Catriona Gray to release first self-written song ‘Love Language’ in collaboration with Sydney-based producer Cabu

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is spreading her wings musically with the upcoming release of her first self-written song "Love Language."

The song, which is Catriona’s collaboration with Sydney-based producer Billy Cabusas a.k.a. Cabu, will be released under the GLOPM or Global Pinoy Music project of Warner Music Philippines.

At the press launch on Thursday, Warner Music Philippines managing director Sarah Ismails said GLOPM was "a collaborative movement which strengthens our global effort to promote Filipino music and it aims to create opportunities to unify and cut across all borders."

In a video presented during the launch, the beauty queen said it was an exciting project for her and she had never done anything like it.

"I've never written a song before and in itself enough to make me quite scared," Catriona said.

Despite feeling scared, Catriona said she felt it "was a very effortless kind of process."

Catriona said "it was a lyric I discovered probably months prior and it really fit with this set of chords that Cabu had on track and from that point the song kind of wrote itself."

The beauty queen musician said she leaned into the idea of "longing and wanting to just have more affirmation in the form of words and affection," which she thought was relatable to those who were in a relationship.

Catriona said she had less than a week to complete the lyrics and melody, and they recorded it in less than two days.

She said she felt it was an easy collaboration because she had a "vision of what the song should be," while Cabu had an idea which direction it should take.

"We mesh together really well," Catriona said.

Meanwhile, Cabu said Catriona flew to Sydney so they could record parts of "Love Language."

Weeks before recording when Catriona was required to finish quarantine, the two of them collaborated over the song via Zoom.

"I sent her a few beats during that hotel quarantine. She came back after a few days really quick [with lyrics] … and it was a voice memo (of) what we know now (as) Love Language," Cabu said.

Cabu thinks that Catriona is a natural at what she's doing.

Catriona's single "Love Language" will be released on Oct. 8.

Warner Music Philippines is bringing domestic and international Filipino talents together for collaborations to promote their talent and music all over the world.

OPM duo Leanne and Naara worked on their GLOPM song "Anticipation" with Filipino-Canadian artist Dan August Rigo, a world-class talent who had produced music for well-known acts such as BTS, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, and One Direction, among others artists.

Meanwhile, a young indie duo called "Reon" composed of Noah Alejandre and singer-songwriter Reanne Borlea worked on their single "Back To The Times" with Filipino-Dutch producer Xerxes Bakker, who was known for his works with Maroon 5, Snoop Dogg, Imagine Dragons, and Cee-Lo Green, among others.

Filipino rapper and singer-songwriter Quest also collaborated with Kuya Productions, a Canadian songwriting production team who had worked with Nelly, Alessia Cara, Christina Aguilera, among others, for his song "Good Old Days." – RC, GMA News