What's a good read?
There’s no feeling quite like kilig. It’s a thrill, a rush that no words can properly describe, but one we all long to experience again and again and again. Kinikilig ako. Even as text, you can just feel that person’s excitement.
Usually we have to wait to experience the exhilaration that comes with kilig. You may have to tune in to your favorite teleserye at a certain time, before you’re left with a cliffhanger until the following day’s episode. Or you have to tick off the days on a calendar before your love team’s next movie is released.
But what if you could experience kilig anytime, whenever you wanted? Such is the premise behind Audiophile, an audiobook platform now available on Early Access, the tech term denoting access to a product before an official launch. Audiophile is now live with a growing library of romance titles, spread across contemporary, Tagalog, and LGBTQIA+. The diversity of content is purposeful: There are kilig-inducing stories for everyone. A full list of Audiophile’s Early Access launch authors is available here.
There were internal debates on what genre made the most sense to start with, but in the end everyone agreed on romance. The genre is not only one of the most beloved in art for Filipinos, but it also showcases the best side of audiobooks.
“There’s a certain intimacy with audiobooks that marries well with romance fiction. When you listen to a story, the world melts away, and it becomes just you and the narrator. It’s easy to get lost in their love life – and yes, all the kilig – in this format,” said Monette Quiogue, Audiophile’s executive creative director.
All of Audiophile’s audiobooks are exclusive to the platform, as they were produced in-house using best-in-class production standards, supervised by a lead audio engineer who has overseen production for more than 50 global titles. Each audiobook has thus undergone extensive pre-production, production, editing, QA, mixing, and mastering.
“We’ve been able to produce audiobooks that achieve world-class standards for the medium. Beyond the tech, we’re most excited for what this means for listeners: They get to experience content like never before, as though the narrator is right there beside them, documenting the story as it unfolds,” said Gloryen Limbo, Audiophile’s executive producer.
Audiophile’s vision is to elevate the Pinoy audiobook industry to the level it has achieved in other literary markets. For most Filipino listeners around the world, audiobooks represent a new, convenient way to experience Pinoy stories, but they can also improve access, such as for the differently abled or the new to reading. Audiobooks also provide an additional revenue stream for authors and publishers, and give rise to many affiliated industries, such as voice acting.
Authors and publishers interested in collaborating with Audiophile are encouraged to reach out to the team at hello@bookshelf.com.ph. Readers who want to listen to Audiophile’s growing library can visit www.audiophile.bookshelf.com.ph. Those who subscribe before October 4, 2021 will be grandfathered into a special rate of US$3.99 per month (a 20% discount over the regularly priced rate of US$4.99) as founding members. There is a 7-day FREE trial, and members can cancel anytime.