Vex Ruffin has dropped “What Matters The Most,” the track is lifted from his forthcoming album LiteAce Frequency, an array of tropical OPM (Original Filipino Music) jams to be released on 21 August via Stones Throw. The single comes with a video directed by Vex’s brother and collaborator Wesley Africa. Set in the Inland Empire of Los Angeles, the video follows Vex around a fruit market as he shops to make a salad for his kids, embracing the track’s theme of family and being together.

When Vex Ruffin’s family moved from Northridge, California to the City of Parañaque in the Philippines, their first car was a Toyota LiteAce. Swooping around the thick Metro Manila traffic between colourful jeepneys and tricycles in the compact van left a strong impression on young Vex. The Toyota LiteAce was immensely popular in early 90s Manila — beloved for its durability and reliability — and enjoys an intense, affectionate following to this day.

Vex’s third LP for Stones Throw goes back to his roots. Cooked up at his kitchen table, LiteAce Frequency is built on a foundation of 70s Manila Sound and Pinoy soul influences mixing in Japanese funk, Brazilian sounds, and hip-hop. This is an ode to positivity, dreams, and the value of family, and it manifests itself in ‘What Matters The Most’ – a laid back, lo-fi track with a warm message about self-care and looking after your loved ones.