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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Asia TV) |
International artist Xander Pratt kicks off his music release in Asia with his 17-hit Afro-Asian album dubbed as “Fireflies: Follow the Magic” — starting with the music video premiere of his song “Way Up“, a no-nonsense self-love RnB anthem with its MV shot in Basilan, Philippines. The “Fireflies: Follow the Magic” album is made up of 17 songs with 17 music videos all filmed across the Philippines representing the 17 regions of the country.
Zimbabwe-born musician, painter, and fashion designer Xander Pratt was previously based in Morocco and has recently chosen the Philippines as his new artistry hub. The Earthsavers UNESCO Artist for Peace organization co-sponsored Xander’s artist residency in the Philippines, paving the way for his focus on the Afro-Asian music genre. The rich, colorful, and vibrant royalty culture of Morocco has very much influenced Pratt’s artistry be it in painting, music, and fashion design, which he can very much relate to the royalty in Mindanao, highlighted in some of his music videos. The Kingdom of Morocco has close relations with the Sultanate of Sulu, both having strong influences of Afro-Asian royalty. For his first hit from the album, Xander filmed the “Way Up” music video in the city of Isabela in Basilan, Mindanao as its backdrop — putting the island in a totally different light – inspiring us to explore a tourist destination often misunderstood, offering us a glimpse of the untapped potential and beauty that lies within. In the MV, Basilan emerges as a symbol of hope, resilience, and unity that goes well with the upbeat tune and feel-good lyrics of the Afro-Asian hit.
Recently named “Artist of the Year” by the International Youth Center under the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Malaysia, Xander is set to start his music tour dubbed as “Fireflies: The Asia Tour” with its first stop in the Philippines, then Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Hong Kong, among others, later in the year. Having traveled the world, Pratt uses his artistry, be it in music, painting and design, to deliver a message of art as a vessel of personal and collective freedom. Africa, like Asia and the rest of the Global South, is the oldest inhabited continent on Earth and home to the youngest populations, making a noteworthy case for Asia-Africa connectivity. Truly, the heart of diplomacy and business truly lies on art as a universal language. A recent member of the International Theatre Institute, he spent the first part of this year writing about the upcoming all-black-produced Hollywood superhero film with the support of Mayor Djalia Hataman of Isabela, Basilan. Xander's other original songs entitled “Don’t Hold Back” and “Oxyfire” are also available on Spotify and Youtube as a tribute to the rising tourism and creative industries in what was an often-forgotten, post-conflict island of Basilan.
