PH BLOG ➹

ONE Championship™ (ONE) returned to the Singapore Indoor Stadium with ONE: NEXTGEN , which aired live on Friday, 29 October. The event featured a pair of explosive kickboxing matchups, an action-packed heavyweight mixed martial arts showdown, a rematch between two fierce strawweights, and the semifinal round of the historic ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix. In the main event, former two-sport ONE World Champion and current #3-ranked atomweight contender Stamp Fairtex showcased superior striking technique, keeping Grand Prix alternate Julie Mezabarba at the end of her kicking range for three full rounds to take home a unanimous decision victory. Stamp controlled the distance early in the first round, forcing Mezabarba on the defensive with a plethora of kicks and hard feints. The Brazilian tried to close the gap in the second, even landing a takedown, but Stamp executed a beautiful sweep and wound up in full mount. The Thai then battered Mezabarba with a series of sharp elbows ...

Ed Sheeran has released his brand-new album ‘ = ’ (Equals) listen here. In conjunction with the release, Ed is delighted to announce details of his new single ‘ Overpass Graffiti ’, which will be joined by an official video, premiering today at 9:00pm Philippine Time. Warner Music Philippines along with SM Mall of Asia and the PH Sheerios celebrated the album release with a wonderful cinematic trailer. Fourteen large butterflies (coming from each of the album track covers) can be seen flying over the city skyscrapers of Metro Manila, painting the town red (and more!), and traveling through relevant areas way too familiar for our Sheerios, such as the famous Mall of Asia Complex where Ed had both of hist Multiply and Divide tour shows. Watch it here. Aside from that, Asian fans are in for a treat as Ed hosts his a grand virtual fan meet on October 30 (Saturday) at 7:00pm Philippine Time, streamed live from the Warner Music Philippines Facebook page! RSVP to the fan event here. About t...

Off the heels of her latest release, “Don’t Go Yet,” three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated, multi-platinum, and chart-topping singer/songwriter Camila Cabello teams up with platinum-selling star Myke Towers and critically acclaimed top producer/artist Tainy on her new song, “ Oh Na Na ”—out today via Epic Records/Sony Music. An upbeat bilingual song that mixes English lyrics with Spanish, “Oh Na Na” finds Camila exploring her Latina roots, while embracing her incredibly infectious pop and urban-leaning past. With percussion-infused beats and clubby melodies on its arsenal, the earworm of a bop shows Camila’s versatility as a vocalist, and how capable she is in introducing music with profound cultural histories to the streaming generation. “Oh Na Na” serves as the second single from her upcoming third studio album Familia . Her new track was written by Tainy, Camila Cabello, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Savan Kotecha, Alejandro Borrero, Ivanni Rodríguez, Myke Towers and Rickard Goranssonand, and wa...

The Observer is The Steve McQueens’ 5th studio outing, and shows a mature unit performing at the peak of their 8-year journey together. The characteristic playful inventiveness, musical twists and surprises are all here in spades, and listeners will find it hard not to have that little smile cross their faces at regular intervals. Released through Singapore-based indie label Umami Records, the mercurial band’s latest album features music performed from their 2020 ‘Nerd Lounge’ tour of Singapore, Japan and Indonesia.  With the pandemic putting the brakes on to their ‘live’ performance plans, the quartet went into the studio to record this collection of new music which simultaneously evokes alternative R&B, chill-pop, 60’s Motown and nu-soul. Having released three of the singles in the record - Mila Ascending, Eye and Beginning since July, the band is ready to drop the widely anticipated full album.  The Observer pokes at the culture clash between jazz traditionalists and th...

   American multi-platinum star Khalid has officially dropped his new single “Present,” a romantic R&B ballad off his upcoming mixtape, Scenic Drive .  The slow jam serves as Khalid’s latest release since “New Normal,” which landed on all music platforms a few months ago. According to Khalid, “Present” was inspired by the music he grew up with, and the determination to push himself creatively during the recording.  “My Mom raised me on R&B and whether it’s the harmonies or melodies, it will always be a part of my music, the certified chart-topper says. “Present is just the beginning and I love that it has a dual meaning. It feels good to be more ‘present’ after such a trying year in the pandemic and it’s also a ‘present’ for my fans that have been with me every step of the way.” Upon its debut, the song instantly earned heaps of approval from several music publications. Hypebeast praised its “deep R&B sound,” while Complex commended how Khalid ’s vocals...

  Now officially signed to Sony Music Philippines, the IKAW LANG hitmakers are ready to leave a lasting mark in the industry NOBITA ’s rapid rise is no longer a mystery to music fans who have been familiar with their poignant song “ Ikaw Lang ,” which currently ranks as the third most streamed single on Spotify Philippines as of today. In less than two years, the pop-rock outfit has built an impressive portfolio by releasing songs that capture the beating heart of the young generation, and bringing light, love, and inspiration to as many people as possible.  The five-piece hitmakers have indeed come a long way from their humble beginnings as semi-finalists of the prestigious battle of the bands, Muziklaban. Thanks to the overwhelming success of “Ikaw Lang,” which has amassed over 40 million streams on all digital music platforms combined, NOBITA is putting their own spin to the school of ‘hugot’ pop songwriting with their trademark tenderness and inevitable warmth. Now offici...

It’s another historic win for multi-awarded documentary film Aswang . Aswang won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Documentary , and Best Cinematography at the 44th Gawad Urian by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Director Alyx Arumpac says:  “We thank the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino for this honor. We are overwhelmed and beyond grateful for the recognition. " Aswang follows a group of people whose fates wrap around the growing violence over two years of killings in Manila, among them Brother Jun Santiago, a photojournalist and missionary brother who comforts bereaved families. “While making the film we heard grieving people say this so many times — ‘Kung alam ko lang na papatayin nila ang kapatid/asawa/anak ko, hindi ko na sana siya binoto’ (If I had known that they would kill my brother/father/son, I never would not have voted for him),” adds Arumpac who encourages all Filipinos to watch the documentary and see how the first years of President Rodrigo Duterte's ...

 of Mercury , formerly known as Nathan & Mercury, marks a new chapter in their music journey with the release of their two-track volume, CHANGIN’ Vol. 1 —out today via Sony Music Philippines . The dual release, which features the songs “I’M FINE” and “HEAVEN ON EARTH,” finds the band pushing their sound to an unexpected direction and displaying remarkable consistency in terms of musicality and songwriting. “Think of this release as a re-introduction to us,” of Mercury explains. “This release is a statement from us that we’re growing, we’re changing: a foretaste of what the album is going to be.” Gleaming with funkier, hip-hop-leaning sounds and edgy production techniques, both tracks assert something that has been proven from the early stages of their career: they’re technically impressive as musicians, but they never let the stylistic explorations get in the way of their soulful, confessional storytelling.  Focus track “I’M FINE” is a tangible proof of the band’s insisten...

ONE Championship™ (ONE) returned to the Singapore Indoor Stadium with ONE: FIRST STRIKE , which aired live on Friday, 15 October. The event featured an all-kickboxing card for the first time in ONE history, highlighted by the prestigious ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix quarterfinal round and a battle for the inaugural ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title. In the main event, #2-ranked featherweight kickboxing contender Superbon of Thailand overpowered #1-ranked contender and legendary Italian-Armenian striker Giorgio Petrosyan to win by spectacular second-round knockout. Petrosyan was calculated to start the bout, moving forward with precise boxing combinations, while Superbon looked to land his vaunted right kick. After a cautious first round, action picked up in the second, with Petrosyan pushing to close the distance. Following a heated exchange, Superbon unleashed a dynamite right kick to the head, connecting with Petrosyan’s chin and scoring the emphatic finish....

  Eclectic music producer Wovensound and acclaimed rapper Ihasamic! mark another exciting collaboration with the release of their new single “ The Constant, ” out now via Umami Records .  With sultry R&B vocals from Sreshya, introspective verses from ZFRL and Ihasamic! himself, and a smoky, downtempo production from Wovensound , the massive new tune echoes the group’s frustrations and fears over the uncertainty that’s been clouding their headspace during this time of forced withdrawal.  Despite its tendencies to embrace pensive gloom, the song ties together stories of struggle, survival, and resilience with dignified honesty, while channeling their collective energy into something inspiring and worthy of discussion. For his part, Ihasamic! openly questions his growth and progress, and if there even was any substantial enough to speak of, during these difficult times. But the Repack rapper comes to terms with the idea of allowing himself time out of time, realizi...

Breakthrough Filipino rapper Young Cocoa has been gaining significant attention worldwide thanks to his previous chart-topping hits “ Manila ,” which got included in one of the playlists curated by BTS’ very own RM, and received props from Korean music stars such as Eric of The Boyz, Omega X, Dawon of SF19 and Lia Kim from 1Million Dance Studio. To date, his signature smash has racked up more than a million streams on Spotify alone, and has enjoyed airplay on mainstream radio stations in Metro Manila. Now signed to pan-regional music label, OFFMUTE , the promising newcomer sets his sights on conquering Asia one step at a time with his genre-fluid jams that cut across cultural boundaries and sonic expectations. “I feel so blessed to be the first hip-hop artist of OFFMUTE but even more so, a part of a movement that is so unified and allows Southeast Asian music to move forth in a collaborative effort,” Young Cocoa beams with pride as he talks about being part of this game-changing mov...

Finally, the secret is out for celebrity couple Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana !  They have chosen Sunshine 100 to be their home in the city! The couple announced their newest endorsement last Saturday, October 16, 2021 at the launching of Sunshine Pioneer Tower 3 located in Mandaluyong City. The famous celebrity couple is set to tie the knot soon – to live together as husband and wife, and raise their family. And, it is no secret that they are currently building their dream home. Carla has been living with her mother and sister in a townhouse in Quezon City. She considered the three-storey townhouse her first and biggest investment since her foray into show business. Tom, for his part, bought a condo unit for himself the moment he hit big time in showbiz. Since his family is based abroad, condo living suits him well as he lives alone. While Carla has successfully invested on a condo unit herself – and later sold it for a profit – she has always loved to be with her family. Thi...

  Filipino alternative rock trio Nobody’s Home has released the official music video of their new single “Cigarette Daydreams”—a cover of Cage The Elephant’s chart-topping hit in 2014. Directed by Ysa Aranda of Swimming Pictures, the clip features the promising trio on a random road trip, performing in front of a warehouse and running away from reality “to find peace of mind,” as the lyrics suggest. As for the concept behind the music video, Aranda shares that it’s derived from her own personal experience, particularly the feeling of comfort that driving brings. “I had to go for a drive and dream scenarios that would resonate to the song itself. Aside from the lyrics of the song, driving has helped me cope specially in these trying times, hence the driving scenes present in the MV.” Aranda’s take on “Cigarette Daydreams” is inspired by the visual narrative of Jóhann Jóhannsson's End Of Summer, a short film that serves as a document of a calm scenery in “one of the most crucial and...

Donny started the month of October with a big surprise treat to his ever-so-supportive fans as he released his single, “ Wings ”. With assurance and love comes hope and comfort. In this song, Donny promises a life that is better and gives hope to a person who cannot seem to see the brighter days ahead of her. It is a song of hope that is very much relevant to all of us as we go through dark days in the middle of the pandemic. In 2019, he was nominated as the New Movie Actor of the Year for the movie “Walwal”. Other than his various hosting stints, vlogs, movies, TV shows and product endorsements, Donny has been creating pop ballads since he signed under Universal Records back in 2017, thereon having been nominated for various awards. He released his single “ Green Light ” in 2018 which ranked #5 on iTunes PH Chart and his self-titled debut EP the following year.  Donny Pangilinan is known to explore ventures that will test his strengths and will allow him to discover more about ...

  After gaining prominent attention as part of a soulful pop duo with her with sister Halle, alt-R&B sensation Chlöe proves that she’s ready to shine on her own with the release of her new single “Have Mercy.”  The sultry showstopper marks the 5x Grammy-nominated producer and singer-songwriter’s debut effort as a solo star. With its slinky, minimal textures and confident vocals, “ Have Mercy ” has received exemplary praises across the board upon its release.  NPR called Chlöe a “pristine-voiced, technically brilliant ingenue” and commended her latest jam for its themes of women empowerment and “unabashed booty positivity.” Renowned hip-hop publication Complex praised the track for its “saucy” and “uptempo” vibe, citing how it “boasts major sex appeal.” Teen Vogue also sung adoration for Chlöe’s new song, describing it as “sensual” and “feel good.” Produced by Murda Beatz, Chlöe, Joseph L'étranger, FnZ, and BoogzDaBeast, the acclaimed urban single debuted at No. 28 on...

ONE Championship™ (ONE) today announced the full card for ONE: NEXTGEN , which broadcasts live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 29 October.  In the main event, Ukrainian skyscraper Roman Kryklia returns to defend the ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship against Dutch-Turkish bruiser Murat Aygun. Also featured on the card is the semifinal round of the historic ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix. The final four will see #3-ranked atomweight Stamp Fairtex of Thailand lock horns with Grand Prix alternate Julie Mezabarba of Brazil, who is replacing an injured Ham Seo Hee. In the other semifinal matchup, #4-ranked atomweight Ritu Phogat of India will meet undefeated Itsuki Hirata of Japan. ONE: NEXTGEN Friday, 29 October ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship Roman Kryklia vs. Murat Aygun Heavyweight: 102.2 KG – 120.2 KG ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix – Semifinal Stamp Fairtex vs. Julie Mezabarba Atomweight: 47.7 KG – 52.2 KG ONE Wom...

Thanks to his massive success on TikTok and other video-sharing platforms, Givēon has established himself as one of the biggest R&B acts in recent years, reaching the summit of the Spotify Philippines Top 50 and Viral 50 charts, respectively with the inescapable jam “Heartbreak Anniversary” and peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the Justin Bieber -headlined “Peaches,” featuring Daniel Caesar. The former also went No. 1 on all fronts, from digital sales to mainstream radio charts in Metro Manila and beyond, and conquered the media landscape from noontime shows to online dance challenges. This year, the promising newcomer returns with another heartfelt tune called “ For Tonight ,” which serves as the first single off his highly anticipated album to be released later this year. The fascinating slow jam is produced by Seven Thomas (Drake, Rihanna, Travis Scott), Jahaan Sweet (Eminem, Kehlani) and Akeel Henry (WizKid, SwaeLee). Accompanied by a music video directed by Acade...

With all the restrictions imposed during the ECQ, as they say, "The show must go on." And so it did with Shanti Dope 's latest single LOADED feat. Hellmerry hitting the various digital platforms with a bang!  Despite getting international acclaim with his song "Amatz" being featured in Marvel 's Falcon and the Winter Soldier TV series, Shanti remains grounded and shares the limelight collaborating with a talented newbie indie artist such as Hellmerry. As usual, Shanti's unabashed and bold rendition of social realities gives the song his signature swag and tapered by by a highly syncopated rhythm and beat that would mesmerize you into a cadent groove.  Watch Shanti Dope's official lyric video for LOADED at https://youtu.be/bY0C5-CZeNE and  on streaming platforms Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer.  It is also available in digital stores worldwide under Universal Records . 

Introduced earlier this year as one of the first Asian artists to join pan-regional music label, OFFMUTE, Mezzaluna has captivated music fans with her jazzy, soulful and sometimes brooding take on pop music. With deep, sultry vocals and intensely personal storytelling style, the Indonesian newcomer delivers inspiring and powerful songs with a universal reach. She also grew up in a musical household as the daughter of Indonesian rockstar, BimBim — drummer of the legendary Indonesian rock band Slank, and started picking up the piano and guitar at an early age. Despite coming from a lineage of acclaimed and respected musicians, Mezzaluna forged a path of her own, and developed her own sense of artistry in a uniquely humbling way. This sense of eclecticism is deeply felt on her debut single “In Situ,” which she wrote at the start of her music journey. “It was one of the quickest writing processes I’ve done as I was being honest with my feelings,” Mezzaluna shares. “Since it was based on m...

  Electronic producer Eve Alai lights up the virtual dancefloor with bouncy house chords and throbbing percussions on his latest single “T ouch M e,” to be released on October 8, 2021 under Umami Records. Featuring fiery vocals from Z, the infectious raver makes isolation bearable as it delivers another ecstatic shot of energy from start to finish.  Even with the absence of clubs, “Touch Me” works as a soundtrack to late-night revelry. It’s a techno-inspired bop that underscores the healing power of being confidently sensual and hopeful despite being enveloped into the dark, trying times.  With influences that range from British electronic producer Chris Lake to Grammy-nominated Australian music producer FISHER, Eve Alai takes “Touch Me” to effervescent places with its glorious serving of after-hours party music. Unbeknownst to everyone, the slinky material has undergone several changes in the production, and wasn’t initially penned as a dance anthem. “It was written ori...