June 12, 2025
James Reid offers breather in love’s chaos on new single “Pahinga,” featuring TJ Monterde
April 21, 2025
Gary Valenciano and RJ Dela Fuente team up for an uplifting rendition of “Blessings”
February 15, 2025
Ben&Ben’s new single “Tomorrow With You” arrives just in time for Valentine’s Day
January 12, 2025
Paolo Sandejas celebrates interconnectedness in debut album, the world is so small
1. your favorite song2. sirens3. moonlight4. roses5. just a song6. manila to LA7. all the time8. the world is so small
December 11, 2024
James Reid hits home with new EP, jgh
The 6-track release serves as his first record under Sony Music Entertainment
James Reid has officially released his highly
anticipated new EP, jgh, under Sony Music
Entertainment and Careless Music.
The 6-track record gives an intimate
glimpse into his past and present life, chronicling how he has matured all
these years, both as an artist and as a person.
Short for “just got home,” jgh also
marks a significant moment in Reid’s musical evolution, symbolizing his return
to a place of peace and serenity, lyrically and sonically speaking. With a
blend of pop, R&B, and OPM sensibilities, the EP captures Reid at his most
vulnerable, rediscovering the earnest, grounded parts of his identity that he
may have lost touch with and learning to forgive himself and accept the flaws
that came with it.
“My home is a reflection of myself,” says
James Reid. “It’s filled with things I’ve gathered along my journey and
decorated with memories. It’s been another crazy year, and now that I’m home, I
have a lot of stories to tell.”
Written and produced by Reid alongside
collaborators Tim Marquez, Niko, Luke April, Alison Shore, and Brian Lotho, the
EP is marked by its introspective nature and sparse production. Many of the
tracks began as simple acoustic guitar or piano compositions, with each
producer adding their own unique touch to further shape the mood of the record.
“All the songs were written from the heart,” James shares. “Some of them were painful to write, others were inspired by realizations I had along the way, and some were inspired by love. It was an emotional journey, and I see each of these songs like a page from my diary or a chapter in my life—truths I may have found difficult to express before.”
The EP’s production style is subtle yet
impactful, reflecting a sense of comforting warmth that resonates deeply with a
universal audience. The songs are intentionally understated, trading polished
arrangements or high-energy hooks in favor of nuanced details that highlight
Reid’s rich vocal delivery and powerful storytelling.
As an entirety, jgh has the
potential to dominate the charts and win over even the most hardened listener's
icy heart.
Tracklist for jgh:
1. Mirasol
2. Di Bale
3. Sandal
4. Hurt Me Too
5. Your Boy
6. Pauwi Na
James Reid’s new album, ‘jgh’ is out now on all digital
music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment and Careless Music.
December 10, 2024
Ben&Ben unveil new album and immersive animation experience in The Traveller Across Dimensions
· General Admission – PHP 1,700· Upper Box – PHP 2,700· Liwanag Standing – PHP 3,200· Lower Box B – PHP 3,700· Lower Box A – PHP 4,700· Lower Box Premium – PHP 7,700· Liwanag VIP Package – PHP 7,700
December 8, 2024
Sponge Cola shares the other side of the story in new track “Kelly (Sagittarius)”
December 1, 2024
The Dawn offers a reflective take on the holiday season with “Maki-Pasko”
Iconic Filipino rock band The Dawn
has thrown their hat into the ring for the next big holiday classic.
The Enveloped Ideas act makes a
little space for love with “Maki-Pasko,” their debut Christmas
single under Sony Music Entertainment. Known for their timeless rock
anthems, the band takes a fresh and introspective approach to the season with a
track that blends holiday warmth with personal reflection.
According to Jett Pangan, lead
vocalist of The Dawn, “Maki-Pasko” was inspired by the feeling of longing that
often accompanies the holidays, particularly for those who find themselves
separated from loved ones. “I’ve experienced holidays away from my family, so I
drew from that personal experience when writing the lyrics,” Pangan explains.
“The song speaks to those moments of solitude and the desire to be with someone
during the festive season.”
“Maki-Pasko”
marks the band’s foray into writing a Yuletide-themed song—a concept they
discussed for years but only decided to pursue after their initial meeting with
Sony Music Entertainment. The collaboration with their new record label pushed
the band to explore the challenges and creative nuances of producing a holiday
tune, and refine the process along the way.
Francis Reyes, guitarist of The Dawn,
reflects on co-writing the song, especially on its initial stages: “I was
messing around on guitar at home, in a reflective mood. It started with that
feeling, and a couple of chords and a riff that, in my mind, reflected a bit of
sadness but also sounded hopeful. Personally, I think of it like any other song
we’ve written that can be played in any other season. We were probably hesitant
to write a Christmas song for so long because we were overthinking what it
should sound like.”
Produced by guitarist Rommel “Sancho”
Sanchez and bassist Bim Yance, “Maki-Pasko” conveys the essence of
the holiday season without falling into the typical tropes of festive music.
The song incorporates subtle touches of sleigh bells and tambourines, gently
invoking the seasonal vibe, but its deeper emotional resonance comes from its
universal themes of longing, hope, and togetherness.
“We
didn’t want it to be just another ‘holiday song’—we wanted it to be a good song
that happens to be about Christmas,” adds drummer Junboy Leonor.
“Ultimately, it’s about the feelings that the season brings, without being tied
to a particular moment or celebration.”
The Dawn’s “Maki-Pasko” is out now on all digital
music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.
October 20, 2024
James Reid expresses the joy of summer romance on “Mirasol”
September 8, 2024
Paolo Sandejas takes alt-pop sound to exciting new places with “all the time”
Follow him on socials:
Facebook / x / Instagram / TikTok / YouTube
September 7, 2024
Josh Cullen drops first solo album, Lost & Found
1. 19992. See Me3. Silent Cries4. Honest5. No Control (ft. (e)motion engine)6. Lights Out (ft. Alamat Mo)7. Sumaya8. Silent Cries (Instrumental)9. No Control (Instrumental)
August 30, 2024
SB19's PAGTATAG! THE DOCUMENTARY, out in Philippine cinemas today
August 17, 2024
Ely Buendia marks triumphant comeback with new single “Bulaklak Sa Buwan”
Ely Buendia enters a new era of his solo music career with the release of “Bulaklak Sa Buwan.”
The fuzzy, alt-rock number serves as the
first single off his upcoming sophomore album, Method Adaptor,
which will be out on November 8, 2024, via Sony Music Entertainment and Offshore
Music.
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His latest track serves as his first solo release since 2021’s “Metro”
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The track’s release coincides with the prevalence of fabricated stories and propaganda-driven atrocities in online spaces, challenging listeners to raise awareness for factual truth and combat misinformation.
“I’ve been watching documentaries a lot,
and I tried to distill everything in one song,” the legendary Pinoy rock artist
explains. “The track is all about the quest for the truth. It's about seeking
knowledge while resisting the confines of dogma.”
Sonically, “Bulaklak Sa Buwan” stands out without the need to constantly show off. The disarming pop gem continues Buendia's knack for composure and effortlessness: his gift for melodies is still as sharp and instinctive as his best output with his previous bands, and his guitar work is still at its most ferociously sounding in over two decades.
Ely Buendia’s frequent collaborator and Pupil bandmate Jerome Velasco produced the song, delivering a pristine but straightforward production approach that doesn’t take away the material’s anthemic charm.
“I wanted it to be buoyant-sounding and surprising,” shares the award-winning OPM icon. “The song is very upbeat, and I utilized several modulation techniques to make it seem like the music goes higher and higher every time.”
“Bulaklak Sa Buwan” is accompanied by the release of a music video directed by Niko Cezar and Aimee Aznar of KNYA Collective. According to Ely, the visual narrative finds him wandering in the woods looking for a particular flower. “Upon finding it, I get into some upside-down vibes (like Stranger Things), getting transported into another dimension.”
Ely Buendia’s “Bulaklak Sa Buwan”
is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide. Watch out for the official music video on August 16, 2024, Friday
at 6pm on Ely Buendia’s official YouTube channel.
SB19 drops THE FIRST TAKE versions of “GENTO” and “MAPA” on streaming platforms
P-Pop royalty SB19 continues to captivate music fans from all over the world with the release of “GENTO” and “MAPA” from THE FIRST TAKE sessions on all digital music platforms via Sony Music Entertainment.
The new versions feature the award-winning group’s performance at THE FIRST TAKE, a popular YouTube channel with nearly 10 million subscribers under its belt. The show's format features Japanese and international music guests performing a song in one take, filmed with shots of the artists and a microphone against a minimalist and usually white backdrop.
To date, THE FIRST TAKE renditions of “GENTO” and “MAPA” have amassed more than 4.5 million views on YouTube, becoming one of the most viewed performances from an Asian pop group/band.
“We’re eternally grateful to THE FIRST TAKE for giving us an opportunity to showcase our work on a platform known not just for its massive global following but for elevating the audio-visual experience of music fans with much-needed authenticity and rawness,” SB19 shares in a collective statement. “The performances really challenged us to work within our limitations and deliver with the best of our abilities. We’ve always considered performing as a sanctimonious process that deserves utmost preparation, love, and respect. Constantly reminded by THE FIRST TAKE that we can only perform the songs once, we had to reconnect with our roots and embrace the beauty of spontaneity.”
SB19 is the first Southeast Asian group and the first Filipino artist to be invited on the globally renowned platform, which also served as host to several acclaimed performances by other artists such as aespa, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, Hitsujibungaku, MANESKIN, ITZY, (G)-I-DLE, imase, Maluma, and more.
For THE FIRST TAKE version of “GENTO,” SB19 delivered a genuinely compelling performance that highlights the five-piece act’s incredible talent and range in harmonizing, singing, and rapping.
The chart-topping hitmakers also took musicality on a different level with their rousing version of “MAPA,” which SB19 redressed with a soaring arrangement and an inspiring gospel-infused delivery.
Both versions are now available for streaming and are bundled with its original versions:
Gento: http://sb19.tunelink.to/gento-fromtft
MAPA: http://sb19.tunelink.to/mapa-fromtft
About THE FIRST TAKE
THE FIRST TAKE is a YouTube channel that clearly captures the performance of musicians and singers performing in a single take. With the concept “capture the take. This moment. This sound. THE FIRST TAKE. It only happens once,” THE FIRST TAKE presents pure music in overwhelming quality with no exaggerated performance.
The channel started on 15 November 2019 and has now hit 9.69 million subscribers (as of 7 June 2024). Total views have exceeded 1.4 billion, and contents have been viewed from over 220 countries and regions around the world. Growing as a comprehensive music platform, new initiatives have been launched and become viral contents. THE FIRST TAKE INTERNATIONAL features international music stars such as Harry Styles, Avril Lavigne, V from BTS, Jason Chan and Jolin Tsai, having them to give their 1TAKE performance exclusively on the channel.
Follow THE FIRST TAKE on socials:
Website: https://www.thefirsttake.jp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_firsttake
Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_FirstTake
X: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_first_take
THE FIRST TIMES: https://www.thefirsttimes.jp