The works of legendary singer-songwriter Rey Valera were the inspiration behind the sound of Hale’s latest songs in their 4th CD, “Kundiman.”

In a recent interview, Hale lead singer and songwriter, Champ LuiPio, told Manila Bulletin Online that Valera was his first choice from among OPM icons in picking a template for the Filipiniana sound he wanted for “Kundiman.”

“Nag-Valera sessions ako sa Ipod ko and watched one of his concerts. Dun ka na-realize na kahit acoustic lang ang areglo niya sa mga kanta niya ay lumitaw pa din ang ganda ng mga yon,” said Champ who considers Valera’s “Malayo Pa Ang Umaga” and “Kung Kailangan Mo Ako” as his favorites.

It also helped that Champ’s father, singer-songwriter Nonoy Tan is good friends with Valera.

“Kundiman” is a concept album reminiscent of those churned out by recording artists during Valera’s time.

With only eight tracks instead of the usual 12, it follows the singles-driven thrust of albums recorded in the 70s when producers would urge  artists to “save” single materials they may have written for succeeding albums.

True enough, “Kundiman” is but an installment in a series which Hale plans to release in the coming years. The album packaging harkens back to turn of the century Philippines. The liner notes are worded in old Filipino.

Champ said he wrote “Bahay Kubo” (the promotional song), “Kalesa” (mulled as follow-up single), “Aso’t Pusa,” “Ulap,” “Magkaibang Mundo,” “Bulalakaw,” “Yakap” and “Harinawa” in just two weeks, with an aim to beef up their discography with more songs written in the vernacular.

“Sa mga naunang albums namin kasi, laging two or three songs lang ang Tagalog. I just thought – and the band agrees with me on this – that we want more of those,” he said.

Champ refers to their hit songs “Kung Wala Ka,” “Pitong Araw” and “Kahit Pa”which are outnumbered by their bigger hits “The Day You Said Goodnight,” “Broken Sonnet,” “Blue Sky,” “Toll Gate” and “Waltz.”

“Pero hindi lang yun ang dahilan. Rather, we wanted to challenge ourselves. We don't want to be predictable. I think when people think of Hale, they think English songs. Para maiba naman, eto.”

The evolution in Hale’s sound is buoyed by their new drummer Paolo Santiago, a music student from the University of Santo Tomas and formerly of the band Join The Club.

Paolo, said the original Hale members, is like “a shot in the arm;” an energy from which the band fed.

“We were able to talk to him in technical terms during recording which hastened the process,” said Hale guitarist Roll Martinez and bassist Sheldon Gellada.

Hale also enlisted veteran producer Angee Rozul and guitarist Monty Macalinao of the band Mayonnaise for the recording of “Kundiman,” which was done in Roll’s home studio.

The video for “Bahay Kubo” - shot in Norzagaray, Bulacan by director Nani Naguit and featuring actress Heart Evangelista - will be served to music channels soon.

According to a Hale press release, the concept of “Kundiman” flows from the band’s “cultural observation of our mother country,” and one “expressing the state of mind of our society in a human context and not political.”

“Kundiman” will be officially launched on Aug. 14, 6 p.m. at Sky Dome SM North EDSA. Lucky buyers of the CD at the venue will get free Hale posters and personalized Hale guitar picks.

“Kundiman” is supported by Pony, Penshoppe, Sky Dome SM City North EDSA, and radio partners Jam 88.3, Magic 89.9, Mellow 94.7, 99..5 RT, 102.7 Star FM, 97.1 Barangay LS, 103.5, Max FM and NU 107.