Calein Brings ‘Oras’ Back With a Remastered Release Six Years Later
Last Updated on October 9, 2026 by Lovely Prescilla
Calein brings ‘ Oras ‘ back after its first release. The Filipino alternative rock band has released a remastered version of the song. The new version keeps the original recording and arrangement. However, it gives the track a clearer and fuller sound.
For Calein, this is more than a remastered song. It is also a chance to revisit a release that never had the time it needed to reach more listeners.
“Oras” First Came Out in 2020
Calein first released “Oras” in March 2020. At the time, the band was gaining momentum. To celebrate the release, Calein held an intimate launch at Social House in Makati. The event also featured artists such as Unique Salonga, Arthur Nery, and One Click Straight.
For vocalist and songwriter John Dale “JD” Mustacho, the night remains special. He remembers being surprised by the number of people who came to support the band. But only a few days later, the music scene changed.
The Pandemic Cut the Promotion Short
The COVID-19 pandemic brought live events to a sudden stop. It also changed how artists promoted their music. Calein was affected as well.
The band could no longer continue with its planned live activities. Instead, much of its work moved online. The timing was difficult for the group. “Oras” had just been released, but its promotion was cut short. Drummer Benjo Criste remembers that the band still had the energy to continue. However, the pandemic changed their plans.
As a result, “Oras” did not get the full release campaign Calein had hoped for. Now, six years later, the band has another chance.
Why Calein Decided to Remaster “Oras”
Calein did not want to completely change “Oras.” Instead, the band wanted to improve the sound while keeping the song’s original character. JD says the goal was to give the track new life. He also wanted to give Calein a clearer path this time.
Bassist Oliver Salaysay shares the same view. Since the original promotion stopped early, he sees the remaster as a good chance to introduce the song again. The new version was remastered by Jan Aries Agadier Fuertez.
The changes are mainly heard in the sound quality. The vocals are clearer. The overall sound is wider. The track also has more depth. Still, the song itself remains the same. That was important to Calein.
The band wanted listeners to hear the emotion that was already there in the original recording.
The Story Behind “Oras”
“Oras” began with an experience of unspoken love. JD wrote the song after inviting someone he liked to one of Calein’s gigs. He planned to tell her how he felt. There was one problem. She arrived with her boyfriend. That moment became the starting point for the song.
The story behind “Oras” may sound simple, but the feeling is easy to understand. It is about liking someone and not being able to say what you want to say. The song also shows how feelings can change with time.
When JD first wrote the song, it was about another person. Today, he sees the chorus in a different way. He now connects it with a hidden love for himself. That gives “Oras” a new meaning six years after its first release.
A Song That Brings Back Old Memories
Benjo also sees “Oras” as a reminder of the band’s younger years. For him, listening to the song can bring back memories. It can also remind him of who he was when Calein first recorded it. That feeling of looking back is also part of what makes the remaster interesting.
The song has not changed its story. The people listening to it have changed. A listener who first heard “Oras” in 2020 may now hear it in a completely different way. Someone who was dealing with heartbreak then may have moved on. Someone who felt lost may now be in a better place.
The song stays the same. The listener does not.
Calein Has Changed Too
The return of “Oras” comes as Calein enters another chapter. The band’s current lineup includes JD Mustacho on vocals and guitar, Oliver Salaysay on bass, and Benjo Criste on drums. The members have also gained more experience since the song was first released.
JD describes the current version of Calein as fresher and more mature. At the same time, he says the band’s sound and identity remain. That balance is important. Calein can move forward without leaving its earlier music behind.
The remastered “Oras” is a good example of that approach. It belongs to an older chapter of the band. Yet it still has a place in the band’s current story.
A Second Chance for “Oras”
For Oliver, the timing also matters because some listeners may have missed the song the first time. The original release arrived at a difficult moment for the music industry. Many live events were canceled or postponed. Artists also had to find new ways to reach their audiences.
Now, “Oras” can reach listeners under very different circumstances. Longtime fans can return to a song they already know. New listeners can discover it for the first time.
For Benjo, the hope is simple. He wants longtime listeners to remember how they felt when they first heard the song. He also wants them to notice how much they have changed since then.
What Calein Wants Listeners to Feel
Calein is not asking listeners to feel one specific emotion. “Oras” can bring back happiness. It can also bring longing or sadness. For some listeners, it may simply bring back a memory. That is enough for the band.
JD says that the most important thing is for people to feel something when they hear the song. In that sense, the remaster does not need to reinvent “Oras.” The song already has its story. It already has its memories.
Now, it has another chance to be heard. Six years after its first release, Calein is giving “Oras” a new moment. The sound may be clearer, but the heart of the song remains where it was from the beginning. And perhaps that is what makes the return worth hearing.
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