Right in the Feels: Let Moira & AJ Serenade us with their Collab for Coke Studio Homecoming.

AJ Rafael and Moira Dela Torre

“Teen love is a discovery,” says AJ Rafael and Moira dela Torre, the music and lyrics to the feelings we can’t show and say out loud.

Moira moved from Olongapo to Manila at the age of 16 for college, it was also the same age when she covered AJ’s widely successful ‘Without You’. Citing AJ as one of her influences, she went on taking AB Music Production at De La Salle – College of St. Benilde. After watching performances from Coke Studios all over the world, Moira said she was very grateful to have been given this opportunity for she had been excited for her friends who were part of Coke Studio Season 1. Little did everyone know, Moira and AJ have been friends for more than two years now and they have their friends to thank for that.

“Feels natural, feels right, there’s a strong connection,” AJ shares upon knowing that he will be partnering with Moira for this project. It’s been a long time coming for the two artists to work on a song together who both admitted they attempted writing songs several times prior to this collaboration. “But it was difficult because of the long distance,” according to AJ.

Moira Dela Torre

AJ is a Filipino – American artist who is well-known for his self – released songs on YouTube. He has been independent and hardworking on making music and collaborating with other artists from the very beginning. “I feel very honored in lots of ways, this is my first time to be part of such a big production”, AJ says after telling how he only produces and shoots his content at home. Although this is their first time creating and completing music together, Moira was already able to be on AJ’s channel several times, and AJ gave an impromptu performance of ‘Without You’ with Moira during her concert last April.

Talking about what they have come up with, “It’s about finding your escape and that home doesn’t have to be a place,” AJ stresses. Moira, on the other hand, sang a few lines from where they have taken off, “Let me pause and breathe it in, let me close my eyes and take it in. No photograph can capture all the happiness I have inside.”

AJ Rafael

Moira and AJ are both beyond thankful for this collaboration, which gave them the constant time together they never had before. “I learned how professional he is,” Moira gushes as AJ was sick during the interview and shoot. AJ was here for a week and it happened towards the latter part of his stay. “We got more in tune,” AJ concludes.

Whether our Teen Love has long been gone or as for some still fall under it, it would always be nice to look back and remember the time we realized we are actually capable of feeling those feelings. As for Moira and AJ, they’re filled with gratitude to be art of someone’s high school soundtrack and be able to convey the feelings we can’t put into words through music.

Watch how Moira Dela Torre and AJ Rafael collaborate for a refreshing kind of music that celebrates their own genres in the fifth episode of Coke Studio. Catch them this Sunday, October 21 at 11:15 a.m. before ASAP on ABS-CBN or on www.youtube.com/CokeStudioPH.