Thomas Orlina
Filipino American Pop Artist & Producer 

Sandeep (00:01) Today's guest is Thomas Orlina, a Filipino American pop artist, producer, and advocate whose journey has taken him from YouTube and television to music, P-pop, and a growing platform for Filipino representation.

Suraaj Parab (00:17) Welcome Thomas to The Artist Conversation.

Thomas Orlina (00:20) Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to chat with you both and share my story with you. Excited to dive into it.

Sandeep (00:31) We are so happy to have you. We were watching a lot of your stuff and were excited to talk to you. It looks great, so this will be a great conversation. We wanted to begin from the origin and moving from camera to music. Your creative career really began on camera with Your Time with Thomas. What did those early years of hosting and creating your own content teach you about storytelling before music became your main artistic language?

Thomas Orlina (01:01) Ever since I was a kid, I've always been very comfortable on camera and just always wanted to share stories and talk. I couldn't have asked for a better platform than YouTube to really explore topics. To have some of my friends on the show as well was awesome. Doing the YouTube series gave me that opportunity to be even more confident and vulnerable on camera. When we reached out to my friends to do the show, it gave a lot of people a new perspective on certain things that we talked about and places that we explored in Los Angeles. It was inspired by a lot of Bravo's Real Housewives, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and early reality shows like The Simple Life with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. I really got to flex my muscles creating it because we went all around LA—Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Santa Monica. I wanted the show to have meaning, so we talked about mental health and other topics that are super important.

Sandeep (02:15) That's awesome. That must have taught you a lot in terms of the production aspect—what to do and what not to do. You must have learned a lot from mistakes and everything, right?

Thomas Orlina (02:24) Absolutely. I try to live my life with the mindset that you live and learn; everything is a lesson. Going through the process, working with producers, and writing out all our ideas, I wanted to make sure every episode had value for the audience. I come from a producer mindset. Especially now with music, you really want to connect with your audience even further. That was really the whole purpose of Your Time with Thomas. It wasn't so much about me as a person; it was about trying to find ways to connect with the audience, relate, and talk about things I felt were important.

Sandeep (03:19) Nice. What years was this again?

Thomas Orlina (03:23) We launched it in 2017. Time has just flown by. Looking back on those episodes, we did two seasons. The first season was very lifestyle, and then Season 2 definitely had a lot more depth. We had a breast cancer survivor; it turned into more of a news-type series. As time moves on, you evolve, so we reformatted the show to have guests, similar to this podcast. It was really the beginning of podcasts taking off during that era. It was great to be part of the beginnings of it all.

Sandeep (04:16) Yeah, that's pretty cool.

Suraaj Parab (04:16) That's great. Thomas, I am very excited to talk with you because I have many Filipino friends living in the Philippines who tell me about their culture. I told them I know a wonderful musician and performer who is Filipino. You have spoken about visiting the Philippines and appearing on television there. Did experiencing your Filipino heritage in that way change how you saw yourself and the kind of artist you wanted to become?

Thomas Orlina (05:00) Yeah, absolutely. I went to the Philippines with my dad, which was a very special trip. It's the only time I've been to the Philippines. Going there, I had a lot of expectations and really wanted to be in an environment where my family lived, seeing all the beautiful islands. Being on CNN in the Philippines to talk about Your Time with Thomas was such a special experience. In terms of my heritage, staying at my family home, being with my aunt and uncle, and seeing the culture firsthand was amazing. It took me so many years to go because scheduling never worked out. But being there physically, everyone was so welcoming and nice. That's one of the things about Filipinos—people see us as hospitable, giving, and always smiling and happy. I definitely got that vibe. Towards the end, I started talking to my family in Tagalog and loosening up. I can't wait to go back. When I went, I wasn't doing music yet. Going back now, having learned a lot through my experiences, performing or doing another TV appearance would be super fun and exciting.

Sandeep (06:58) I can attest to that too. Filipino people are really cool. I live in Oceanside in SoCal, and down south in San Diego County near Chula Vista, there are so many Filipino people. We had work done at home, and the main supervisor was Filipino. He was so much fun—we almost became friends. He'd joke with me and invite me to try Filipino food. I've met really good people through music as well in SoCal.

Thomas Orlina (07:40) Filipinos love to share our culture, especially food. For me, Filipinos are still very underrepresented. It's not always top-of-mind as a travel destination, and there's still a lot of curiosity around us. I hope that changes and there's more exposure. If you're watching the US Open right now, Alexandra Eala is one of the newest players on tour representing the Philippines. Seeing that step forward and more exposure makes me really happy because we are fun people and it's a beautiful place to visit.

Sandeep (08:42) Moving on, let's talk about your influences and finding your voice. You've mentioned big artists like Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and Justin Bieber as influences. What did you take from artists operating at that scale while figuring out what a Thomas Orlina record should sound and feel like?

Thomas Orlina (09:13) Those three artists have been my reference points since day one. I've always admired their craft and every era they released—I was a super fan of every project. I loved their transformations and how they evolved. When I started doing music, I wanted to invent this Filipino American pop artist with similar vibes, but because of my background and look, it was always going to be different. When you hear the music, it's very electronic, like early Lady Gaga—Just Dance, Poker Face. The choreography is very Britney Spears-driven; I always perform with a headset mic. With Justin Bieber, it's the vocal delivery and his ability to capture an audience. Tapping into this character is so much fun because I get to explore different sides of myself.

Sandeep (10:54) They are all super talented. Lady Gaga is still my top favorite. She's crazy in a good way.

Thomas Orlina (11:15) Crazy in all the good ways! Look at all she's accomplished across her eras—she's acting in The Devil Wears Prada 2, she has an Oscar and multiple Grammys. What I really admire about these artists is that they give back. You can have millions of fans, but what stands out is when artists use their platform for charities, mental health conversations, and self-care. That's what makes a complete artist.

Suraaj Parab (12:15) It's a wonderful thought. It's not only about what you create; how you talk to and care for people is even more important than your art.

Thomas Orlina (12:33) For sure. I recently had the opportunity to write an open-letter essay for Vogue Philippines about mental health and my journey. Throughout my career, mental health has always been something I want to put front and center. We've done work with GLAAD talking about the importance of taking care of yourself mentally. As artists, we go through ups and downs—asking ourselves if our work is good enough or if we even want to continue. When I released my third single, This Time, I tied it into mental health elements, working with organizations like the Asian Mental Health Project. I try to match releases with national awareness days or holidays to give them extra value for my audience.

Suraaj Parab (14:03) Speaking of your singles, please tell us about your recent release Mag Sayao Na Tayo.

Thomas Orlina (14:17) This year I'm really tapping into my Filipino culture and heritage. My parents have been married for over 40 years, and I grew up in a culture-focused household. They spoke Tagalog to me, and I picked it up over time. When we wrote Mag Sayao Na Tayo in the studio, it was a beautiful moment because my parents were there to help guide me on how to write in Tagalog and give me confidence. The Filipino community has really rallied behind and championed the song.

Suraaj Parab (16:04) It's pronounced Mag Sayao Na Tayo, right?

Thomas Orlina (16:12) Yes! Mag Sayao Na Tayo means "Let's dance now." When you think of Filipino artists like Bruno Mars, H.E.R., or Saweetie, or talent on shows like The Voice, you think about singing and dancing. It couldn't have been a better song title to introduce my artistry to P-pop. Growing up going to birthday parties and weddings, you always heard people say, "Mag sayao na tayo!" It's such a great phrase. We are currently in development for the next one, staying in this lane of creating P-pop music and working with a Filipino songwriter.

Sandeep (17:54) You also have Best You Ever Had. How do these new releases represent where you are today compared to when you first stepped into music?

Thomas Orlina (18:07) When I first stepped into music during the pandemic lockdown, like most of the world, I was wondering what was going to happen. I spent time figuring out what I wanted to accomplish, and that was music. I had always been insecure and worried about judgment or nasty comments online. But after talking with my team, we went for it. Our first single was featured in Forbes as a culture piece. Looking back at that person then versus now, I've learned so much about the industry and met amazing people through the Recording Academy. Now when I release music, I don't worry about what critics think. I do it for myself and for my fans. The biggest difference now is confidence. I have more conviction in the studio, in writing, and in directing music videos. For other artists out there, trust yourself. We only have one life, and coming from a place of gratitude opens up so many opportunities and clarity.

Suraaj Parab (21:15) You care deeply about Filipino LGBTQ+ representation and mental health awareness. How do you make sure those parts of who you are feel naturally woven into your art?

Thomas Orlina (21:48) I love integration. Tying everything together makes for better storytelling. A huge part of my story is being part of the LGBTQ+ community. Coming out is difficult, and every family's acceptance level is different. I want to continue amplifying and normalizing that narrative so there is less judgment. Regarding mental health, I had therapy this morning. Five or six years ago during the pandemic, I wasn't in therapy and had to process everything alone in my head. In Asian households, mental health wasn't widely discussed—it was always "figure it out." Having a professional to talk to gives so much clarity. Normalizing therapy, bringing LGBTQ+ representation, and releasing a fully Tagalog song with Mag Sayao Na Tayo all fuel my drive to do more in this next phase of my music.

Sandeep (26:59) I want to ask about your Grammy dream. In 2024, you had a dream that you were sitting at the Grammys, and that same morning you got a call about an opportunity to submit your music for the first time. Then you actually attended the Grammys. What did that experience mean to you, and what dream are you chasing now?

Thomas Orlina (27:26) It was the best dream of my life. I was sitting in an auditorium watching an amazing show. When I woke up and went to the gym, my dear friend MJ called and asked if I had music to submit for Grammy consideration. It felt unreal. My first year submitting, we placed my single for Best Dance/Pop Recording alongside artists like Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Madison Beer, Troye Sivan, and Charli XCX. To be included on that consideration list was a dream come true. In my second year, I worked with a Grammy winner to place my music in Best Dance/Electronic Recording and Best Remixed Recording. This third year, placing my project in Best Asian Pop Music Performance—the Recording Academy's newly introduced category—is deeply special because of the Tagalog element. Attending the Grammys in person was a full-circle moment because the auditorium looked identical to my dream. Every person I've met in the Recording Academy has been so supportive, and I've submitted my application to hopefully become a voting member next year.

Suraaj Parab (33:40) Your journey is so inspiring, Thomas. Thank you for spending time with us, sharing your story, and using your platform to promote Filipino culture, mental health awareness, and representation.

Thomas Orlina (34:08) To anyone watching who wants to be an artist: just go for it. It's never too late. Your ideas are valid, and all you need is yourself and the persistence to keep going. Find that inner voice that wants to make a difference and run with it.

Sandeep (35:00) This was such a great chat. Embracing where you came from can open doors to where you're going next. Thank you for chatting with us, Thomas.

Thomas Orlina (35:19) Thank you both for having me! Hopefully, we'll see each other at the Grammys next year.

Suraaj Parab (35:41) To everyone listening, thank you for tuning in. Check out Thomas Orlina's music on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and all major platforms, and follow his work on Instagram and YouTube. If this episode resonated with you, please share it, and we'll see you in the next episode of The Artist Conversation.