Photographed by Sharif Hamza for the May 2023 Issue of Vogue Philippines. Art by Bea Lu.
In Vogue Playlists, various personalities across art, fashion, and culture offer an intimate glimpse into the sonic landscape that soundtrack their lives. In an exclusive interview with Vogue Philippines, Zild Benitez dedicates songs to his father, Franklin Benitez, for Father’s Day.
Zild Benitez is known for his alternative indie rock sound, with hits such as “Kyusi” and “Medisina.” It comes as no surprise, of course. With a father like Franklin Benitez (former drummer for Barbies Cradle and Hungry Young Poets), Zild’s taste, talent, and skill has been informed and shaped at an early age. This Father’s Day, Zild dedicates songs for his dad through Vogue Playlists.
Favorite song to jam out to with his dad: “Batang Bata Ka Pa” by Apo Hiking Society
Zild: We love listening to Classic OPM Ballads whenever we travel. We don’t listen to ‘heavy’ music together. Our personal favorite is “Batang Bata Ka Pa” by Apo Hiking Society because as I grew older, I realized through my father that you will always be this ‘child’ who still doesn’t know everything about life and the world no matter how old you get.
A song dedicated to his dad: “Leader of the Band” by Dan Fogelberg
Zild: The line “But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul” always sticks with me and I am every day grateful that as a teenage dad, he sacrificed a lot of his dreams just for us to have food on the plate. He sacrificed his dreams so that I could reach mine.
His dad’s song recommendation that influenced his music: “Huwag na Huwag Mong Sasabihin” by Kitchie Nadal
Zild: He brought me to a concert when I was 7 and I saw her singing that song playing live. That song stayed in my playlists until now.
Favorite song from Barbie’s Cradle: “Tabing Ilog” by Barbie’s Cradle
Zild: My personal favorite is “Tabing Ilog.” It’s a nice ballad and my dad’s fill there is a classic. He told me that it was just an accident and sarcastic take, but the fill was recorded anyway and the producer said that it’s gonna be part of the song. Happy accidents.
A song about a life lesson he learned from his dad: “Englishman in New York” by Sting
Zild: The lyric “Be yourself, no matter what they say” is advice that he told me when I was starting to write my own songs. It helped me to become unapologetically myself.
