Artist Spotlight: Brian Dublin Chronicles the Cycles of Love with Pride
The Bay Area is introducing yet another extraordinary Filipino American talent onto the music scene, and he is ready to tackle love through all of its cycles this Pride Month. Rising singer-songwriter Brian Dublin dropped his over-a-decade-in-the-making debut album, Love Cycles, on June 19. Woven between the project’s eleven tracks is an intimate chronicle of Brian’s life through love, loss, and, most importantly, self-expression.
EnVi chatted with Brian through Zoom to learn more about this long-awaited project and what its eleven tracks represent to him. Brian maintained a kindness that matched the warmth of the early summer weather as we talked. EnVi came to learn how deeply personal Love Cycles was for Brian through his delicate, yet driven approach to each question about his artistry, aspirations, and message.
Bay Area Beginnings
Brian proudly hails from San Jose and attributes his innate love for music to his highly musical Filipino family who “always had music around.” Whether it was his father playing instruments like piano and guitar or his mother singing karaoke, music was always present in Brian’s life. However, it wasn’t until he discovered the iconic Filipino American singer-songwriter Jeremy Passion that he felt inspired to forge his own path as a musician.
“There was just something about seeing a Filipino American from the Bay — someone who I could identify with — writing music that I could really relate to and allowing me to see what’s possible for someone who looks like me,” Brian explained in admiration.
Since then, Brian landed on Jeremy Passion’s radar and is now able to call him “kuya” — a term of respect and endearment to an older male figure in Tagalog. When asked about how it felt to build a bond with his idol, Brian beamed, “Wow, full circle. I mean, the person who inspired me to pick up a guitar and write music validating where I am today as an artist — it was a dream come true.”
Brian’s label, DZN Records, possesses the same ambition of representation. He explained that DZN Records’ roster not only includes “amazing independent artists,” but also “good friends.” Many of the label’s artists carry a similar background as Brian, whether through BIPOC heritage, Bay Area origins, or queer identity.
Brian explained that he isn’t confined to a singular influence when it comes to producing music. He takes genre inspiration from R&B, acoustic, jazz, and pop. His personal sound is most defined by his life experiences; he considers and chooses which genres would serve as the best sonic portrayal for each one.
Building That Courage
Love Cycles can be described as a musical autobiography for Brian. The project is a compilation of personal stories and thoughts dating back to over a decade ago. From yearning for a sincere relationship amidst the rise of hookup culture in “Late Night Love” to honoring the people who stand by you through your struggles in “By My Side,” chances are there is a tale from his life that you will resonate with.
Initially, Brian hesitated over releasing the project at all — not because of the content, but because of how long ago these stories were initially conceived.
“For a long time, I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s too late! Why did it take so long? No one wants to hear these songs that are 10 years old,’” Brian revealed. “I felt like I missed my window, but when I started working on these songs and revisiting these moments in my life that I wrote about years ago — I knew it was supposed to happen now.”
This sentiment rings most true for the pre-release acoustic single “Unconditionally,” which officially released on National Coming Out Day in 2025. “Unconditionally” was penned in 2013, but its honest message proves to be timeless.
“‘Unconditionally’ is arguably the most important song on the project, because without coming out to my parents, I wouldn’t be able to put all of this music out publicly,” Brian shared. “I wrote that song as a love letter to myself, to encourage myself to not be afraid to be honest with them [my parents] and tell them who I am, because they’ll love me unconditionally. I had that song for years, I just sang it to myself in my room, this room right here.”
Brian then gave a small gesture to acknowledge the room he was calling from. The room is a recognizable sight — it is the very place where he records and documents most of his journey online. His room is also where he recorded his parents’ emotional reaction to “Unconditionally,” confirming the song’s hopeful lines: “I’m tired of being afraid / Oh afraid that their love won’t stay with me / But how can that be / When they love unconditionally?”
Brian’s mother tearfully affirmed in the reaction video, “I’m glad to know, that you know, that we love you unconditionally — no matter what.”
Love Cycles
“Unconditionally” was the launching pad for Brian to put out a full length project composed of both pre-releases and new tracks. Pre-releases include the introspective “One Chance,” jazzy “With You,” and heartwrenching “No More,” alongside the aforementioned “Unconditionally,” “By My Side,” and “Late Night Love.”
“In the few songs that I have put out in the past, the most rewarding thing is to know that someone heard my song and it spoke to them, or it resonated with them,” Brian said. “I think that’s what gave me such courage to really give my full, genuine honesty and heart into the music, because there’s no telling how much that can impact someone […]. These songs were just mine for over 10 years, and now I want to release them so that everyone can benefit from them as well.”
Love Cycles opens up with “Dream Girl,” inspired by a crush in 2011 when Brian had “barely even come out to himself.” Listeners are eased into the album with its laidback bossa nova vibe, which flows effortlessly into the silky smooth slow jam of “At Dawn (Interlude).”
The interlude lays the foundation for another new release, “His Love.” The song describes the tough phase of accepting that someone who you once loved but has since moved on for the better: “And I wish you all the happiness in this world / And I, I’m so glad that you found the love that you deserve / And it’s so bittersweet / ‘Cause my heart still yearns for you and me.”
Singing with Pride
Every detail about Love Cycles is intentional, even down to its release date falling during Pride Month.
“It just feels right to be able to celebrate this journey I’ve been on and the stories that I want to share about struggling with my sexuality,” Brian said. “I want my music to reach people at a time where we’re celebrating Pride and queer stories. There’s also people who are in the closet and aren’t able to outwardly celebrate, so if they have my music to relate to and find comfort in, I hope that they can find the strength to also live their lives and their truths proudly.”
Though the project is majorly rooted in Brian’s experiences as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, his hope is that Love Cycles touches people from all walks of life. Love Cycles also debuts songs like “Tomorrow” and “All My Life” — songs that speak to universal experiences, but are amplified by his queer identity. “Tomorrow” is about being a pillar of support for your loved ones, while “All My Life” is a yearning anthem packed with emotions that linger even after the album comes to a close. Brian believes that, ultimately, his artistry carries the meaning of bringing people together.
“For anyone who’s not in the queer community, I hope that they can listen to my music and think, ‘Oh, wow, I didn’t know I could relate to a queer artist in this way,’” Brian continued. “We may have some differences, but at our core, the emotional things that we go through are the same, and we can all be united by that, you know? Overall, I just hope that no matter what walk of life, or who you are, I hope there’s a piece of my music that can heal you or inspire you to share my music with others who might need it too.”
Waves of Inspiration
Much like how Brian saw himself in Jeremy Passion, EnVi reminded Brian that there must be aspiring artists who feel represented by his work in the same way.
To those very hopefuls, Brian sent out a heartfelt message. “The best thing I could just say, and it seems simple, but don’t be afraid to tell your story. If we all continue to share our story, the more we can continue to connect with each other and see the beauty in our differences. There’s also a lot that we have in common that we don’t see unless we actually put ourselves out there for us to find each other. One simple thing can cause so many waves in the community, and you would never know without sharing your story that it could cause ripples like that.”
I was left in awe by Brian’s sincerity during many moments of our conversation — and this was yet another example of them. It was moments like these that further exemplifies why he creates music that touches the soul. Brian has an intrinsic sensibility that allows him to connect with people no matter his mode of expression. Thankfully, he is sharing this ability with the world through his music.
Love Cycles is now available to stream on music platforms. Follow along with the next cycles of Brian’s journey on Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
Interested in more rising musicians championing Filipino representation? Check out EnVi’s Artist Spotlight with Broadway actress and California-based artist Kay Sibal!
