TRACK REVIEW: aunt robert – Mad

Written by Elijah P. Gabe Gomez, better known through their solo project aunt robert, explores indie rock and dream pop with a diaristic approach. Their Spotify bio emphasizes “I like writing short songs,” wholly embodying this sentiment by focusing on emotional depth rather than song length. In their latest single, “Mad,” Gomez is accompanied by […]

TRACK REVIEW: Alisson Shore, Yuridope – Ako Pa Rin

After nearly a decade in the music industry, Alisson Shore has carved out a niche for himself, creating a world of his own told through the full length format. He has a knack for selecting soundscapes, writing lyrics, and curating overall structures that set his work apart from most of his contemporaries. There are times […]

TRACK REVIEW: Darren Cashwell – NUMBER ONE

Written by Elijah P. Pop duo Darren Cashwell has a colorful history, from creating remixes on the fly with top EDM DJs before the pandemic to transitioning into gentler, chorus-driven guitar pop, and finally crafting cool-guy pop music with “NUMBER ONE.” Ironically, much of that “color” in their music now feels somewhat dated, given the […]

TRACK REVIEW: DIONELA ft. Jay R – SINING

Written by Elijah P. After almost hitting every note and scoring every possible R&B collaboration known locally, Bulacan-based pop singer-songwriter Dionela has finally hit the algorithm goldmine in streaming with their collaborative hit “Sining” alongside R&B royalty Jay R. Not too long ago, the same mainstream artist and respected industry titan passed down the “crown” […]

TRACK REVIEW: Shanni – 19

The second single from neophyte soft pop singer-songwriter Shanni is more enchanting than their debut by a lot. Venturing into dreamier soundscapes rather than city pop beginnings, Shanni’s “19” commands a slightly more consistent and somber approach to their tender sensibilities in pop songwriting. Shanni sings over the gentle compositions as if skiing on a […]

TRACK REVIEW: To Love Everything Ever Again – Jonah

Written by Elijah P. In every scattered, programmed drum loop, bitpop-influenced keys, meddling string section, and vocal delivery, there’s an underlying sensitive theme at play in “To Love Everything Again” — the solo indietronica and chamber pop project of Janpol Estrella. The track exudes a tight embrace and a strong tug at the heartstrings. It’s […]

TRACK REVIEW: fuzzy headcoat – Czai

Written by Elijah P. Eastern Metro Manila has become cloudier and more ethereal than ever before. The solo bedroom project fuzzy headcoat delves into the ethereal wave, exploring the indie/alternative genres with its almost repetitive distorted guitar work, xylophones, and the gentle twee vocals of their vocalist. Drawing inspiration from the enigmatic “world music” netlabel […]

TRACK REVIEW: Twosday – piyesa

Written by Elijah P. Malibay, Pasay, is a neighborhood brimming with musical surprises, and among them is a group of young talents from Twosday, a 5-piece consisting of friends from other friends in their neighborhood. And like all young upstarts, their influences are well-worn on their sleeves loud and proud from the very start. The […]

TRACK REVIEW: gins&melodies ft. Hev Abi – Babaero

Written by Elijah P. The year is 2024, and we’re currently at a stasis in how culture perceives sampling as a taboo subject and interpolations as a dubious activity in songwriting overall. Regarding the aforementioned topics, Shaira’s “Selos” made an impact by sparking a discourse on interpolations, while massive critics of the song bombard comments […]

EP REVIEW: Yung Masa – MY KARMA RAN OUT

Written by Elijah P. Being a jack of all trades can take you somewhere, especially when you can balance out the dynamics of being a producer and a songwriter. These particular skills are something to masterfully juggle throughout your entire career span. Moreover, up-and-coming rapper and songwriter Yung Masa takes on the challenge of balancing […]