For Daylan Tiogangco, music often begins with reflection. His song Baby Just Be Honest emerged from a deeply emotional response to the life and loss of Mackey Feary, the influential frontman of Kalapana. Known for his soulful voice on classics like Nightbird and Hurt, Feary helped shape a defining era in Hawaiian music. When his life ended while serving time in prison, the moment left a lasting impression on Tiogangco and inspired a song rooted in empathy, reflection, and unanswered questions.
Tiogangco wrote Baby Just Be Honest while Feary was still incarcerated, imagining a message that might reach someone struggling through isolation and hardship. The song explores a form of love that goes beyond romantic relationships. It reflects compassion, forgiveness, and the emotional weight of wondering whether circumstances might have unfolded differently. Through its lyrics, the track becomes both a tribute and a quiet meditation on hope during difficult moments.
Musically, the song blends island inspired melodies with touches of pop, acoustic folk, and subtle alternative influences. The arrangement creates a calm yet emotionally layered atmosphere that allows Tiogangco’s voice and storytelling to remain at the forefront. The sound reflects the complexity of the subject matter, balancing warmth with introspection.
One of the most interesting aspects of the production process came from Tiogangco’s use of Suno AI music generator. For the first time, he experimented with artificial intelligence as a creative starting point, inputting his guitar ideas and instrumental preferences to generate an early version of the track. The result served as a rough framework rather than a finished piece.
From there, the song evolved in the studio with producer Kyle Sabate, also known as Kyle Strngz. Together they rebuilt much of the arrangement with live instrumentation including bass, guitar, violin, percussion, and vocals. By the time the production was complete, only a few elements from the AI generated version remained. The process blended technology with human creativity, resulting in a sound that feels modern while staying emotionally grounded.
Ultimately, Baby Just Be Honest stands as a thoughtful tribute to a musician whose voice left a lasting imprint on Hawaiian music. Through reflective songwriting and careful production, Daylan Tiogangco transforms remembrance into art, reminding listeners that music has the power to carry compassion, even across time and loss.