Words by Aly Evangelista
Evita is seventeen-year-old Celestine Olsen’s claim to independence. Inspired by unreleased Lana del Rey songs, Celestine rises to popularity as the face and the voice behind the Cagayan de Oro-based indie band, debuting with “State of Decay” last July 2024.
Olsen was born in Iligan and raised in the United States. She mentions moving to Cagayan de Oro with her parents in the middle of the pandemic during 2021 when she was twelve years old. She was raised in a musically inclined family; with her father, Russ Olsen, teaching her the basic techniques of instruments like the bass, guitar, and piano. She goes on to share her journey from performing in a cover band to fully embracing her solo career with Evita. She recalls how, in the early days, she hesitated to voice her creative ideas to her bandmates, unsure of how they would be received. Now, with Evita, Celestine feels more fulfilled as an artist; being able to collaborate with her band-mates and enjoy the creative process is enough for the rising artist.
She excitedly shares the creative process of Evita and how the different band members share their ideas for the track, with the consistent shifts in genre in the middle of each release. “I didn’t really think about it, until I realized that all of them kind of have different instrumental breaks. I just felt like I had to do something for it to sound more interesting… It’s not really planned as Evita’s signature or anything…” She explains how Andoy Patuasic and CJ Alcantara, who recorded the studio tracks, are different from the live band members, Anton Neri and Kier Dacula, She then adds that Dacula and Neri will be included in the studio tracks as the band progresses further.
“I’m just really dramatic. I’ve never even dated anyone,” Olsen states as she explains her creative process behind the band’s latest track, “Mirage.” The gifted teen mentions how she composed the track by adding more depth to her minor emotions, like the disappointment she felt when a love interest she liked didn’t text her back. She describes how the mere mentioning of this person’s name has prompted her to write the chorus, noting that her friends would casually say this person’s name without knowing about how she felt:
Cause I fall to pieces when I hear your name
Love me or not, you treat me the same
Stuck in my solitude, here I remain
I’m still lost in your game
Olsen entrusted the conceptualization and direction of Evita’s “Mirage” music video to her friend Iya Gales, after bonding with her at the Kumaykay Music Festival last December 2024. Gales, a skilled cinematographer with aspirations in directing, was deeply inspired by Olsen’s talent and offered to helm the project. This collaboration marked Iya’s directorial debut, as she brought her creative vision to life with Evita’s ‘Mirage’ music video.
The duo spent two weeks discussing about the concept and preparing for the shoot, encountering difficulties like finding a shoot schedule that aligned with all the band members and crew. Once they found a suitable schedule some time around January, they proceeded to shoot the music video for two straight days.
“I actually jumped into the pool with my clothes. It was a one-take scene.” recalls Olsen as she laughs at the memory. With Evita, Olsen enjoys a safe avenue to be an artist, surrounded by the tight-knit community of Indie CDO. She delights over the experience of creating the music video with her close friends in the music scene.
With the release of their music video for “Mirage” on February 22, Evita has marked a significant milestone garnering nearly 1,000 views in just two days. This achievement complements their growing monthly listener base of 371, a notable feat for a band that debuted in June 2024. By consistently showcasing their talent, Evita is putting Cagayan de Oro’s vibrant music scene on the map, captivating the attention of local fans.
Their recent performance on the iconic Wish 107.5 bus in December of last year further underscores their rising popularity. These metrics demonstrate Evita’s organic growth and increasing appeal, despite the minimal marketing efforts. Looking ahead, Olsen envisions the band continuing to craft innovative and engaging music that resonates with diverse audiences over the next five years, all while maintaining their passion for creative expression.
She imparts words of wisdom to her audience by saying, “Just say yes to everything. Every opportunity that comes knocking on your door, even if you believe you can’t do it. You can. Just say yes.”
Watch the music video for Evita’s “Mirage” below.
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