metro Shock (complextro challenge)

Album summer/salt is out now! Order your merch + hi-res copy here: http://bit.ly/2rDeU3g

Hear the final version of this song on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6L2jLIP4KOzqlO0Fv2k45A

Keep Moving (draft BuwanBuwan Bakunawa version)

Music video: https://youtu.be/wW7BdtjuM6U
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2bmfTHBHSw42LGa37zaDe3

summer/salt

Little Ocean

"The electronic music project by Migi De Belen-- Nights of Rizal-- started off with productions completely devoid of human vocals. Then came 'Words', the song that contemplates why words are more difficult to say than to do. For sure though, "Words" is one of those few tracks in this compilation that will really stick in your head for sometime. . . so while you're at it, enjoy!" --<a href="http://www.manilaedmusicon.com/musicconcd.html">The 2012 Manila Electronic Dance Music Conference</a> giveaway CD.

Words (2012 version)

This is my personal tribute to Karl Roy. I composed it the day I heard the news of his passing, and I performed it at a tribute gig that same night. I use FL Studio's Live Mode for this piece, and trigger original loops and patterns using my laptop keys. This particular recording is from a gig at Last Home, Pioneer, Mandaluyong organized by the Elements Songwriters group, June 9, 2012. It was recorded with a Zoom H4N1 as a single track, then post-processed in FL Studio with EQ and limiting.

The photograph is of me performing onstage with my now defunct funk-rock band, circa 2005. We formed in high school and we used to cover P.O.T. songs.

Nights of Rizal - Ulitin (P.O.T. cover) FREE DOWNLOAD

Passport (For Your Love)

Finally, my first (surely not my last) Tagalog electronic song! "Sumpa" means both "promise" and "curse"; a story of someone obviously in love, yet in constant fear of losing the one he/she loves.

Now also streaming on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2OJjyYC

Songwriting, Production, Mixing/Mastering: Migi de Belen
Sound Engineer: Emmanuel Aguila
Lyric Video: Aina Sevilla
Cover Art: Egon Layson
Distribution: Gabi Na Naman Productions

*

Mga kathang nakalaan sa liham,
'pag pinasok ng baha't ulan:
bawat pantig at bawat titik,
tinta lang pala ang nilalaman;
ang bawat salita'y pagpapaalam.

Mga saglit na siniksik, pinaliit,
at pinagkasya sa litrato:
kahit alagaan, pilit na ingatan,
kukupas din ang kulay na kinuhanan;
ang bawat sandali'y isang paglipas.

Kahit ngayon, ngayon na nandito ka,
hindi mabaon sa limot itong sumpa.
Kahit ngayon, ngayon na nandito ka,
ako'y natatakot na ika'y biglang mawawalang
walang paalam; paalam, paalam.

Mga indak na 'di naman sadya,
kung ihahanay-hanay sa limguhit:
kada galaw natin, kasasayaw natin,
mamamanhid din tayo sa paulit-ulit;
ang bawat paghakbang ay alaala.

Sumpa

An ode to the surfing lessons I will never have the knee strength to take. And drowning.

The Waves (draft mix)

BuwanBuwan is a Filipino beatmakers collective. We are collectively mangling the Rocko's Modern Life opening theme, and here's my take on it.

Heffer pics: http://www.ravelinks.com/forums/f8/holy-shit-hefer-from-rockos-modern-life-made-the-funniest-fucking-faces-214374/

Modern Life (That Was a Hoot!) FREE DOWNLOAD

Want to hear this on Jam 88.3's regular playlist? Cast your vote via http://www.poll-maker.com/poll80375xdfAC4578-3

(final mix can be heard on the Karma Zero EP)

When It Comes Around 2013 mix

"Old enough to not forgive, but not to forget." – circa 2010, the 1st track written for my forthcoming Karma Zero EP (release date: July 13, 2013).

What's At Stake 2013 mix

Order my 1st full-length album "summer/salt" here: http://bit.ly/2rDeU3g  | Inquiries: 0917 826 50 84, nightsofrizal@gmail.com | @buwanbuwancollective

Social media: @nightsofrizal

What Nights of Rizal (Migi de Belen) actually sounds like is a singer-songwriter trying to give up his guitar—and his hopes of ever finding permanent bandmates—for a laptop running music software. Beginning as an instrumental project (as heard on EP Collected Beats Vol. 1 released 2011 and re-released via BuwanBuwan Collective in 2017), Nights of Rizal's take on electronic music soon proved to be an exciting vehicle for singing, when at the time Migi had just returned from his week-long workshop at the Philippines' 1st ever Elements National Songwriting Camp.

In 2013, the Karma Zero EP was released, a 6-track exploration of various genres ranging from dubstep to drum &amp; bass, and even chiptune. The unique balance of songwriting and electronic production led to features on several publications, notably on Vandals On The Wall who deemed it the #1 Local EP of 2013. The strength of his live sets also led to a performance for Malaysia's The Wknd Sessions.

After several years of pursuing various creative endeavors, Nights of Rizal comes back to making more music in 2018 with 10 new songs: his 1st full-length album summer/salt.

Popular tracks by Nights of Rizal