Ben&Ben reunite with Moira on the confessional ballad “Pasalubong”

After working together last year for the heartwarming ballad “Paalam,” which has reached more than 40 million streams on all combined music platforms, Ben&Ben and Moira are reuniting again for a song that captures the intensity of deep longing and persistent desire.


Their second collaborative single “Pasalubong” is a romantic confessional that drips with unapologetic sentimentality: a song that is defenseless in its yearning and honesty, hoping that one’s profession of love will be received and reciprocated.


According to Ben&Ben, the song was inspired by the double meaning behind the title, which is a term that is commonly used to refer to a gift, and a word that could also mean to meet. “The track is a play on both these meanings,” the acclaimed nine-piece outfit explains.


Moira adds that the song’s impact radiates on a universal level, simply because it shows bravery and honesty despite the odds. “It isn’t so common anymore today to say what you mean,” the hitmaker says. “So I love that after a whole song of poetry, we end with the simplest but scariest lines to say…. Gusto Kita.”


Written and produced by the band and Moira, with arrangement from Ben&Ben’s very own percussionist Andrew De Pano, the folk-pop tune encapsulates the beauty in sparseness, and the magic in turning an outpour of emotion into a generation-defining anthem.


Andrew reveals that he was tasked to oversee the production side of the material, relying heavily on the weight of the word as basis for the arrangement and the overall vibe. “A big immediate difference from the usual Ben&Ben sound is the way the guitars sound, and the absence of most of our usual elements in the beginning. There was a major effort to really embody and project emotions of waiting and uncertainty and longing, and the ‘bass drum’ sound that is present throughout the song is meant to symbolize those times we get so caught up deep in thought that we end up hearing our own heartbeat.”


For their part, multi-awarded singer-songwriter duo Moira and Jason Marvin Hernandez helped finish the lyrics and added lines that give the material its enduring pop appeal. “For Pasalubong, we built it from the original song and added elements to it while in the car on our way to the Ben&Ben house,” Moira shares.


Together, both Ben&Ben and Moira interpreted the heart-wrenching nature of the material with precision and character. They made the song both timely and timeless, with every flow punctuated by unwavering vulnerability, and every word cutting deep and beautifully.
“With Moira and Paolo’s evocative vocal performance and the band’s emotional execution of Andrew’s arrangement, Pasalubong is a song that will certainly bring up all kinds of feelings, and hopefully will give people comfort in knowing that they aren’t alone in their frustration and longing,” the band shares in a statement.


In terms of delivery, Moira is very particular with the tone being conversational, as if telling a friend about her day or sharing the story to a lover. She also commends Andrew for being hands on in the studio, guiding her in every step of the way. “He has this crazy way of making something complicated, seem so simple. There’s this pitch where we used the 7th note for the last chorus which I thought was genius— that was all Andrew.”

“Pasalubong” is the third single off Ben&Ben upcoming sophomore full-length album to be released next month. The song is now available on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines.

Juan Karlos returns from hiatus with arresting folk-rock tune “Boston”

Released digitally, “Boston” revisits an old memory with a former flame, and runs with the fictional idea of “what could have been” if decisions in life were done differently. The song also documents that lingering bittersweet feeling of longing that, because of circumstances beyond control, cannot persist.

Going beyond his comfort zone, Juan Karlos recorded “Boston” alone in his home studio without his band. He tapped Dix Lucero for additional sax and flute parts and Noel De Brackinghe as his Recording, Mixing and Mastering Engineer, who made the material more intricately layered but tastefully sparse.


With subtle instrumentation that allows the sentiment of the song to soar and tug hearts, Juan Karlos’ latest single embraces his introspective side with creative whims and folk-rock sensibilities, while retaining a sense of hushed fragility.

“I’ve always wanted a simple treatment with a touch of complexity,” the young singer-songwriter shares in a statement. “Boston works in that vein, and it captures my personal vision as a musician.”
The song comes with a music video that features Juan Karlos performing in a moving pickup, with EDSA as his backdrop.The visual narrative shows the alt-pop artist singing with his guitar, as he traverses the sprawling urban stretch aimlessly, as if navigating places without a particular destination.


“Boston” is out now on all streaming platforms worldwide via Island Records Philippines and MCA Music Inc.

DJ Snake unveils his new record, “You Are My High”

On this record, the boundary-pushing disruptor fuses elements of traditional dance music with classic R&B funk to create a woozy electronic soundscape sure to be heard across the world this summer.

Listen to “You Are My High” by DJ Snake

The song, which samples the classic track “You Are My High” from The Gap Band, follows last week’s release of DJ Snake’s high-energy club anthem “Ring The Alarm” with Malaa. The two tracks arrive on the heels of DJ Snake’s announcement that he will be embarking on tour across Europe and North America, including dates with Malaa, starting on July 29th in Chicago, IL. The upcoming 2021 run includes a stop at North America’s legendary electronic music festival EDC Las Vegas in October. See full list of dates below, tickets will be available on July 29th

DJ SNAKE 2021 TOUR DATES:
*Starred dates with Malaa

7/29 Chicago, IL Radius*
7/30 Denver, CO Mission Ballroom*
7/31 Las Vegas, NV AYU Dayclub
8/1 San Bernadino, CA Hard Summer Festival
8/5 New York, NY Marquee
8/6 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Mirage
8/7 Miami Beach, FL LIV Miami
8/8 Tampa, FL WTR Pool
8/9 Las Vegas, NV AYU
8/13 Las Vegas, NV AYU Dayclub
8/14 Washington, DC Echostage*
8/15 Houston, TX Clé
8/27 Agde, France Amnesia
8/28 Plainfeld, Austria Electronic Love Festival
8/28 Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands Mysteryland 2021
9/4 Gothenburg, Sweden Summerburst
9/5 Frankfurt Am Main, Germany World Club Dome Las Vegas Edition
9/10 Cluj-napoca, Romania UNTOLD
9/17 San Juan, Puerto Rico Coca-Cola Music Hall
9/19 Las Vegas, NV AYU Dayclub
9/24 Las Vegas, NV AYU Dayclub
10/15 Oakland, CA Emerge Warehouse*
10/23 Las Vegas, NV EDC Las Vegas
10/29 San Bernadino, CA Escape Halloween
12/31 Dallas, TX Lights All Night

Jackson Wang releases teaser for his forthcoming single “Drive You Home”

Chinese triple threat Jackson Wang is a singer, dancer, and fashion mogul dominating the global pop consciousness. His forthcoming single “Drive You Home”, released in collaboration with chart-topping producer collective Internet Money, follows the release of Jackson’s “LMLY”, which has been streamed over 60M streams since its release in March, reached #27 at US Top 40 radio, and marked Jackson’s first US late night TV performance on James Corden.

“Drive You Home” is an 80s-inspired love song blending sentimental guitar-driven melodies with booming hip-hop percussion that features Jackson Wang’s most affecting & confident vocal performance to-date. The song samples the iconic 1984 single “Drive” from the legendary new wave band The Cars, and is a collaboration with the chart-topping Internet Money producer collective – hip-hop’s go-to producers of the moment (Juice Wrld – “Lucid Dreams”, Lil Tecca – “Ransom”, Internet Money & Gunna ft. Don Toliver & Nav – “Lemonade”).

Accompanying the single is a music video that Jackson scripted, directed, and produced himself alongside Mamesjao and tells a heartbreaking story of a hard-partying night told in reverse. Both “LMLY” and “Drive You Home” will ladder up to Jackson’s forthcoming sophomore album Magic Man, due in November 2021.

Yeonjun of K-pop group TXT recommends Timmy Albert’s “FEELINGS”

Yeonjun is one-fifth of the Korean boy band Tomorrow x Together or more commonly known as TXT. During his livecast on July 21, 2021 he was asked about the songs he listens to these days and mentioned Timmy Albert’s single, “FEELINGS”.

“This is the song I found while shooting… I listened to this song, and I liked it so much.. Kian ‘Every Hour’ and ‘FEELINGS’ by Timmy Albert. Please try these songs. They are so good” Yeonjun shared on VLive.

Timmy Albert shared on Instagram his great delight upon hearing the news, “#yeonjun recommemnded my song??”.

This 21-year-old singer-songwriter started his journey with Universal Records in May 2019. His current talk of the town single “FEELINGS” is part of his debut EP entitled “DISTANCED”. His music influences range from the classics – Madonna, Foreigner, Phil Collins, Richard Marx, to the modern sounds of joan, The 1975, and LANY.

Catch Timmy Albert’s “FEELINGS” now streaming on iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer, Youtube and Spotify.

Camila Cabello makes a huge comeback with latin-inspired single “Don’t Go Yet”

The song was written by Camila, Scott Harris, Ricky Reed, and Mike Sabath, produced by Mike Sabath and Ricky Reed and includes live percussion by acclaimed Cuban drummer, Pedrito Martinez. Alongside the new release, Camila also debuted the video for the track.

Oozing with infectious harmonies and tropical rhythms, the latin-inspired banger shows her Mexican and Cuban roots, while retaining that glorious pop sound with a chorus that sticks in your head for days.

This is Camila’s first new release since her 2019 platinum-certified #1 album, Romance, and follows the hit single “My Oh My (featuring DaBaby),” which went to No.1 on Billboard pop radio charts in 2020.
The new track will also appear on her upcoming third full-length album, Familia. The Havana songstress is set to perform her new single on the post-Olympics Opening Ceremony edition of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.


Cabello also made headlines this weekend when she shared a message on TikTok about body positivity, and overcoming the burdening pressures of beauty standards online. “I am grateful for this body that lets me do what I need to do,” the pop/R&B sensation beams with pride. “We are real women with curves and cellulite and stretch marks and fat. And we got to own that, baby!”


Camila Cabello’s “Don’t Go Yet” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.

Miss World Philippines 2021 Coronation Night moved to Aug. 8

It was announced by Miss World Philippines Organization, the scheduled coronation night of Miss World Philippines has been postponed to August 8, 2021 at Okada Manila due to health restrictions in National Capital Region because of COVID-19 – Delta variant transmission in the region.

NCR is currently under General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions in which venues for meetings, conferences and exhibitions are not allowed to operate. The restrictions will last until July 31, 2021. The pageant’s coronation night was supposed to be held today, July 25, 2021 at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila.

Official announcement from Miss World Philippines Organization

The Miss World Philippines 2021 Coronation Night will be livestreamed via KTX.PH, Upstream, WeTV, and on TFC IPTV. Also, it will be telecast on GMA-7 on Aug. 8, 2021 – 10:30pm. Catch our LIVE coverage on our social pages: linktr.ee/manilaconcerts

See our photos from Miss World Philippines 2021 Gala Charity Ball here: https://www.facebook.com/manilaconcerts/photos

Remi Wolf unveils vibrant new single & video “Liquor Store”

Quickly emerging as one of pop music’s leading faces, Remi Wolf continues her ascension with “Liquor Store,” the lead single off of her debut album due for release this fall via Island Records. On “Liquor Store”, Wolf’s eccentric charm, poignant songwriting, and penchant for crafting intoxicating hooks combine to create a vibrant, textured, feel good summer anthem. The release is accompanied by a new visual, combining a vast array of colors and effects that offer a window into her psychedelic soul. Upon release, “Liquor Store” premiered on BBC Radio 1 as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record.

On the new single, Wolf shares: “‘Liquor Store’ feels like I am shedding a skin. It’s about my journey with sobriety, which has been a major life shift for me over the last year. At the end of 2020, after six months away from the studio, I had a crazy explosive week where all these feelings came pouring out of me — ‘Liquor Store’ captures a lot of them. It’s my first baby of the bunch and I hope you love it.”

With distinct offerings like “Liquor Store” and her prior release “Liz,” Wolf’s unmistakable sound and personality has caught the eye of some of the industry’s biggest trend-setters from peers like Beck and Dominic Fike to publications including NPR, Pitchfork, W Magazine, V Magazine, TIME, PAPER, Nylon, The Los Angeles Times, and more. In addition to releasing her sophomore EP I’m Allergic to Dogs!–to critical acclaim, in 2020 Wolf collaborated with Dominic Fike on a rework of her massive hit “Photo ID” and received a bevy of reimaginings from the likes of Beck, Hot Chip, Little Dragon, Sylvan Esso, and more for her We Love Dogs! remix EP.

The California native has also accrued a widespread, passionate fanbase. Her memorable performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon expertly blended I’m Allergic to Dogs! standouts “Hello Hello Hello” and “Photo ID”, the latter of which has gone viral on TikTok with over 10 billion views. All of this comes in conjunction with several releases earning spots on notable playlists across DSP’s. “Photo ID” was featured in Instagram’s global “More To Heart” commercial, and “Hello Hello Hello” received a remix from Polo & Pan that was used in Apple’s global ad campaign for the iPhone 12 and Snapchat’s international commercial for its new Sound feature. “Monte Carlo,” a standalone and standout single following the EP, was featured in the worldwide commerical for Samsung’s Galaxy Buds earphone.

With “Liquor Store” leading the charge, her debut album coming later this year, and appearances at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, and Austin City Limits scheduled, 2021 is poised to be a breakout year for the budding superstar.

Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino 2021 goes digital with diverse and inclusive programming

Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino (LMP) marks its second digital edition this year with a commitment to promoting awareness and appreciation of OPM artists from all over the world through multiple social media platforms.


The weeklong celebration promises a wide variety of music programs that not only cater to a specific format, but also encompasses concerts and gigs, open mic challenges, exclusive premieres, workshops, and a lecture series.


The series of virtual events will run from July 23 to August 1, and will be streamed live via Facebook and KUMU.


Aside from a diverse set of homegrown talents performing online, LMP also partners with key and emerging stakeholders in the music industry such as AmiananPop, MinPop, Kadasig & Artist Ko, Soupstar Music, and Warner Music Philippines to ensure that artists with different backgrounds, and from different regions, are given equal opportunities to perform and engage with the community.


As Christian Bautista puts it, “We wanted there to be a balance between independent artists and mainstream/signed artists from all over the country and to try to cover as many styles and genres as possible. OPM already has a large roster of artists and we wanted to be able to feature as many as we can from the organization. We took into consideration their music and styles as well as the platforms that they are active in for the artists performing the LMP DigiGigs.”


Aside from the music shows and online concerts featuring the roster of PhilPop’s past champions and finalists, LMP is partnering with PETA for a special online showcase featuring the songs from Rak Of Aegis, as well as songwriting and learning opportunities that are spearheaded by the institution’s other partners, FILSCAP and PhilPop.


Even as the music industry is struggling to get back to its former glory and a lot of plans are derailed by the pandemic, LMP refuses to back down in its efforts to persevere and push through with mounting an online celebration that champions Filipino musicians not just from Metro Manila, but also from other parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and the rest of the globe.


Hence, the tagline ‘Ituloy Ang Awitan’ was formed. In the words of LMP Project Manager Gab Cabangon, it was developed as part of a “desire to just challenge the situation that we are in.” He explains, “We wanted to highlight how Filipino Music is here to stay and will continue to be a part of our lives and a sense of hope despite the challenges in these trying times. The creation and support of Filipino music should never stop because our songs are able to reflect the story and the culture of the Filipino people.”


OPM Icon and OPM Board Member Noel Cabangon maintains that nothing can stop this important milestone in the history of Philippine music from happening. He reaffirms, “In an ideal situation, we would have wanted to have live shows and concerts so that fans of Filipino Music will get to have that real-life concert experience once again. But of course, there are a lot of considerations that we have to make. Our priority is to mount this festival safely and responsibly for everyone. For the time being, the social media platforms are a suitable alternative to allow artists to perform without the health risks brought about by the pandemic.”


Organized and produced by Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), LMP has been around since 2014, and has established itself as the premiere annual music festival of Filipino music.


This year’s edition will be headlined by some of the biggest and most promising artists in local music such as Noel Cabangon, Christian Bautista, Sandwich, 6cyclemind, Gracenote, Bayang Barrios, Cookie Chua, PhilPop Grand Champions reon and Chud Festejo, Miss Ramonne, artists from Warner Music Philippines like Ferdinand Aragon and Y ARA, and many many more!


This event is also supported by private companies such as Max’s Restaurant, KUMU and KUMUSIKA, The Medical City and Shopee among others.

SB19 pushes the boundaries of pop music with new EP, Pagsibol

As torchbearers of Pinoy pop, SB19 has achieved record-breaking success in every step of their journey. The award-winning boyband has reaped accolades here and abroad, being the first Filipino act to be nominated for a Billboard Music Award and reaching a No. 2 peak on Billboard Social 50, a chart that utilizes real-time social media data to track the most fan-engaged artists in the world. From being part of Spotify’s RADAR program in 2020 that supported the band’s borderless access to fans, to becoming the Most Requested Artist of the Year for 2020 on MTV US Friday Livestream, the band has solidified their global presence with their music.

Global recognition aside, SB19 continues to push boundaries in terms of production and songwriting, challenging conventions with their sophisticated modern sounds and anthemic lyrics. According to Sony Music’s GM, Philippines & VP, Business Development, Asia, Roslyn Pineda, SB19’s insistence to excel in their craft is once again displayed in full force on their upcoming EP, Pagsibol. “This time, they’re going all-out in expanding their range by sprinkling bits of experiments with their brand of edgy pop.”

Mapping the band’s journey through Pagsibol

A Filipino word that literally translates to germination, as to how seeds grow into plants, Pagsibol is a metaphorical reference to the band’s journey in the music industry. “In that context, we want our EP to symbolize our beginnings, origins, or simply our roots,” SB19 shares in a statement. “The term also signifies our growth from the group’s formative years to where we are right now.”

The 6-track EP contains the empowering song “What?,” released early this year to critical and commercial acclaim; the inspiring but powerful ballad “MAPA”; and a 2021 version of their early ballad “Ikako.” SB19 is no stranger to defying structures and infusing global sounds in a singular music package, and on their EP, Pagsibol, they have asserted creative control over their material without sacrificing accessibility. This is evident in “Mana,” a throbbing banger that updates their electro-pop, R&B, and hip-hop influences with cinematic grandeur. The title is actually short for the Filipino mythical creature “manananggal,” which has the ability to sever its upper torso from the rest of its body. SB19 redefines the word to symbolize humility. “No matter how far we go or how high we reach, our feet will always remain on the ground,” says the Asian quintet.

Pagsibol raises the stage to the next level with “Bazinga,” the new single coinciding with the EP drop. Brimming with trap-pop production and reggaeton-infused hip-hop rhythms, the song takes a swipe at the band’s detractors online and offline, and reflects on the “bashing” culture that every artist experiences at the onset of their careers.

In the same vein as the band’s more radio-friendly tunes, “SLMT” showcases the group’s more effervescent side to their music-making. The insanely catchy bop honors A’TIN, a community of like-minded individuals and fans to whom SB19 is eternally grateful.

Taken as a whole, Pagsibol tackles a variety of themes that are integral to the pop group’s narrative. As SB19 puts it, “They will get a glimpse of our paths and what we went through. We consider this EP to be very meaningful as everything is from us—the conceptualization, the creative process, the totality of the product itself.”

SB19 and Spotify

SB19 Followers have more than doubled on Spotify, the world-leading audio platform, within just a year (June 2020 – June 2021). On joining Spotify RADAR Philippines, an emerging artist program that spotlights rising talent, SB19 says, “Being on Spotify’s RADAR program since 2020 has been a lot of help for us. Spotify’s commitment to local artists has unlocked many opportunities, from enabling us to represent Pinoy music on the global stage to helping new audiences discover our songs.”

To celebrate the launch of Pagsibol, Spotify unveils “SB19 A’TIN ‘To!”, a campaign that showcases Pinoy pride and tells the story of SB19’s latest EP through audio and visual art. SB19 and Spotify collaborated with six Filipino visual artists to design roving jeepneys, each uniquely inspired by the six tracks on “Pagsibol”. Fans can also look forward to exclusive SB19 content on Spotify’s Tatak Pinoy playlist. Kossy Ng, Spotify’s Head of Music for Asia says, “It’s been wonderful to be a part of SB19’s journey; watching their growth from RADAR artists to today reaching listeners all over the world. We are thrilled to get behind the launch of Pagsibol through this campaign and allowing fans, not only in the Philippines, but all over the world to experience their music. Spotify continues to champion the vibrant Philippine music scene by connecting more artists and fans.”

SB19’s EP, “Pagsibol” is out now on Spotify via Sony Music. The internationally recognized boyband will be performing the songs off their Extended Play for the first time live on their upcoming online concert, Back In The Zone, happening on August 1, 2021 (Sunday), 19:30 PHT. VIP and VVIP tickets are sold out, but you can still get general admission tickets here.