The highly awaited fourth album of singer-songwriter Nyoy Volante is finally out after more than a year of absence in the recording scene. Still under Vicor Music, the 10-track CD is titled “Now Hear This” in excited reference by the artist to diverse songs that reiterates his being way beyond the Acoustic Balladeer tag.

“I never did agree with that inaccurate ‘title,’” says Nyoy. “Sure, my songs are musically arranged using acoustic instruments. But most of these fuse styles ranging from R&B and rock to jazz and country. Calling my new album as such is invitation to the music lover to again listen to what I have to offer but this time, without thinking of categories.”

People are bound to hear not only ever experimental in Nyoy’s new output but brimming inspiration, too. Unlike in past albums, after all, songs in “Hear” were written with Nyoy madly in love with Soul Siren Nina.

“Even without my deciding on it, all the songs here inadvertently came to be with her in mind,” says Nyoy. “As an artist who is most honest with his craft when he writes about his own feelings and emotions, I guess it can’t be helped. ‘Hear’ definitely reflects this happy state of mind I’ve been in since Nina completed me.”

“Ha” is first single off the album. Written a year ago when Nyoy was courting Nina, it’s unabashedly straightforward pop of gooey and goose bumps akin to the feeling and time that inspired it.

“The songs started out as a joke between us. I’d tell her, ‘Akin ka na lang, ha?’ and we’d both laugh. It’s one of those free flowing songs that got written in mere minutes-----five in this case,” Nyoy says. “I’ve been singing this song in my gigs since last year and have actually been requested several times by people.”   

Another reason Nyoy is especially excited over “Hear” is its being recorded with his new band that put in more rhythm into his songs by substituting drums for k-hon. Calling themselves collectively after their vocalists’ namesake, the band has Steve Gonzalez on guitars, Maynard Albis on drums, Abe Silva on bass and Juliet Perez on violin.

The chemistry the band has made it possible for Nyoy’s album to be recorded in just three weeks-----the fastest he has ever done for an album. Songs, however, were written and decided on for months both by Nyoy and Vicor with both bent on coming up with the artists’ strongest album to date.

It is expected that “Hear” surpasses the artists’ best-selling 2002 Platinum debut “Acoustic” that yielded the hit songs “Nasan Ka Na” and “You’re My You.” Other tracks in “Now Hear This” are “Nandito Lang” (co-written by Nyoy with guitarist Steve), “Kundi Man,” “Ayoko Na,” “Without You,” “You Left Me,” “Maghihintay,” “Sobra-Sobra,” “Baby Stay” and “Ama Namin.”

“This is only the second time I’ve included an inspirational song in my album but I believe this is more heartfelt one in lieu of everything that happened to me between this and my last album,” says Nyoy. “God has really been good to me and never for one second abandoned me. This is my special song to him with Jesus writing the lyrics, and I humbled to have been inspired by Him to come up with the melody. To God be the glory, always.”