At Glitter Records, I love discovering new areas of music, and one of the most exciting I have recently come across is Original Pilipino Music. A local Brisbane collector introduced me to it. After chatting with him, I started curating a collection of OPM records on vinyl, CD, and cassette.
An Introduction to Original Pilipino Music
The collector has explained to me that “OPM” stands for Original Pilipino Music. He jokingly compares it to “opium,” saying it’s addictive. I agree. Right now, Glitter Records has 26 OPM releases. Each one shows how pop music in the Philippines has changed over time.
Like Japan’s City Pop, OPM has a special nostalgic feel. It lets you imagine a glamorous past, even if they didn’t live through it. These recordings offer a glimpse into a world that feels familiar but also new.
OPM and Cassette Culture
Some of our favorite OPM records include a rare copy of Jamie Rivera’s 1988 album All Out for Love on vinyl. We also have a well-preserved cassette version of Manilyn Reynes’ 1989 album Heartbeat. A cassette? Yes, a cassette!
In the Philippines, cassettes were the main way to listen to music into the 1990s. This continued long after they disappeared in other countries like Australia. Cassettes were cheap, easy to use, and portable. This made them perfect for the local market. Even when CDs took over, cassettes stayed popular in the Philippines. Because of this, OPM cassettes such as those by Manilyn Reynes are just as valuable as rare vinyl and CDs.
A Golden Era of OPM: 1980s and 1990s
The 1980s and 1990s were a golden era for music in the Philippines. Artists like Regine Velasquez and Gary Valenciano made albums that rivaled the best international releases. These high-quality OPM recordings also sound terrific on CD and are now part of a growing CD revival.
OPM and Global Pop Culture
What I find most interesting is how OPM connects with global pop culture. After World War II, American pop music became a global influence. OPM took these international trends and blended them with Filipino culture. The resulting fusion is a sound that’s local, global, and relatable to contemporary taste.
The Vaporwave Aesthetic of Original Pilipino Music
OPM has a vaporwave-like quality. It’s dreamy, with a mix of cultures that feels timeless and surreal. It taps into a sense of nostalgia that speaks to today’s digital world. I’ll admit, there’s something special about hearing Kuh Ledesma, an OPM icon, perform Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” on her 1981 album Kuh’s Magic. A song by a 1960s English rock band, influenced by African American blues, now reimagined by a Filipino artist of the 1980s. This mix of eras and cultures is both surprising and captivating.
Celebrating OPM at Glitter Records
As the owner of Glitter Records, I celebrate music from all times and places. I want others to experience this joy as well. Which is why I think OPM has so much to offer. Great music, rare releases, sharp album art, and a place in global pop culture
