The lights dimmed at Kowloon House in Quezon City, but the night was far from silent.

Elijah Canlas stood before an audience, not as the award winning actor known for inhabiting complex roles, but as Elijah, just Elijah, a musician stepping into his own voice. 

His debut album, South II, released digitally on February 27 under Island Records Philippines, is his first full-length foray into music, a project that blends indie-pop and hip hop to reflect who he truly is. A physical CD version is set for March, but the emotional impact of the album was already palpable at its intimate launch the night before.

In an exclusive conversation with ZEEN, Elijah revealed that even his rapper name went through its own identity crisis. 

“Ang una kong option talaga ay Luiz,” he said, referring to his second name. At one point, he even considered something more stylized. “Nag Wutang clan name generator ako, Mundane Assassin.” He laughed at the memory. 

When asked which would he choose between the two options he had, he shared “parang Luiz talaga. But right now, I’m comfortable with Elijah. Just Elijah. It just suits my personality.” 

The decision feels intentional. Dropping the alter ego in favor of simplicity mirrors the thesis of South II itself. This is not a character. This is the person behind them.

Originally conceived as a six-track EP, South II grew over three years into a full-length statement, mirroring Elijah’s own journey of growth. 

“Honestly, dapat EP lang ‘to,” he shared. “Napatagal nang napatagal dahil kailangan natin kumayod, kailangan natin magtrabaho.” The delay became part of the process, allowing him to refine the songs and explore the sound he really wanted. 

What makes South II compelling is its honesty. 

Elijah uses the album as a space where no characters are portrayed, only his true voice and truth. He described it as a way to be “really transparent” about emotions that might seem petty or childish, feelings he cannot always express while acting. Tracks like “loved song” revisit past relationships, while “kilala kita” reflects on his student days commuting in Cavite, also serving as a nod of support to local jeepney drivers. 

Across the two-year writing period, the album became a record of self-discovery, an attempt to define his identity beyond the screen. “Personal,” he said simply when asked how to sum up the project.

Musically, Elijah blends genres in a way that feels natural. Growing up on The Beatles and Queen before discovering the lyrical intensity of Kendrick Lamar, he merges indie-pop and hip hop in a sound that is at once urgent, reflective, and tactile. 

Collaborations like “u wanna be?” featuring SHNTI help expand that palette, while he keeps certain textures raw and unpolished to preserve the emotions behind each track.

The album flows with confidence and introspection until the final moments, when a single track shifts the mood entirely. “bituin,” the closing song, stands apart from the rest, softer, more fragile, and suspended in a quiet space. 

This track carries a special weight for Elijah, as it was penned by his late younger brother, JM. The song was originally written and recorded as a simple demo, left unfinished after JM’s passing three years ago. Elijah worked with producers and family to complete it, but when it came to performing it live, he made a deliberate choice.

“I just don’t have the guts to sing it in front of you guys,” he admitted during the launch. “Mas maganda marinig niyo yung boses ni JM.” He wanted the lyrics to be preserved, heard as they were first written, and not reinterpreted for performance. 

In that decision, the track becomes less of a song to perform and more of a moment to feel, a tribute to memory and the bonds that shape us. It is a quiet surrender, a reminder that sometimes restraint carries more power than the spotlight.

Even the album’s name speaks to the sense of place and personal grounding that runs through it. South II references his roots in the south of Metro Manila and Cavite, tying nostalgia and identity to his musical expression. 

And as he reflected on the project, he made it clear that this is only the beginning. “Hindi ko alam kung first and last album ko na ba ito. Tignan natin.” He also hopes to learn the craft of being a musician firsthand, without shortcuts.

With South II, Elijah does more than step beyond his acting career. He steps fully into himself. The album is a declaration of authenticity, a chronicle of personal growth, and, at its quietest, a deeply felt tribute. By letting the final song speak for itself, he proves that music can be as much about listening and remembering as it is about performing.