Daniel Palacio has successfully transitioned from filmmaking to songwriting. He is the brains behind the new duo Carwajee (pronounced kar-WA-hee), which has released its new song “Asawa“.
Daniel Palacio
“I began writing songs before moving into scriptwriting and film directing, quietly continuing to compose along the way,” Palacio told CONAN Daily. “During the pandemic, with theatre at a standstill, music found its way back, now culminating in the launch of a new band built from years of hidden songs.”
Prior to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which started in 2020, Palacio had written and directed several acclaimed films. Among these is “Pailalim“, which was screened at the 2017 San Sebastián International Film Festival in San Sebastian, Spain and the 2018 Istanbul International Film Festival in Istanbul, Turkiye before winning the Best Director and Best Picture awards at the 2019 Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Palacio’s 2021 film “The Brokers” competed under the Asian Future section of the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival in Tokyo, Japan. In 2023, his film “Ang Matsing at ang Pagong” debuted at the 20th Asian Film Festival in Rome, Italy.
Carwajee
Carwajee members Richter Kent “RK” Velasco and Kenlei Serwelas are both buskers from Lipa, Batangas, Philippines. While they performed in the same city, they never met until they were discovered online by Palacio.
The entire catalog of the new duo was written and composed by the filmmaker. He shared, “Transitioning from film to music allows me to tell stories in a more intimate, immediate way.”
“With Carwajee, I found voices that can carry the weight of the lyrics I’ve written,” the filmmaker continued. “They aren’t just singers; they are the protagonists of a new musical era.”
Imperium Entertainment
Carwajee is the first artist launched by Imperium Entertainment, a boutique label, publishing, and talent management company dedicated to the intersection of film and music. The company focuses on discovering authentic regional talent and auteur-driven projects.
Through the company, Palacio is expected to direct the music videos of every song released by Carwajee. He is not totally ending his filmmaking career as he is set to guide Velasco and Serwelas as the actors in those videos.
Oliver Sy executive produced Carwajee’s debut single “Asawa”, which was officially released by Imperium Entertainment on May 7, 2026. The song is now available on all major streaming platforms.
Follow Carwajee on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Apple Music and Spotify.
CONAN Daily 