ArtistDirect News
Filipino Artist ORIGIN Builds Music Career From Discord to Hiroshima
When a pandemic‑sheltered teenager in Hiroshima flipped a sketchbook into a microphone, a new Filipino voice began to echo across online channels.
Yzlvikxen Angkahan, 27, grew up in Hiroshima, Japan, where his first acclaim came from the art room. He was the kid who always carried a sketchbook, drawing on the fly, and classmates affectionately called him “Yzl drawing over there.” By his late teens, his hands had shifted from pencils to camera lenses, yet the urge to create visually never faded.
The global shutdown forced Angkahan into a different creative arena. He joined Discord servers that hosted informal singing sessions, experimenting with vocal effects in his bedroom. While layering reverb and distortion, he noticed a surprising resonance in his own voice—a confidence boost that led him to pick up a microphone for the first time.
The name ORIGIN sprang from a Discord handle inspired by a pair of shoes he’d bought in a colorway called “Origin Story.” The moniker stuck, and soon he began releasing tracks under that single word.
A heartbreak on May 19, 2022, sparked the creation of his debut single, “NINETEEN.” Angkahan penned the lyrics the following day and, after a year of refining, released the song on Spotify in early 2023. What began as a one‑time bucket‑list project turned into a full‑scale release when streaming numbers and playlist placements surpassed his expectations.
Since “NINETEEN,” ORIGIN has dropped several additional tracks. He has admitted that he never defined a distinct sound before releasing music, yet he entered the process with confidence. The steady stream of new releases has kept his work alive in listeners’ playlists across the Philippines and beyond.
Songwriting is where ORIGIN’s core identity lies. He channels nostalgia and the minutiae of past moments, weaving a blend of reality and fiction. In “Distraction,” he recounts feeling like an unwanted presence, acknowledging that not every lyric is literal. He favors straightforward, conversational language over ornate metaphors, describing his process as writing what he would say in real life.
Vitiligo—a skin condition that leaves depigmented patches—has been a personal challenge for Angkahan. He credits the condition with building his self‑confidence. The cover art for his single “EARLY SLEEPER” features his full face, and he noted that viewers reacted positively, not negatively, to the depiction.
Producer Carlo Oraya, who records as Corrgtd, has been pivotal in shaping ORIGIN’s sonic palette. Together they have produced “2021,” “Mirror You,” the collaborative “Kalamidad” with El Manu, and the recent single “maliliit na bagay.” ORIGIN describes the partnership as highly collaborative, with him actively participating in production decisions.
He aspires to become one of the Philippines’ leading songwriters. Corrgtd’s approach focuses on crafting catchy, radio‑friendly hooks—an aesthetic that ORIGIN respects and integrates into his own work.
As of 2026, ORIGIN remains an emerging artist who transitioned from visual art to a music career built on online collaboration, personal storytelling, and a supportive production partnership. His songs continue to accrue listeners in the Philippines and abroad, and he maintains a clear focus on songwriting as his primary creative outlet.
Yzlvikxen Angkahan, 27, grew up in Hiroshima, Japan, where his first acclaim came from the art room. He was the kid who always carried a sketchbook, drawing on the fly, and classmates affectionately called him “Yzl drawing over there.” By his late teens, his hands had shifted from pencils to camera lenses, yet the urge to create visually never faded.
The global shutdown forced Angkahan into a different creative arena. He joined Discord servers that hosted informal singing sessions, experimenting with vocal effects in his bedroom. While layering reverb and distortion, he noticed a surprising resonance in his own voice—a confidence boost that led him to pick up a microphone for the first time.
The name ORIGIN sprang from a Discord handle inspired by a pair of shoes he’d bought in a colorway called “Origin Story.” The moniker stuck, and soon he began releasing tracks under that single word.
A heartbreak on May 19, 2022, sparked the creation of his debut single, “NINETEEN.” Angkahan penned the lyrics the following day and, after a year of refining, released the song on Spotify in early 2023. What began as a one‑time bucket‑list project turned into a full‑scale release when streaming numbers and playlist placements surpassed his expectations.
Since “NINETEEN,” ORIGIN has dropped several additional tracks. He has admitted that he never defined a distinct sound before releasing music, yet he entered the process with confidence. The steady stream of new releases has kept his work alive in listeners’ playlists across the Philippines and beyond.
Songwriting is where ORIGIN’s core identity lies. He channels nostalgia and the minutiae of past moments, weaving a blend of reality and fiction. In “Distraction,” he recounts feeling like an unwanted presence, acknowledging that not every lyric is literal. He favors straightforward, conversational language over ornate metaphors, describing his process as writing what he would say in real life.
Vitiligo—a skin condition that leaves depigmented patches—has been a personal challenge for Angkahan. He credits the condition with building his self‑confidence. The cover art for his single “EARLY SLEEPER” features his full face, and he noted that viewers reacted positively, not negatively, to the depiction.
Producer Carlo Oraya, who records as Corrgtd, has been pivotal in shaping ORIGIN’s sonic palette. Together they have produced “2021,” “Mirror You,” the collaborative “Kalamidad” with El Manu, and the recent single “maliliit na bagay.” ORIGIN describes the partnership as highly collaborative, with him actively participating in production decisions.
He aspires to become one of the Philippines’ leading songwriters. Corrgtd’s approach focuses on crafting catchy, radio‑friendly hooks—an aesthetic that ORIGIN respects and integrates into his own work.
As of 2026, ORIGIN remains an emerging artist who transitioned from visual art to a music career built on online collaboration, personal storytelling, and a supportive production partnership. His songs continue to accrue listeners in the Philippines and abroad, and he maintains a clear focus on songwriting as his primary creative outlet.