Hale nurtured a new meditative thread of OPM rock with their poetic, mostly English-language lyricism that feels like a warm embrace. They shot to fame with a triple-platinum debut album and the hit “Blue Sky” that showcased a romantic sound—one laden with guitars, slow-burning drums and Champ Lui Pio’s keening voice. Their compelling melancholia earned a string of awards, and 2009’s Kundiman proved their trademark emotive sound worked on an all-Filipino album. And after a hiatus Hale reunited in 2015, marking a welcome return for a mature, reflective sound that only improves with age.