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Samantha Gail B. Lucas

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Indie Rock Project of Soyoon Hwang SE SO NEON Shares Vibrant New Song "Twit Winter"

May 26, 2025

Stream "Twit Winter" (English Version) here

Watch the official lyric video here

Photo Credit: Bahno Jung

May 16th, 2025 — Genre-defying South Korean band, SE SO NEON makes their highly

anticipated return with the release of "Twit Winter"

— a vibrant indie rock anthem that

contemplates life's fleeting nature. The new track is accompanied by a music video that

was shot in Seoul and self-directed by front woman, producer, and multi-instrumentalist,

Soyoon Hwang. Fans can stream the single HERE and watch the music video HERE.

With the new music, the group has crafted their own sonic identity, displaying a wide

spectrum of musical influences varying from blues and psychedelic rock to new wave and

synth pop. Sung primarily in Korean, their music is rooted both in the present and in nature,

making "Twit Winter" relatable regardless of any language barrier.

"People will feel my

energy and my soul,

" Soyoon proclaims.SE SO NEON –

"Twit Winter" (Official Music Video)

Co-produced by Soyoon and Kenny Gilmore (Weyes Blood, Sudan Archives) and mixed by

Nathan Boddy (Pink Pantheress, Geordie Greep), the song hears Soyoon exploring the

complexity of time and human existence. With the band's new music still in its infancy, she

found herself reflecting upon music she had started writing as a teenager. Despite the

growth and development that had since followed, she felt the songs were tethered to a past

version of herself.

Of performing these songs, Soyoon explains: "Each time I do, I feel as though I'm singing

alongside the Soyoon of the past. This is not a nostalgic return to an earlier self. Rather, it is the past Soyoon — the one who once wrote and sang these songs — who now meets and sings with the Soyoon of the future. It struck me, with a kind of quiet clarity, that music and the stage allow one to dismantle time's linearity altogether."

Art is often regarded as timeless, its impact surpassing any time constraints and often outlasting those that created it.

"Twit Winter" hears Soyoon grapple with her own mortality, while also questioning the longstanding legacy of her creations. In her own words: "That

thought made me want to leave behind questions for the past and future, sensations I'd still want to share, signals and traces that might survive the years. I imagine myself, aged,

singing this song. And so I decided to create a kind of time capsule, through both music and image."

The music video became an experimental extension of this concept, acting as a time capsule for future Soyoon to revisit in 2065. Throughout watching "present" Soyoon in various scenarios, a white box remains present. It marks the designated spot that the

Soyoon of the future will occupy.Stream "Twit Winter" here

###

About SE SO NEON

SE SO NEON was formed in 2016 by Soyoon. Mirroring their sonic dexterity, the band has seen various iterations with Soyoon remaining the consistent anchor. Winning Rookie of the Year and Best Rock Song of the Year at the prestigious Korean Music Awards in their debut year, SE SO NEON instantly became a leading figure of South Korea's indie scene.

In 2020, SE SO NEON released their EP 'Nonadaptation', which was featured in Pitchfork's 'The 35

Best Rock Albums of 2020' and Paste's 'The 40 Best Rock Albums of 2020'. In addition, the band was also selected as one of Fender's 'Next Artists of 2020'. SE SO NEON was also the only SouthKorean band to be selected for YouTube Music's global artist development program, YouTube

Music Foundry.

With over 145 million global streams to date, SE SO NEON's growing popularity is reflected in their strong Southeast Asian fanbase, with key regional cities #2 Jakarta, #3 Bangkok, #5 Singapore, #6

Taipei, and #7 Kuala Lumpur ranking among their top global listeners.

###

For more information: SECRET SIGNALS

In DailySam Tags pr, lifestyleblogger, music
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TOM ODELL ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM, A WONDERFUL LIFE

May 26, 2025

RELEASED 5TH SEPTEMBER 2025

 

NEW SINGLE, ‘DON’T CRY, PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER’ – LISTEN NOW

 

+ ANNOUNCES 27-DATE UK/EUROPEAN ARENA TOUR INCLUDING LONDON’S O2 ARENA IN OCTOBER

 

 

           Credit: Darren Gwynn

 

Tom Odell is pleased to announce details of his new album, A Wonderful Life.

 

The new record is released on the 5th September 2025 via UROK/Virgin. It was recorded in London and features 10 tracks including the recent introductory track and album opener, ‘Don’t Let Me Go’.

 

Pre-order/pre-save the album here

 

On this his seventh studio album, Tom Odell has created a record that embodies a universal spirit of empathetic, total honesty; one that looks out at the broken landscape of modern, fractured society and finds dystopia and doom, but also - integrally - glimmers of beauty and hope.

 

To coincide with the album’s announcement, Tom shares a new single, ‘Don’t Cry, Put Your Head On My Shoulder’. A cinematic lullaby, the guitar-led track soon arrows skyward evoking all the anthemic qualities to suggest that Tom and his audience will be bathed in the glare of phone torches and lighter flames when it becomes a certain staple of his live set.

 

The song itself tells the story of a friend mired in strife and the difficulties of learning how best to help them. It’s another telling example of Tom Odell’s songwriting prowess, and a very welcome return for this ever-popular British singer-songwriter. Listen HERE

 

The songs on A Wonderful Life, seek understanding within a human existence that is, at its core, messy and convoluted and never just one thing. “I wish I could wrap it up into a nice little bow of what the mood and the message is, but these songs are the antithesis of that,” he says. “To live, and to write honestly about it, is such a profoundly important part of my life now. And I feel like if I have any duty whatsoever, it’s just to continue to do that.”

 

Tom has recently been out across Europe’s arenas in support of Billie Eilish, and will returns to many of the same venues to headline them later this year as part of a huge 27-date arena run across the UK and Europe. The run includes a night at the O2 Arena in London on 29th October.

 

Fans can pre-order the forthcoming album from Tom’s webstore before 5pm BST Tuesday 27th May for first access to UK/European arena tickets. The ticket pre-sale window then opens at 10am BST on Wednesday 28th May, before tickets go on general sale from 10am BST on Friday 30th May.

 

This weekend, Tom plays Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 in Sefton Park, Liverpool. The Billie Eilish tour continues across Europe throughout the rest of the month. Tom’s intimate headline tour arrives in Europe and the UK this Summer including a tiny show at Battersea Arts Centre in July that sold out in seconds. Those intimate headline dates continue out to North America in September.

 

Tom plays the Woodsies stage at Glastonbury this year. Further touring news is to be shared imminently.

 

Meanwhile over on TikTok, Tom’s 2012 breakthrough hit ‘Another Love’ has spent the last two years going quietly stratospheric, entering the top 50 on the Billboard TikTok chart, and soundtracking millions of TikTok videos, most commonly in support of Ukraine as a sign of hope, and by Iranian women to soundtrack protest videos in response to the death of Mahsa Amini whilst in the custody of the ‘morality police’. The song, originally written by a young Tom making his very first moves in this enduring musical career, has since accumulated over 3 billion streams on Spotify, becoming one of the top 25 most streamed songs of all time on the platform.

 

But these big streaming numbers and the accumulation of industry awards (BRITs and Ivor Novellos) only paint part of the story of this talented musician who manages to shoot his music directly to hearts right across the globe that instantly relate to millions. It’s one reason why artists both young (The Last Dinner Party, Billie Eilish, AURORA) and old (Cat Stevens, Elton John) have expressed their love and support for what he does.

 

A Wonderful Life feels like an important body of work by a musician right at the top of his game, and quietly becoming more popular by the day.

 

Album Tracklisting:

 

Don’t Let Me Go

Don’t Cry, Put Your Head On My Shoulder

Prayer

Can We Just Go Home Now

Why Do I Always Want The Things That I Can’t Have

Wonderful Life

Ugly

Strange House

Can Old Lovers Ever Just Be Friends?

The End Of Suffering

 

Intimate Headline Tour (+ Billie Eilish Arena Supports):

24th May – Radio One’s Big Weekend 2025, Sefton Park, Liverpool

29th May – Lanxess Arena, Cologne (w/ Billie Eilish)

30th May – Lanxess Arena, Cologne (w/ Billie Eilish)

1st June – O2 Arena, Prague (w/ Billie Eilish)

3rd June – Tauron Arena, Krakow (w/ Billie Eilish)

4th June – Tauron Arena, Krakow (w/ Billie Eilish)

6th June – Wiener Stadthalle – Halle D, Vienna (w/ Billie Eilish)

8th June – Unipol Arena, Bologna (w/ Billie Eilish)

11th June – Sala Apolo, Barcelona – SOLD OUT

14th June – Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona (w/ Billie Eilish)

15th June - Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona (w/ Billie Eilish)

18th June – Heimathafen Neukölln, Berlin – SOLD OUT

27th – 29th June – Glastonbury Festival (Woodsies)

3rd July – Bouffes du Nord, Paris – SOLD OUT

8th July – Battersea Arts Centre, London – SOLD OUT

15th July – De Wester, Amsterdam – SOLD OUT

18th September – The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL

20th September – Lincoln Theatre, Washington, DC

21st September – Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA

22nd September – Webster Hall, New York, NY

25th September – Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA

27th September – St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit, MI

29th September, MTELUS, Montreal, QC

30th September – Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

 

UK + European Arena Headline Tour:

21st October – Cardiff Utilita Arena, Cardiff

23rd October – 3Arena, Dublin

24th October – The SSE Arena, Belfast

26th October – OVO Hydro, Glasgow

28th October – Co-Op Live, Manchester

29th October – O2 Arena, London

31st October – Accor Arena, Paris

1st November – Lanxess Arena, Cologne

3rd November – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam

7th November – Unity Arena, Oslo

8th November – Avicii Arena, Stockholm

10th November – Royal Arena, Copenhagen

11th November – Barclays Arena, Hamburg

13th November – Arena Leipzig, Leipzig

14th November – Olympiahalle, Munich

16th November – Budapest Arena, Budapest

17th November – TAURON Arena, Krakow

19th November – Sportovni Hala Fortuna, Prague-Bubeneč

20th November – Uber Arena, Berlin

22nd November – SAP Arena, Mannheim

23rd November – Stadthalle, Vienna

26th November – Hallenstadion, Zurich

27th November – Unipol (Mediolanum Forum), Milan

30th November – Sant Jordi Club, Barcelona

1st December – Movistar Arena, Madrid

3rd December – Rockhal, Esch-sur-Alzette

4th December – Sportpaleis, Antwerp

 

 

A Wonderful Life album artwork

 

About A Wonderful Life:

 

Tom Odell has been stripping back the layers, creating a prolific and increasingly vulnerable canon of work that speaks to the frailties of the human condition and the fragility of the world around us. Particularly since the pandemic and 2021’s Monsters, Odell’s songwriting has put rawness and honesty to the fore, with a whole new generation of fans finding vital solace in his music in response. Seventh album ‘Black Friday’’s haunting title track has earned nearly 700 million combined streams since its late-2023 release, while a resurgence of excitement around his first ever single - 2012’s ‘Another Love’ - has seen it soar to over three billion plays on Spotify alone.

 

As Odell has become braver as a writer, pushing himself to uncover the most fragile and often painful parts of his psyche, so has he established himself as a true artist of note: a fact underlined by a pair of Ivor Novello nominations for Best Song Musically and Lyrically, in both 2023 and 2024. For the now-34-year-old, it’s been an illuminating journey. “The things that you feel slightly uncomfortable playing to your friends or your parents, they’re what you should put out because then it’s worth sharing,” he says. “We keep so much stuff inside, and that’s what tends to torture us the most - not the things we’re prepared to talk about - so I try to write about that as much as possible.”

 

Though Odell first came to prominence as a Brit Award-winning new UK pop hope, it’s never been this type of shiny, mainstream success that fuels him. “I never applied to the role of pop star and I always felt like I was being perceived in the wrong way,” he reflects. And as he’s committed further to his own vision, crafting intensely personal songs dealing with mental health struggles, body image issues and beyond, he’s seen the connections spread across the globe, through his 2.4 million TikTok followers and out into the real world environs of the live stage, where he’s been supporting Billie Eilish on her European arena tour before embarking on his own run of intimate underplays. “It alleviates some of the loneliness of existing,” he suggests of why his music has resonated so strongly, “which is what we’re all going through, together.”

 

Now, with his seventh studio album, Odell has created a record that embodies this spirit of empathetic, total honesty; one that looks out at the broken landscape of modern, fractured society and finds dystopia and doom, but also - integrally - glimmers of beauty and hope.

 

A Wonderful Life was written over nine months in 2024, on tour buses and trains, far away from the stable home life he’d created. More than any album previously, perfecting the lyrics was a true labour of love. “I laboured over every line,” he nods. “I went in on those words every day, on every plane journey, just refining and refining and refining. I can be a bit obsessive, and the obsessive part of me is probably the worst part of me and the bit that I would pay so much money for a therapist to tell me how to lose. But it’s also the bit that does not give up on songs.”

 

As such, the tracks on Odell’s seventh represent some of the most direct and affective moments of his career so far. Written, partly, as a real-time reaction to the harrowing news cycle and “the sense, almost every week, that the world is ending in some capacity - which it is, for some people”, it finds the musician sharpening his pen to distil this maelstrom of despair, frustration and helplessness into tracks like gently rousing lead single ‘Don’t Let Me Go’. That song opens a conversation around the “scariness” of social media that the record often returns to: “Maybe we’re sick / Sick in our bones / You smile and look down at your phone / The city is filling with smoke,” goes one notable line - inspired by a video Odell found of train commuters merrily doom scrolling as the apocalypse rages on outside. Over the tender pianos of ‘Why Do I Always Want The Things I Can’t Have’, meanwhile, he laments: “I’ve been staring at screens, my eyes are aching / Losing my faith in this world we’re making”.

 

“For me, that sums it up because it takes accountability for the fact that I’m [responsible] just as much as you are or the people with loads of power are,” he says of the latter line. “I hate it when it’s just blame, because when people look back on this time in 30 years we will all be responsible for the world we’re living in. But I’m still quite optimistic, and I feel like maybe if one’s gotta have anything, it’s faith in ourselves because we made it this far.”

 

The album’s title-track, ‘Wonderful Life’ - which builds from meditative walking pace to rousing crescendo - internalises this faith in a track that finds comfort in stillness and the smallness of everyday things, while ‘Prayer’ addresses a childhood figure that might well be himself, offering comfort and reflection. “The hug of the younger self is nice to do if you can find them,” he smiles. On that track, and largely across the whole record, the intimacy and warmth of the production heightens the feeling of Odell’s voice speaking directly to you; of a hand reaching out. Recorded in three different studios in London, Odell and his band recorded everything live with the instruments “bleeding in on one another” to retain that tangible, human touch.

 

The heartfelt warmth of the acoustic-led ‘Don’t Cry, Put Your Head On My Shoulder’ is a perfect example of this, as it tells the story of a friend mired in strife and the difficulties of learning how best to help them. Meanwhile, on ‘Ugly’, Odell delivers its pained sentiments with a total lack of artifice: “You don’t wanna touch me / Don’t wanna fuck me / ‘CauseI’m ugly”. “Something I’ve never really talked about is some of my own weird shame around my body, and it feels so uncomfortable to actually say that in a song. But when you say it, it’s really fucking powerful,” he says. “‘Ugly’ is an exploration of what it feels like to be a human being - of looking out at the world and feeling like everybody seems to glide through life so easily, but the experience of actually living it yourself is so fraught and it’s not pretty.”

 

It’s a potentially shocking song to come from an outwardly successful musician on the form of their life, releasing music to a fanbase that’s now bigger than ever. But Odell is more interested in addressing life’s complexities head-on than creating a mysterious pop star persona. On A Wonderful Life, he’s created a record that seeks understanding within a human existence that is, at its core, messy and convoluted and never just one thing. “I wish I could wrap it up into a nice little bow of what the mood and the message is, but these songs are the antithesis of that,” he says. “To live, and to write honestly about it, is such a profoundly important part of my life now. And I feel like if I have any duty whatsoever, it’s just to continue to do that.”

 

For more information, please contact mabuhay@blackstar.space

In DailySam Tags pr, lifestyleblogger, music
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Pinoy hip-hop newcomer Khael Domaro makes a loud entrance with “GODLIKE,” featuring O

May 24, 2025

With fierce bars and swagger-heavy beat, the Filipino rapper proves that he’s more than just a breakout potential; he’s a powerhouse

 

Filipino newcomer Khael Domaro marks an impressive entry in the local hip-hop scene with the release of his new single “GODLIKE,” a swagger-laced anthem that champions confidence and unapologetic dominance.

 

The vibey banger features a verse from GEE EXCLSV, a member of the renowned and chart-topping rap collective O SIDE MAFIA, and boasts masterful production from Yung Bawal.

 

From the very first bar, “GODLIKE” establishes itself as a bold declaration of power. Brimming with heavy-hitting flows, an infectious beat, and undeniable chemistry between the two MCs, the track doesn’t just echo confidence; it defines it.

 

Domaro shares, “It’s all about coming from nothing and still finding your way to the top. Even when nobody believes in you, you grind, you rise, and eventually you reign like the king of everything.”

 

The recording process was both organic and intuitive— a testament to each artist’s trust in their craft. Khael laid down his verses in his hometown in Cabuyao, Laguna, before sending the track off to Gee for his contribution. “I knew I was in my God mode when writing my lyrics,” he recalls. “And when Gee sent his draft back… Bang! It was GODLIKE.”

 

Instrumentally, the song is a standout. Yung Bawal’s beat is slick, aggressive, and dripping with style, serving as a perfect canvas for a lyrical firestorm that follows. “He’s got demon-level skills,” Khael praises Yung Bawal’s output. “I used to watch him back in the day when I was still dreaming. Now that I’ve worked with him, it felt surreal.”

 

Lyrically, “GODLIKE” is a statement. It’s Khael Domaro’sclaim to his place in the ever-evolving landscape of Pinoy hip-hop/rap.  But even amidst the bravado, Khael Domarostays grounded in authenticity. He explains, “I never write anything that’s not true to me. The swag, the confidence, the energy—that’s all real.”

 

Looking ahead, Khael hints that “GODLIKE” is only the beginning. “I’ve got a lot of unreleased tracks, each with a different sound,” says the rookie rapper. “Expect the unexpected: I’m unpredictable, and I like it that way.”

 

Khael Domaro’s “GODLIKE” is now available on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment. Watch out for the music video drop of “GODLIKE” on his official YouTube channel.

Source: Nyou

In DailySam Tags pr, lifestyleblogger, music
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RICH BRIAN JOINS FORCES WITH SKI MASK THE SLUMP GOD ON NEW SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO

May 23, 2025

LISTEN TO/WATCH “JUMPY” NOW 
WHERE IS MY HEAD? DUE AUGUST 15TH

“Jump” single artwork
 
WHERE IS MY HEAD?
PRE-SAVE/ORDER
HERE
 
“Jumpy” feat. Ski Mask The Slump God
LISTEN
HERE
WATCH
HERE

Rich Brian and Ski Mask The Slump God unite on new single “Jumpy,” the third single from Brian’s highly anticipated forthcoming album WHERE IS MY HEAD?, which is now slated for release on August 15th. The collaboration is a long-awaited one that marks a full circle moment for the two artists, as they initially met and formed a relationship at Rolling Loud Miami in 2017 – on Rich Brian’s first day in the US. After years of working towards a collaboration, they’ve realized it with “Jumpy.” The song arrives ahead of Rich Brian’s first North American performance in years, which will take place next week when he performs as a headliner at Head In The Clouds’ LA festival alongside superstars like G-Dragon, 2NE1, DPR Ian, Dean, Higher Brothers, Porter Robinson and more. Fans can expect Brian to debut yet-unreleased music from WHERE IS MY HEAD? as part of his Head In The Clouds performance.
 
On the new heavy-hitting track, Brian puts on a lyrical showcase as he reflects on his rise to the global stage. “Jumpy” marks a sharp contrast to the previously-released WHERE IS MY HEAD? singles “My Little Ray of Light“ and “Butterfly.” The self-produced song showcases a new side of the project while flexing his dexterous lyrical and production capabilities. Alongside Ski, the two deliver a relentless performance paired with a cinematic visualizer directed by Jared Hogan, which further illustrates the surreal world introduced in his two most recent music videos.
 
These three singles mark a bold transformation to one of the brightest-burning stars of the 2010s – the product of someone who was ubiquitous for nearly 6 years, only to go quiet for the last 3. WHERE IS MY HEAD?, Rich Brian’s first full-length album since 2019, the Indonesian-born artist redefines and staggeringly coheres his vision. He asks: “How can I continue to make music that I love more than anything else?” On WHERE IS MY HEAD? Rich Brian answers that question on each and every track, showcasing his hands-on creative control and evolution as both an artist and producer.
 
Listen to “Jumpy” feat. Ski Mask The Slump God above now and stay tuned for more from Rich Brian soon.
 
About Rich Brian
With WHERE IS MY HEAD?, Rich Brian’s first full-length album since 2019, the Indonesian-born artist redefines and coheres his vision in a staggering way. He’s making the most vulnerable and authentic music of his life, in turn deepening the connection with his ever growing army of devoted fans. With WHERE IS MY HEAD?, Rich Brian’s definition of success now means something different than ever before. He’s had the hits. Now? He wants something more. Brian decided to handle most of the performances himself, honing in on an analog sound thanks to his intense immersion learning to play synthesizers and keyboards. He sings more than ever before on the new album, showcasing a confident and mature delivery. It was a bold switch-up from Brian, who could have coasted on his success last decade. He became the first Asian artist to reach number one on the iTunes Hip-Hop charts. Who wouldn’t want to coast on that success? The accolades are nice, but Rich Brian wants something more with WHERE IS MY HEAD? Brian has finally discovered himself. His priority is simple: How can he make art that makes him happy? He asks: “How can I continue to make music that I love more than anything else?” On WHERE IS MY HEAD? Rich Brian answers that question on each and every track.
 
About Ski Mask The Slump God:
Flipping the script with a middle finger to all expectations, Ski Mask The Slump God has consistently pushed himself to progress, taking hip-hop along with him. He blazed a trail of his own out of Broward County to his platinum-certified full-length debut, Stokeley, bowing in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 in 2018. His elite lyricism, offbeat references, and distinct emotionality bled through the double-platinum “Faucet Failure” and platinum hits “Catch Me Outside,” “Take A Step Back,” “Nuketown,” “Babywipe,” and “Foot Fungus.” A sense of vicious versatility has enabled him to seamlessly collaborate with everyone from close cohort and gone-too-soon brothers XXXTentacion and Juice WRLD and J. Cole’s DreamVille to Lyrical Lemonade, Trippie Redd, Sxmpra, and Danny Towers. Beyond sharing the stage with $uicide Boy$ and the late Juice WRLD and XXXTentacion, he has emerged as a powerhouse headliner in his own right. Moreover, he incited the applause of Pitchfork, The FADER, UPROXX, and Complex, to name a few. After stacking up billions of streams, earning multiplatinum plaques, and fueling the explosion of South Florida as a 21st century hip-hop mecca, Ski Mask The Slump God didn’t merely aim to make another album for his long-awaited sophomore offering. Instead, he chose to architect a living and breathing world with his second full-length LP, 11Th Dimension [Victor Victor Worldwide/Republic Records]. Over the course of 21 tracks, that world finds the Florida spitter entrenched in layers of not only the mind-blowing rap he’s known for, but also alternative, heavy metal, and even Jamaican and island stylings. As such, it unfolds as not only a worthy successor to his legacy, but also as a harbinger of the future.

Follow Rich Brian:
Instagram | X | TikTok

For more information, contact blackstar

In DailySam Tags pr, lifestyleblogger, music
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Myles Smith drops new EP, A Minute, A Moment…

May 23, 2025

STREAM/LISTEN HERE / ARTWORK HERE / PRESS SHOT HERE

May 23rd, 2025 — After an extraordinary 18 months that saw him rise from grassroots acclaim to international recognition, British singer-songwriter Myles Smith today makes a powerful return with the release of his deeply emotive new EP, “A Minute, A Moment…”. Fresh off a whirlwind tour across the United States and Australia - where he played to packed venues and received critical praise - Myles has channeled his experiences, reflections,and growth into this six-track collection.

Written and recorded over the past year, the EP is a poignant snapshot of a transformative period in his life. Stripped back yet richly layered, “A Minute, A Moment…”finds Myles at his most raw and introspective, delving deep into themes of identity, love, heartbreak and self-discovery. “This EP has been a real labour of love, months of time, care, and everything I had to give.” Myles recently said of the EP in an Instagram post.

His signature blend of soulful vocals, acoustic textures, and heartfelt lyricism remains front and center, but there’s a new depth and maturity to his songwriting that signals an exciting new chapter in his artistic evolution. Marking a clear departure from his earlier EP “A Minute…”, which introduced his sound with youthful optimism and simplicity, this latest project embraces a more nuanced emotional landscape and refined sonic palette.

2024 was a landmark year for Myles. From winning the BRITs’ Rising Star award to being named BBC Introducing Artist of the Year and landing a spot on the BBC Sound of 2024 longlist, his rise has been nothing short of meteoric. His breakthrough single, “Stargazing,”became the biggest global hit of the year by a UK artist, spending 29 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and amassing over 730 million global Spotify streams. With over 2 billion streams across his catalogue, “Stargazing”has cemented itself as a modern classic, topping airplay charts across the US, UK, Germany, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland.

His moment at the 2025 BRIT Awards also made headlines for more than just the award and his stand-out performance. His powerful acceptance speech called on the government to do more to support the arts and ensure future generations have access to creative opportunities, echoing the very message of resilience and advocacy found in his music. Myles also lent his voice to Ed Sheeran’s recent grassroots campaign focused on music education and the survival of grassroots venues in the UK, adding his name to Ed’s open letter to policymakers. Behind the scenes, Myles himself is actively developing his own initiatives aimed at supporting young creatives - with more to be revealed in due course.

His previously released EP ‘A Minute…’ further solidified his status and features his hit single “Nice To Meet You.”In 2024, he played sold-out shows across the globe and appeared on major platforms including the TODAY Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Later… with Jools Holland. Looking ahead, Myles is currently in the midst of his world live tour, ahead of joining Ed Sheeran on the European leg of the Mathematics Tour.

Hailing from Luton, Myles’ journey is rooted in authenticity. Taught to play guitar and piano by age 12, he cut his teeth performing in local pubs and open-mic nights before gaining momentum in 2020. His viral covers of “Sweater Weather” and “I Found” opened the door to original tracks like “Solo” and “My Home,” leading to his signing with Sony’s RCA label in 2023.

Myles Smith’s ability to connect through heartfelt storytelling and melodic sincerity has made him one of the UK’s most compelling new voices and his trajectory shows no signs of slowing down.

Tracklist:

1. Made For Me

2. Gold

3. My First Heartbreak

4. Someone New  

5. All My Life

6. Dreamers

 

Myles Smith Online:

Instagram // TikTok // Facebook


Source: Nyou

In DailySam Tags pr, lifestyleblogger, music
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From soft to smoldering: dwta embraces graceful wrath in new single “Nasusunog (Pants On Fire)”

May 23, 2025

The Bicol-born artist explores anger and vulnerability in alt-rock anthem

 

Following the commercial acclaim of “Sampung Mga Daliri,” her collaborative single with SB19’s Justin, Filipino singer-songwriter dwta returns to the spotlight with her new single “Nasusunog (Pants On Fire)”—released under Sony Music Entertainment.

Marking a striking departure from her signature folk-pop sound, “Nasusunog” delivers an anthem that effortlessly weaves confessional introspection with alt-rock instrumentation. Written by Jhasmine Villanueva (dwta) with Tiana Kocher, Ashley Mehta, and Martin Estrada during the Sony x Monostereo Groove songwriting session earlier this year, the track pulsates with dynamic, in-your-face arrangements, urgent rhythms, and simmering rage. This is her Jagged Little Pill era, but with her voice still grounded in sincerity.

The Bicol-born artist describes “Nasusunog (Pants OnFire)” as an exploration of what she calls a graceful wrath, the act of expressing anger in a way that remains vulnerable and composed. “It’s not screaming or exploding; it’s just simply burning, quietly and beautifully.”

The song’s conceptual genesis came from a simple but loaded childhood phrase, “Liar, liar, pants on fire,” which also serves as the song’s alternative title. What began as a playful idiom quickly revealed deeper implications. “We realized it could symbolize how deceit burns through trust,” she adds. “It became the foundation for a song about reclaiming power and releasing long-suppressed emotions.”

Recorded with Martin Estrada at the helm of production and Brian Lotho as co-producer, “Nasusunog (Pants OnFire)” retains essential elements of dwta’s sound—percussion, acoustic textures, and ornamental strings—while venturing into darker, brooding sonic terrain. The electric guitar work, in particular, lends an edge that mirrors the song’s emotional weight.

Citing Lizzy McAlpine’s “Erase Me” as a reference point, dwta embraced a moodier palette and created a track that speaks not only to her personal journey, but also to shared experiences of betrayal and resilience, especially among women.

“It wasn’t just about me, though. It was like a collective emotion from all of us in the room,” the Santigwar artist shares. “We talked about people who lie, manipulate, and make you feel small, and how we were all done with that. So the song became this emotional release, like a shared fire we all needed to let out.”

With “Nasusunog (Pants On Fire),” dwta continues to evolve as one of the most reliable singer-songwriters of her generation, one who is unafraid to confront her fears with authenticity and grace. The new track reinforces her commitment to honest storytelling while unfolding a new dimension to her journey as an artist.

dwta’s “Nasusunog (Pants On Fire)” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Source: Nyou

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Heritage on a plate: Guevarra’s and Adobros reimagine Filipino cuisine with Aussie flair

May 21, 2025

The initiative is part of the third edition of Guevarra’s Taste of the Philippines: A Global Culinary Journey

 

 

Manila, Philippines — Guevarra’s by Chef Laudicoreturns with the third installment of Taste of the Philippines: A Global Culinary Journey, an ongoing celebration of Filipino culinary artistry and cultural pride. The latest edition to the series takes an exciting turn with the restaurant’s newest collaborators: Melbourne-based culinary collective Adobros, led by the dynamic duo Chef Michael Pastrana and Chef Morris Danzen Catanghal.

The collaborative effort between two culinary sensations is poised to be a feast for the senses and the soul, where heritage meets innovation, and classic Filipino recipes are elevated with Aussie flair. At the core of this partnership is a shared mission: to elevate Filipino cuisine to the global stage and inspire the next generation of chefs to celebrate the richness of Filipino flavors while connecting with a multicultural audience.

A Meeting of Minds (and Palates)

The idea was born over a serendipitous meeting in Melbourne, where Chef Roland Laudico and the Adobrosteam discovered a shared passion for championing Filipino food around the world. What followed was a flavorful fusion of ideas.

“This partnership marries time-honored Filipino recipes with contemporary ingredients and techniques,” says ChefRoland Laudico. “By incorporating local produce and cooking styles, we want to create dishes that are both rooted in tradition yet modern. It’s a creative dialogue between two culinary cultures, one that pays homage to heritage while embracing the evolving palate of today’s diners.”

Tradition Meets Transformation

Expect a menu that pushes boundaries while honoring roots. Drawing inspiration from contemporary Australian cuisine, Mediterranean and Italian influence, and modern Filipino sensibilities, the dishes from this collaboration speaks volumes about the diversity and depth of Filipino culinary identity.

Take for example the standout dishes like Tinola and Afritada, whose heartwarming taste remains, but reimagined in delightfully innovative ways. Every bit tells a story of recollectiom, movement, and cultural affinity. As Chef Michael Pastrana puts it, “I love how food can access a memory.”

A Global Invitation

The third installment of Taste of the Philippines: A Global Culinary Journey is more than just a celebration; it’s a movement. Through this initiative, Guevarra’s and Adobros hope to ignite curiosity and appreciation for Filipino cuisine not just locally, but across the borders.

“We want the world to see Filipino food for what it is: sophisticated, dynamic, and deserving of a place on the global table,” says the team. “This is just the beginning.”

These delicious creations from Guevarra’s x Adobros will be available as part of the buffet selection starting May 21, 2025.

 

 

About Guevarra’s by Chef Laudico

Guevarra’s is a Filipino themed buffet restaurant that offers a unique dining experience with our classic and homey ambience. Having been built in the 1920s, the vintage interiors of this heritage house-turned-restaurant, along with the private function rooms and spacious garden area make Guevarra’s the perfect place for intimate gatherings, birthdays, baptisms, weddings, and corporate events.

The buffet features a feast of both classic and modern Filipino dishes created by Chefs Roland and Jackie Laudico. From their bestselling Angus Beef Tapa and Bellychon to the Grilled Pancit Bam-I and Party Spaghetti, there will surely be a dish for everyone to enjoy—not to mention the whole spread of intricately crafted desserts for the perfect ending to every meal.

Takeout and deliveries are available via http://www.guevarras.com

About Adobros

Adobros is a Melbourne-based culinary collective founded by Filipino-Australian chefs Michael Pastrana and Morris Danzen Catanghal. Known for their modern interpretations of traditional Filipino dishes, Adobros creates immersive dining experiences that highlight the rich, diverse flavors of Filipino cuisine. Their mission is to celebrate and share the culinary heritage of the Philippines with a global audience—one innovative dish at a time.

 Source: Nyou

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Number_i Release 6-track EP GOD_i Including Focus Track “Frisco”

May 21, 2025

UPCOMING PERFORMANCE AT HEAD IN THE CLOUDS ON JUNE 1 AT THE ROSE BOWL IN PASADENA, CA
 AWARDED GQ JAPAN’S ‘BEST MUSIC GROUP’ AT MEN OF THE YEAR 2024

STREAM GOD_i EP HERE
DEDICATED WEBSITE HERE

Download images here (Credit: TOBE)

Japan’s music sensation Number_i releases their new EP, GOD_i on May 19. The new collection of infectious tracks features the focus single “Frisco” alongside previous releases, Billboard Japan #1 “GOD_i” and “HIRAKEGOMA”.
 
In support of the new music, Number_i - who is Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji and Yuta Kishi- will make their North American festival debut as a featured act at Head In The Clouds on  June 1, at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (They previously appeared in the 88rising Futures showcase at Coachella 2024.) Known for their genre-blending sound and high-energy performances, Number_i is set to bring their signature style to the festival’s stacked lineup. Tickets and more information are available at
la.hitcfestival.com.
 
“GOD_i”, the EP’s title track, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart earlier this year, further solidifying the group’s rapid rise in the global music scene. It was produced by group member Yuta Kishi, conveys a fierce message of “wishing to give the courage to take a step forward,” and features a compelling new sound for Number_i, with a melancholic top line and an addictive beat in the chorus.
 
“HIRAKEGOMA”, a new-style pop tune that combines catchy phrases with heavy, powerful beats also appeared on the powerhouse trio’s 2024 debut album No.I - translates to “open the door” in Japanese. Other tracks highlight each artist’s versatility. “ロミジュリ” is a bass-filled classic funk jam while tracks ”i_Dog” and “Psycho” has Number_i coming back with a harder edge. 
 
The release of GOD_i comes after the group was honored at
GQ Japan’s Men Of The Year 2024, taking home the award for “Best Music Group”. Read more about Number_i “in their own words” (English translation) via Newsweek Japan’s cover story here.

GOD_i EP artwork (download here)
 
Tracklist for GOD_i EP:

  1. GOD_i

  2. ロミジュリ(Romeo & Juliet)

  3. i_DOG

  4. Frisco

  5. Psycho

  6. HIRAKEGOMA

 
STREAM GOD_i EP
HERE
DEDICATED WEBSITE
HERE

About Number_i:
Number_i, a group consisting of Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi, carries a name that embodies the ideas of being “one of a kind”, “love”, and the desire to “walk together with those who support them”. They made their debut on January 1, 2024, with the digital release of their song “GOAT”.
 
On September 23, 2024, they released their first full album, “No.I”, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Japan JP Albums chart and ranked 4th on Spotify’s TOP ALBUMS DEBUT GLOBAL chart.
 
On January 27, 2025, they released a new digital single, “GOD_i”, produced by Yuta Kishi. The song achieved remarkable success, topping the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100, ranking 3rd on the U.S. iTunes Music Videos chart, and reaching No. 1 on the Hip-Hop chart.
 
On April 16, 2025, they collaborated with global artist Jackson Wang on the official remix of his latest single, releasing “GBAD (Number_i Remix)”, which quickly generated widespread buzz.
 
Their highly anticipated EP titled “GOD_i”, featuring new tracks, is set for release on Monday, May 19.
 
On June 1, 2025, Number_i is also scheduled to perform at the Head In The Clouds Festival in Los Angeles, marking a significant step in their global expansion.

Follow Number_i:
Website | YouTube | X | Instagram | TikTok
Sho Hirano Instagram | Yuta Jinguji Instagram | Yuta Kishi Instagram | Yuta Kishi X

For more information, contact blackstar

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GIVĒON unleashes new single and music video “Rather Be”

May 19, 2025

Multi-platinum seven-time GRAMMY® nominee GIVĒONcontinues his sophomore chapter with the release of his new single and video, “Rather Be.” The new single and its Loris Russier-directed music video are available now.

 

“Rather Be” is GIVĒON at his most comfortable: vulnerable, confident and unafraid to let his vocal range do some heavy lifting. The ballad is produced by SevnThomas, Maneesh, Matthew Burnett, jeff gitty and jahaansweet and incorporates the bells and whistles fans have come to love from the Long Beach native, from the horns peppered throughout its instrumental to the intimacy and dashing fashion of its music video. Following the release of the cathartic lead single from his new campaign, “Twenties,” GIVĒON is generating impressive momentum, and pouring his heart into each lyric along the way.

 

The Russier-directed cut is an elegant montage of GIVĒON and his sleek troupe adorning airy spaces with a live rendition of the new song, as GIVĒON, the protagonist, tries to get comfortable with his love interest. Russier deftly plays with planes of space and symmetry to create a unique backdrop for the singer and his suit-clad crew.

 

“This song is a reflection on acceptance. The idea of seeing someone’s flaws and choosing to stay,” GIVĒON said about “Rather Be. “It’s about loving someone not for who they could be, but for who they are, and realizing that real connection isn’t about starting over, it’s about holding on.”

 

As fans eagerly anticipate his sophomore project, GIVĒON’s 2025 has already been one to remember. He celebrated the five-year anniversary of his breakout project, 2020’s TAKE TIME EP, with an intimate performance earlier this year in Los Angeles, attended by the likes of Epic Chairwoman Sylvia Rhone, Lena Waithe, Amerie and Jimmy Jam.

 

Shortly afterwards, “Twenties” notched a slot within the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and went on to achieve a Top 20 position on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. The song’s music video has already surpassed 12 million YouTube views and earned GIVĒON the fourth Hot 100 hit of his solo career.

 

Earlier this month at Prada’s prestigious annual pre-Met Gala event, GIVĒON took the stage to perform “Twenties” live for a crowd that included Tracee Ellis Ross and Hunter Schafer. This summer, GIVĒON is up for a 2025 BET Award, ‘Best Collaboration,’ for his collaboration with Teddy Swims, “Are You Even Real.”

 

Photocredit: Ben Dorado

Source: Nyou

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Matt Maltese Unveils New Album 'Hers', Shares New Cinematic Music Video "Happy Birthday"

May 19, 2025

MATT MALTESE

UNVEILS NEW ALBUM
'HERS'

LISTEN HERE

SHARES NEW CINEMATIC MUSIC VIDEO
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

WATCH HERE

Photo Credits: Vinca Petersen

“an undeniably safe pair of hands… even the most quotidian of details becomes filmic. ‘Hers’ is testament to how much Matt has grown since his 2018 debut.”
– DIY, 4*

“New album ‘Hers’ could be a defining statement... a beautiful glimpse of his creative essence.”
– CLASH, 8/10

May 19th, 2025 – Philippines – Singer songwriter Matt Maltese has released his sixth studio album 'Hers' via The Orchard on May 16. The album arrives as Maltese’s most insular and intimate project to date, and his first fully self-produced effort since his second album 'Krystal'.

Maltese has long drawn from the tried and tested artistic wellspring of romance and heartbreak, but the songs that make up 
'Hers' find him reflecting upon a serious long-term relationship and the more grown-up complexities of love through the rearview, with the quiet artfulness for which he has become so beloved. 'Hers' exists in a twilight world, pairing heartfelt songwriting and dry witticism with the gentle quiver of strings, a flourish of woodwind or the sound of a creaking old piano.
 
“I’ve written a lot of music that comes from a place of infatuation, but this record was written on reflection of a much longer-term love. The complications and wonderful roads that that goes through and the more informed heartaches that come out of it. I got to really reflect and slave over it... It’s a bit like having a year to write a really important email,” he says. 
 
“I’m British enough to feel a slight shame of writing so many love songs in the past,” he adds. “Maybe the more interesting thing on paper would have been to go to the other side of the world and write a concept album about prehistoric creatures or something, but at the end of the day, we’re all human, and love and people are things we’re all continually affected by. It’s my job as a songwriter to excavate the things in my life, and that’s what I was going through.” 

Matt Maltese – "Happy Birthday" [Official Video]

Alongside the album release is the record’s latest single "Happy Birthday", a mediation on all the feelings that can be held in such a simple exchange between two people. Maltese explains: “I grew up when writing ‘happy birthday’ 108 times a year on people's Facebook pages without any punctuation was socially acceptable behaviour, and I’ve always thought how interesting it is looking back.. such a plain message but always so much unsaid between senders and recipients in those two words.

The socially conventional shell for a million other feelings. And I think in break ups, the ‘happy birthday’ text is the last thing to go. Sometimes it goes on years longer than anything else, and that’s fascinating, I think. Reflecting on this, it started to really interest me to get that into a song. A light title, but all the anguish underneath the surface. Maybe someday, people all over the world will joyfully chant ‘I’d break my legs in half..’ when the cake comes out. Or not.”

'Hers' Tracklisting
1. Arthouse Cinema 
2. Buses Replace Trains
3. Happy Birthday 
4. Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow 
5. Always Some MF 
6. Cure For Emptiness 
7. Holiday From Yourself 
8. Pined For You My Whole Life 
9. Eternal Darkness Of The Spotless Mind 
10. Tangled 
11. Everybody’s Just As Crazy As Me 

Stream the album 'Hers' here: mattmaltese.orcd.co/hers
 

DOWNLOAD MEDIA KIT

About Matt Maltese
Having first established himself as a songwriter with a knack for dry one-liners and a keen eye for self-deprecation, Maltese released debut album 'Bad Contestant' back in 2018. The three albums that followed over the next five years cemented his position as one of the UK’s finest young songwriters. Critics were unanimous; Matt Maltese’s piano harmonies, playful approach and quintessentially British wit saw ‘the mundane transformed into fantasy’.  
  
Since the release of 2023’s 'Driving Just To Drive', Maltese has been busy in multiple behind the scenes roles, lending his songwriting abilities to a number of fellow artists, and establishing indie label Last Recordings On Earth. Taking a slightly different approach to his own craft, last year saw Matt share covers album Songs That Aren’t Mine, a collection of some of his favourite songs, recorded at home with guest features by friends including Dora Jar and Liana Flores. Elsewhere, he made his theatre songwriting debut, composing all original music and lyrics for The Royal Shakespeare Company’s winter production of Twelfth Night, described by The Observer as “inspired… perfectly balances Shakespeare’s dramatic polarities".  
   
Late 2024 also saw Maltese embark on a headline tour of Asia, Australia and New Zealand, following live runs through the US, Europe and the UK, including his biggest show to date at the Wiltern, Los Angeles, and a sold-out show at London’s Brixton Electric. His global appeal as an artist is undeniable, with sold-out shows from Sydney to Sao Paolo and Jakarta to Tokyo to his name.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION
SECRET SIGNALS

FOLLOW MATT MALTESE

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TikTok

Website

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VANNDA CLOSES OUT HIS DEFINING TRILOGY WITH A CULTURAL EPIC: TREYVISAI III – RETURN TO SOVANNAPHUM

May 19, 2025

VannDa, Cambodia’s most influential music artist, has unveiled the final chapter of his landmark trilogy with Treyvisai III: Return to Sovannaphum, now available on all platforms worldwide.


The Treyvisai trilogy chronicles VannDa’s personal and artistic evolution: from ambition and self-doubt (Treyvisai I: The Search for Light), to rage and its emotional fallout (Treyvisai II: Burn Like The Sun), and now to healing, purpose and cultural pride in Return to Sovannaphum.


“I made Return to Sovannaphum for my people. We’ve been through war, pain, and erasure -  but we’ve never given up. That spirit is in me. Every time I rap or produce with our sounds and soul, it’s not just for me - it’s for every Khmer kid who never saw themselves reflected in the world. This album is our voice now.”  — VannDa


The centerpiece of this release is “Golden Land”, VannDa’s most cinematic music video to-date, which premiered on May 13. The epic visual weaves together two tracks “Golden Land” and“Varman Blood”, capturing Cambodia’s strength, beauty, and vision in a single narrative. Watch here.


Building on the legacy of his 2021 breakout hit “Time to Rise”, VannDa is also fulfilling a promise he once made to fans - that when the video reached 100 million views, he would deliver a sequel. Rather than just one song, he has gifted an entire 10-track album rooted in Khmer identity and storytelling. Return to Sovannaphum is his offering to Cambodia and a bold proclamation to the world.

This trilogy marks VannDa’s first full-length release since the official announcement of his partnership with EMPIRE in March 2025, heralding a new era for both the artist and Cambodia’s creative voice on the global stage.


“This isn’t just an album - it’s a cultural milestone marking the beginning of a new renaissance era for Cambodia. Return to Sovannaphum is VannDa’s call-to-action, signaling that Cambodian voices are ready to take their place on the global stage.” — Laura Mam, CEO of Baramey Production


The trilogy began on March 14 with Treyvisai I: The Search for Light, anchored by the high-energy lead track “Smoke Up” featuring Thai rap icon YOUNGOHM. This milestone collaboration showcased the synergy between two of Southeast Asia’s biggest hip-hop powerhouses and reinforced VannDa’s trailblazing role in the region’s rap scene. Watch the official music video here.


Treyvisai II: Burn Like The Sun, released on March 21, explores themes of chaos, conflict and turbulence through aggressive rap tracks and emotional ballads. The focus track “NO DISRESPECT” channels raw, untamed energy into a high-octane fusion of rap, metal, and rage music crafted for stadiums and mosh pits. Fueled by relentless flows and VannDa’s signature electrifying production, it stands as a masterclass in controlled chaos - aggressive, unfiltered, and unapologetically bold. Watch the official music video here.


Stream Treyvisai III: Return to Sovannaphum HERE

Watch “Golden Land” official music video HERE


Download cover artwork here


 Treyvisai III: Return to Sovannaphum Tracklist

1. LAKHON BASSAC

2. 360

3. THE WORD OF VANNDA

4. AH THMA

5. METTA

6. GOOD OLD DAYS

7. MAKE YOUR LUCK (feat. Vanthan)

8. GOLDEN LAND

9. VARMAN BLOOD

10. DON’T WORRY



###




About VannDa


VannDa has rapidly risen in the Southeast Asian music scene - the Cambodian breakout rap icon boasts over 4.85 million YouTube subscribers, his 2021 breakout track "Time to Rise" featuring Master Kong Nay has garnered 130M views, solidifying his place at the forefront of Cambodian hip-hop.


Beyond rap, VannDa’s versatility shines through in solo viral hits like "Sangkran Magic" and the emotionally charged “Khmer Blood”, showcasing his dynamic artistry and genre-blending sound. His popularity has also made waves across borders through high-profile collaborations, including "BONG" with OG Bobby, “Run The Town” with F.HERO, 1MILL & SPRITE, and the fan-favorite anthem “Khmer Gentleman”. His growing international presence was further cemented by his feature on Awich’s "Asian State of Mind" alongside KR$NA, Masiwei, and Jay Park. In 2024, VannDa made history as the first Southeast Asian artist to perform at the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony.


With the 2025 release of the TREYVISAI Trilogy, VannDa is poised to cement his global influence even further.




Follow VannDa

YouTube | Facebook | Instagram




For more information contact mabuhay@blackstar.space

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Peter $un Serves Up A New Track "Weight On Me" Featuring Buddy

May 19, 2025

LISTEN HERE

ANNOUNCES ALBUM 'RENT WAS DUE...'
COMING JUNE 13
ON RED BULL RECORDS/MIND OF A GENIUS

Photo Credit: Aiden Weber

May 19th, 2025 — Coming off his debut performance at Coachella in April, rapper, producer, and singer-songwriter Peter $un (Sunny) announces his next album ‘Rent Was Due…’ which will arrive on June 13via Red Bull Records/Mind of a Genius. In tandem with the news, he released his second single off the forthcoming project, “Weight On Me” featuring SoCal rapper Buddy. Fans can stream the song here and watch the music video here. 

Following his bouncy March single, “All That I Want” featuring Bay Area rapper Rexx Life Raj, Sunny returns with “Weight On Me” — a breezy anthem built on laid-back rhythms and a hook tailor-made for backyard functions, rooftop parties, and nights that stretch into early mornings.

Reflecting on the creative process, Sunny shares, “Working with Buddy was cool; he brought good vibes to the studio and took the track’s energy to another level. He was so focused in our sessions and that allowed me to be really free in my approach. I just want people to have fun and get excited when this one comes on in the club”.

Adding to the vibe and inspiration behind the track, Buddy says, “This is a song that feels like the moment you build up the confidence to talk to the hot girl that almost got away”.

The release of the track is accompanied by a visualizer that  brings the moment to life, with the duo hosting a lively BBQ complete with friends, dancing, and of course, the soundtrack of the summer. Both singles are indicative of Sunny’s time on the West Coast – not only expanding his range as an artist but also cementing his place in the local music scene.

Peter $un – "Weight On Me" featuring Buddy (Official Music Video)

As a rising artist in Los Angeles, Sunny is no stranger to working odd jobs to make ends meet. In honor of the album title and its relatability, Sunny has launched “Scummy Sunny Management” – a faux property management company that provides real-life support in the form of a giveaway. 

Further expanding on the album theme, Sunny has built a world of content around his music in the form of a vlog series. Shining a candid and comedic light on the real struggle to make rent in a city full of creatives, the 
first episode introduces Sunny’s predicament and his elaborate scheme to avoid eviction. Follow the series on his YouTube channel here.

Sunny recently joined 
Hunna G for his ‘take a seat, rap on the beat’ freestyle, flexing his quick whips where artists like Ghostface Killah and Larussell have sat before. It’s a brief taste of his versatility to come on ‘Rent Was Due…’. In the months to come, Sunny is stepping confidently into the spotlight, bringing his emotions, thoughts, and truths to life through his music.

Stream "Weight On Me" here: https://petersun.ffm.to/weightonme
Watch the music video here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmOJNi4rCZo

DOWNLOAD MEDIA KIT

About Peter $un

Peter $un commits all of his emotions, thoughts, and truths to tape. He never holds back. The Richmond-born and Los Angeles-based rapper, vocalist, and producer confronts his trauma, discloses his ambitions, and embraces his potential over a soundtrack of future-facing hip-hop laced with eloquent jazz-style instrumentation, filled to the brim with undeniable soul.

As a kid, $un (also known as Sunny) fell in love with music. He would scour his father’s R&B-centric record collection, finding local artists like Missy Elliott, Timbaland and The Neptunes instrumental to his soulful psychedelic appeal. His mother introduced him to essential neo-soul albums like Lauryn Hill’s 1998 solo breakthrough "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill", and D’Angelo’s "Voodoo", both of which shine through in his sound.

After generating tens of millions of streams from his first major releases and earning acclaim from Ones To Watch, Lyrical Lemonade, DJ Booth, and more, Sunny got vulnerable on his 2022 EP, 
'Phone Calls Gimme Anxiety'. The project showed a different side of Sunny as the songs reflected his grieving process from real life experiences. “I think that’s the beauty in going through something–keeping a positive mindset and still being able to have fun and enjoy the moment,” he says.

For Sunny to find bliss, he first had to get honest about his circumstances before arriving at his new project, 
‘Rent Was Due…’. Having lived in Southern California for close to seven years, he has encountered similar hardships that fellow residents face. Fitting the ‘starving artist’ trope and working multiple jobs to sustain his musical passion. Dealing with the stresses of fluctuating housing and grocery costs. But even amid adversity, Sunny finds the silver lining in 'Rent Was Due…'.

“As an independent artist, you're basically doing all of this from the ground up yourself–building these projects, bringing all this stuff to life, and you’ve got to be there to will it into existence yourself,” Sunny says. “You can be happy, you're not going to be happy all the time, though,” he continues. “I always like to bring that versatility to my projects, showing vulnerability, and showing the human experience to people through music. We can have all this happy shit and we can have a good time, but it's not always going to be like that. And in seconds, it could be horrible. We never know”.

With the celestial glow of his lead single, “All That I Want”, Sunny’s joined by Rexx Life Raj, with both aiming to attract women they have their eyes on. The amorous feeling continues on the breezy dance of “Weight On Me”, where Sunny gets an assist from Buddy and flips 2001 Trina cut “Pull Over”. While 
‘Rent Was Due…’ keeps it modern, it’s Sunny’s deep soul influences that make the album shine. As Los Angeles continues its process of restoration, keeping the vibes high on the West Coast is Sunny, who proves that after setbacks, hope can be revitalized.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
 
SECRET SIGNALS | RED BULL RECORDS

FOLLOW PETER $UN

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NERIAH Is Ready To Even The Score With Her Latest Release "Out Of Your League"

May 19, 2025

LISTEN HERE

Photo Credit: Savanna Ruedy

May 19th, 2025 – Rising starlet NERIAH returns with "Out of Your League", a “bold pop-star number” that speaks to female empowerment and owning your inner confidence. Fans can stream the song here.

Flirty, funny, and a little bit petty, “Out of Your League” sees NERIAH reminding us what it means to know your worth and be in a league of your own. With a striking lead guitar and razor-sharp sense of humor, the track is sure to get hearts racing and heads turning.

She expresses, “this song makes me feel like me again, confident, sassy, and fully over it. I lost myself in that relationship... but thank God we’re back!”.

"Out of Your League" has already been exceptionally received by fans, new and old, across social media and during NERIAH’s recent live performances on tour with Daniel Seavey. The excitement is set to continue with fan events in place to immerse her community, the ‘Noodles’, in the world of the single.

Following the success of her critically acclaimed single "Napoleon Complex", which was featured on multiple New Music Friday playlists across Southeast Asia, NERIAH shows no signs of slowing down. She continues to build on this momentum, solidifying her place as a rising force in the pop scene. With an EP on the horizon, anticipation is steadily growing. While NERIAH is keeping the details under wraps for now, whispers are already circulating as fans eagerly speculate on what’s to come.

Fans can look forward to the release of the official visualizer for "Out Of Your League" dropping on  Friday, May 23rd.

Stream "Out Of Your League" here: https://symphony.to/neriah/out-of-your-league

DOWNLOAD MEDIA KIT


About NERIAH

NERIAH is best known for her fearless lyricism and unapologetic honesty. The rising independent pop artist has carved out her own lane, with every song she releases rooted in real life, real relationships, real exes, and real chaos. And she’s not interested in censoring any of it.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, NERIAH has become the voice of a generation tired of playing it casual. With a growing discography of emotionally charged, addictive anthems, she has built a cult-like fanbase by doing what most artists won’t— telling the unfiltered truth. She writes every lyric herself, pulling directly from her own experiences, and she’s not afraid to name names.

Currently, NERIAH is on the road as direct support for 13 shows on Daniel Seavey's forthcoming UK/EU tour, following the sold-out success of her first headline tour across North America, the UK, and Ireland. She has previously performed at two iHeart festivals and joined North American tours supporting Alexander Stewart, Eaj, and Madison Beer. NERIAH shows no signs of slowing down following the release of her 2023 debut album, 'Cause of Death', which propelled her combined catalog streams to 100 million.

Recent single releases include: 
“Only Always” with Jake Miller and “Gone Girl”, which has garnered massive support with over 525k streams, more than 46 global editorial playlist placements and saw her grace the cover of Spotify’s ‘Young & Free’ playlist. Now, she is preparing for the release of her viral single “Out of Your League”.

No stranger to the spotlight, NERIAH's top streaming markets include 🇮🇩Indonesia at #2 and 🇵🇭 the Philippines is at #5 

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Alt-R&B Duo Emotional Oranges Release Highly-Anticipated New Album 'Orenji' Featuring Collabs with Jessie Reyez, Becky G, Jaehyun of NCT And More

May 16, 2025

LISTEN HERE

Photo Credits: Seunghoon Jeong

FEATURING COLLABS WITH JESSIE REYEZ, BECKY G,
JAEHYUN OF NCT, AND MORE

May 16th, 2025 – Manila, Philippines – Critically acclaimed R&B/pop duo Emotional Oranges—known as your favourite artists’ favourite artist—released their long-awaited debut album ‘Orenjii’, available now on all streaming platforms via Avant Garden Records, distributed by The Orchard & Colture. 

A kaleidoscopic blend of R&B, pop, and nostalgic 2000s influence, 
‘Orenjii’ signals a bold new chapter for the elusive duo. Across 11 tracks, Emotional Oranges tap into their cross-cultural energy and collaborative DNA with features from some of the biggest names in music like Jessie Reyez, Becky G, JAEHYUN of NCT, Anycia, and Isaiah Falls. 

The album’s title, meaning “orange” in both Korean and Japanese, nods to its central theme of juxtaposition by blending worlds that rarely intersect to create something entirely new. Much of the album came to life in Seoul and Tokyo, with both cities and their fan communities leaving a clear mark on its sound and aesthetic.

“The time we’ve spent in Seoul and Tokyo over the past few years have had a strong influence on our overall taste and helped inspire the album title and concept. That coupled with how they embraced our music and art, sometimes faster than other cultures, is something we always took note of. With that said, lyrically this is a record rooted in love of self and love for others. When it came down to it, we just wanted to make a collection of music that would give the younger versions of ourselves hope,” Emotional Oranges share. 

They continue, “The extensive touring we’ve done also helped shape the sound of the album. Not only do you get to see what music connects live, but there’s nothing more fulfilling than getting to build that brick-by-brick relationship with each fan. There are people still pulling up to our shows who have been there since 2019 and seen the growth and progression. This project is largely motivated by them and those experiences; a real testament to consistently being true to yourself and whatever sets you apart. We’ve always had faith that staying the course would eventually yield the results we’re looking for, which is ultimately finding a community that loves what we love.”

The final single, “Call It Off” feat. Jaehyun of NCT, debuted with coverage from Forbes and surpassed over 1.6 million streams within days of its release. The response is a testament to Emotional Oranges’ deep fan connection and the momentum they’ve built on their own terms. 

Earlier singles, “CANDY GUM” feat. Becky G & Jessie Reyez and “Out The Blue”, were met with widespread acclaim and strong editorial support, including coverage from top outlets internationally such as Rolling Stone, Entertainment Tonight, Wonderland, UPROXX, and more.

While 
‘Orenjii’ is their first official album, it marks Emotional Oranges’ seventh overall project. With more than 675 million streams to date and a track record of sold-out shows across multiple continents, they continue to defy the traditional playbook as one of music’s most exciting acts. Later this month, the duo will bring ‘Orenjii’ to the stage with performances at Greenroom Festival in Japan and Seoul Jazz Festival in South Korea.
 

'Orenjii' Tracklisting
1. BLINK
2. That Girl
3. Candy Gum (ft. Jessie Reyez & Becky G)
4. Main Squeeze
5. Flagrant AF
6. Call It Off (ft. JAEHYUN)
7. Talk About Us (ft. Isaiah Falls)
8. HOT OUTSIDE (ft. Anycia)
9. Only A Friend
10. Private Dancer Freestyle
11. Out The Blue

Stream the album 'Orenjii' here: https://orcd.co/orenjiieo

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About Emotional Oranges
Not much is known about Emotional Oranges, the LA-based R&B-Pop male/female duo comprised of Azad Naficy and Vali Porter. Described by critics and fans alike as experimental and futuristic, Emotional Oranges are the physical manifestation of Alternative R&B, Soul and Funk. Provocateurs extraordinaire, they have been unanimously lauded everywhere from Complex, Fader, Highsnobiety to Hypebeast, BBC1, Triple J, MTV, and more. 

Since then, their beloved trilogy, The Juice Vol. I, Vol. II, and Vol. III have amassed over 400 million streams globally, and built a passionate fan base across the globe. No stranger to Southeast Asia, Emotional Oranges' Top 10 Streaming Markets worldwide include the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Emotional Oranges expanded their sonic universe in June 2021 with 'The Juicebox', a collaborative mixtape featuring artists like Vince Staples, Channel Tres, Kiana Ledé, and Becky G, further shattering genre boundaries. In 2024, Emotional Oranges unveiled their 'Blended' EP featuring Nonso Amadi, and embarked on a wildly successful five-show run across Australia and Asia, including a performance at Seoul’s YES24 Live Hall that sold out in 24 hours, and their debut headline in Jakarta at the LaLaLa Festival.

With six project releases under their belt, multiple sold-out world tours, and over 675 million cumulative streams, Emotional Oranges have established themselves as one of the most exciting new acts without ever truly revealing themselves. The juice is certainly worth the squeeze.

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The Dawn hits deep, emotional chord with new single “Sa’n Ka Pupunta”

May 16, 2025

The pop-rock power ballad offers a lifeline for those who need help in times of despair and uncertainty

 

 

Filipino alternative rock trailblazers The Dawn make a compelling return with their brand-new single, “Sa’n Ka Pupunta,” out now on Sony Music Entertainment. Known for their ever-evolving musicality and lyrical depth, the iconic band delivers an emotionally charged anthemthat speaks to the silent battles people face in an uncertain, often overwhelming world.

At its heart, the song is a powerful reminder that even in moments of despair and uncertainty, there are people who will lift you up and help you find meaning in life even when it feels most elusive.

“it’s a song about uncertainties,” shares bassist and co-composer Bim Yance. “In today’s world, we’re all preoccupied with our struggles. It can feel like we’re alone. Sa’n Ka Pupunta is a reminder that someone out there is willing to listen and help. You just need to let them in.”

“Sa’n Ka Pupunta” marks yet another creative peak for the legendary band composed of Jett Pagan on lead vocals, guitars, and keyboards; Francis Reyes on guitars, backing vocals, and keyboards; Rommel Sanchez on guitars; JB Leonor on drums; and Bim Yance on bass.The track is intimate and explosive at once, an introspective power ballad that pleads for openness and understanding in times of emotional crossroads.

Initially composed by Yance, the track evolved through The Dawn’s distinctive collaborative process. The original demo, both sonically and lyrically, carried the seeds of what would become a poignant anthem. As the rest of the band joined in, the song took on a more expansive narrative.

“It began as a message to someone discouraged from continuing their life,” says frontman Jett Pangan. “But as all contributed, it grew into a broader reflection on relationships and how we slowly drift apart if we don’t speak up. It’s about desperation—but the kind that comes from love.”

Musically, “Sa’n Ka Pupunta” balances a raw, gritty energy with sonic restraint. Anchored in shimmering guitar layers, a propulsive shuffle rhythm, and a spacious mix, the arrangements amplify the emotional tension at the song’s core.

“Bim designed the intro and choruses to be louder and punchy, and the verses gentler,” explains Francis Reyes. “We made the first verses sound more open, leaving a lot of space for Jett’s voice— and hence, the initial lyrics that set up the narrative— to be heard and understood. My interpretation of the lyrics is there’s sadness and frustration there. The loud choruses, in my mind, allude to the frustration of ‘Please tell me what’s on your mind, because I’m here to listen.’ The choruses sound angry, but it’s more of desperation or a plea from someone who is trying to understand and help.”

The production draws subtle influence from ‘90s rock stylings of a power ballad while remaining rooted in The Dawn’s unmistakable sound. As Reyes puts it, the band worked to “Dawn-ify” the track, making something inherently theirs while letting new textures surface. He adds, “Jett suggested editing out a couple of bits from Bim’s original demo so the tune flows better overall. I think it was JB himself who suggested a shuffle-type thing for his drum parts to give the tune a bit of propulsiveness.”

Providing additional context, Rommel Sanchez shares that the band took cues from ‘90s bands and producers without making the references patently obvious. “It’s like, ‘what would [insert 90’s producer here]’ do at all times during the tracking process.”

Already receiving an enthusiastic response at recent live shows, the track is poised to resonate widely among long-time fans of the band and new listeners alike.

“I hope people find comfort in it,” says Yance. “That even in frustration and silence, music can remind us to reach out and be there for each other.”

The Dawn’s “Sa’n Ka Pupunta” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Source: Nyou

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Grammy-Winning Artist Laufey Presents New Single "Tough Luck" & Announces New Album 'A Matter Of Time' Coming August 22

May 16, 2025

LISTEN HERE

ANNOUNCES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM
'A MATTER OF TIME'
COMING AUGUST 22

Photo Credit: Emma Summerton

“Otherworldly artist”—TIME

“Laufey’s ascendency to major-league pop artist is one of the most heartening musical phenomena of the last couple of years”—Variety

“Each album she crafts serves as a distinct landmark in her story of evolution –– both as an artist and as a woman"  —Billboard Philippines

"She is a musical tour de force" —Los Angeles Times

May 16th, 2025 – GRAMMY®-winning Icelandic-Chinese artist, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Laufey  announces her highly anticipated new album , ‘A Matter Of Time’, set for release on August 22 via Vingolf Recordings / AWAL. Accompanying the news, Laufey debuts the album’s new single, “Tough Luck”. Fans can stream the song here and watch the lyric video here. 

Laufey explains, “”Tough Luck” is a fiery song about love gone wrong. I wanted to reveal an angrier side of myself—a side that this unfortunate relationship brought out in me”.
 

Laufey – "Tough Luck"  (Official Lyric Video with Chords)

Last month, Laufey teased the album release with a first sampling in the track “Silver Lining”, which she performed with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil at Coachella last month, as well as during her headline set at New Orleans Jazz Fest. 

Now on ‘A Matter of Time’, Laufey further crystalizes her singular sound—one still rooted in her beloved influences, but which forgoes any strict standards or rules. “I’m constantly thinking about classical and jazz, how to properly preserve them and pay homage. For this album,” says Laufey. “I just wanted to let my heart wander”. To that end, she teamed with a pair of co-producers, one comforting and familiar—Spencer Stewart who worked with Laufey on her first two albums —and one new to her but deeply attuned to artists looking to open up: Aaron Dessner (Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran). 

Feeling sonically unrestrained gave Laufey the space to share new sides of herself while exploring sometimes heavier themes. “People expect a pretty façade of girly clothes, fantastical stories, and romantic music,” she says. “This time, I was interested in seeing how I could draw out the most flawed parts of myself and look at them directly in the mirror”. ‘A Matter of Time’ finds Laufey at her most daring—and also playful—as she captures the experience of “real love” in its many forms and what it means to observe as it strips you down to your most vulnerable and anxious.

As Laufey began to craft 'A Matter of Time', she felt freer than ever. “Every new album for me is a blank book of stories to write,” she says, and it’s true. An artist who pours her life experiences into her work, she infused 2022’s ‘Everything I Know About Love’ with coming-of-age tales revolving around leaving home, and for 2023’s GRAMMY®-winning ‘Bewitched’ she dove headlong into young love. Brought to life with sweeping orchestral arrangements, interwoven strains of bossa nova and jazz, and Laufey’s honeyed alto, those albums cemented Laufey as a star who can make sounds from bygone eras feel timeless.
 

Stream '"Tough Luck" here: https://laufey.ffm.to/toughluck
Watch the lyric video here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q71ywEqJjA
Pre-order 'A Matter Of Time' here: 
https://laufey.ffm.to/amatteroftime

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About Laufey

Laufey (pronounced lāy-vāy) is a 25-year-old Icelandic-Chinese composer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who writes songs inspired by jazz greats and classical masters while possessing a point of view that could only be conveyed by a 21st-century twentysomething. “My goal is to bring jazz and classical music to my generation through a more accessible road,” she explains. 

Raised between Reykjavik and Washington, D.C., she learned piano and cello as a child, later studying at Berklee College of Music. There, she wrote her debut EP, 2021’s 'Typical of Me', whose striking single “Street by Street” debuted at No. 1 on Icelandic Radio—the first of many achievements that have grown to include 5 billion global streams, a social media audience of 25 million, the biggest jazz LP debut in Spotify history and an album in Billboard’s Top 20 (both for 'Bewitched'), a growing pile of Platinum plaques, a Forbes 30 Under 30 designation, and being named one of TIME’s 2025 Women of the Year. She’s sold out the Hollywood Bowl, Radio City Music Hall, and London’s Royal Albert Hall; performed backed by the LA Phil, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the China Philharmonic Orchestra; shared the stage with the likes of Jon Batiste and Raye; and collaborated on records with artists ranging from Beabadoobee to Norah Jones. More recently, Laufey announced 
The Laufey Foundation, with the primary mission of supporting young musicians with the resources they need, especially through youth orchestras, to reach their full potential.
 

Following her sold-out shows across Asia last year—including Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, and Taipei—Laufey continues to make waves in the region, further cementing her status as a global sensation. She continues to see strong streaming numbers in the region, with the 🇵🇭 Philippines at #2, 🇮🇩 Indonesia at #3, and 🇲🇾 Malaysia at #9 among her top global streaming markets.

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Filipino-American Indie Pop Singer-Songwriter Labit Shares Soulful Tribute to Family And Roots in New Song 'MANGOES AN RICE"

May 16, 2025

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ANNOUNCES FORTHCOMING ALBUM
'SOL' OUT OCTOBER 10TH

May 16th, 2025 — Today, Filipino-American crooner Labit makes a heartfelt return with his new single, "MANGOES AND RICE", a poignant love letter to the people and places that shaped him. Accompanied by a tender, nostalgia-laced music video, the track celebrates identity, family, and cultural pride with quiet power and sincerity. Alongside the release, Labit also announces his highly anticipated forthcoming album, 'SOL', set to arrive on October 10th. Fans can stream the newest single HERE and watch the music video HERE.

With intimate songwriting that reverberates with the hard-earned wisdom of a young person taking charge of his future by remembering his past, Labit uses his latest track to explore what it felt like to grow up Filipino-American. Backed by echoing layered vocals and bouncy acoustic guitar reminiscent of summertime, the single glows with whimsy and the warmth of memory.

Labit – "MANGOES AND RICE" (Official Music Video)

"I wrote this song about growing up Filipino-American. It's a conversation with my sister about remembering our childhood and how we were raised and using that knowledge in present situations."

— Labit

The music video is a visual love letter to the resilience of the Filipino-American experience, especially the quiet strength required of balancing expectation and identity. The clip begins with the weight of workplace exhaustion and cultural pressure, but it blossoms into a backyard sanctuary, where family, memory, and joy remind the main character of who she is. "MANGOES AND RICE" is a complete ode to sentimentality and inner strength, perfectly sweet and satisfying, just like its namesake.

While originally released to coincide with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month observed in the United States, the song's themes of cultural identity, familial love, and the search for belonging resonate far beyond American borders. For many across Southeast Asia, especially those who, like Labit, navigate life between cultures, the song strikes a deeply personal chord. With intimate storytelling that carries the quiet confidence of someone embracing their roots, Labit reflects on what it means to grow up straddling two cultures—capturing the experience of many young Southeast Asians raised between worlds. The release is also supported by a collaboration with 
Wanderlust Creamery, a Filipino-American-founded ice cream brand known for its innovative Asian American-inspired flavours, as part of a broader celebration of AAPI Month.

"MANGOES AND RICE" finds Labit carrying the teachings of his upbringing as he stretches to reach new heights of authenticity and self-discovery. Dripping with honeyed vocals and wholesome introspection, Labit reminds listeners that there is empowerment and comfort that can come from staying true to your roots as you navigate the world in front of you. He exemplifies this as he sings about his sister: "You / Growing up on mom and dad's advice / Looking back / It ain't so black and white / Trust they raised us right / Melanie you're working through it / Filipino baby / You could do it / There's power in your every move".

"MANGOES AND RICE" floats in on the heels of Labit's recent breakout single, "CLEANING OUT THE FRIDGE (ft. Emily Rowed)", which earned placements on Spotify's New Music Friday playlists across Asia, including the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Since debuting in 2019, Labit's catalog of music has grown in its generous authenticity, with melodies that feel like being wrapped in a warm blanket, anchored by hooks that linger long after the last note. Labit's resonance across Southeast Asia is undeniable, with the region making up the majority of his Top 10 streaming markets: #3 Philippines, #6 Indonesia, #7 Malaysia, #8 Taiwan, #9 Thailand, and #10 Vietnam. His ability to connect across borders and cultures is rooted in honest storytelling and a sonic versatility that transcends genre. With songwriting that spans pop, rock, and R&B, he has earned credits with artists such as EMEI, BYRNE, and more.

Making music on his own terms, Labit's recent release—and his artistry at large—reflect the very journey he has taken in "MANGOES AND RICE", bringing his own lyrics to life: "Filipino baby / You could do it / There's power in your every move." His forthcoming album, 'SOL', captures that ongoing process of self-discovery—written as a personal journal while navigating the intricacies of adulthood, finding strength in vulnerability and grace in growth.

'SOL' Album Tracklisting:
1. STAY AWHILE
2. BREAK
3. PRETTY
4. ALL MY PLANTS ARE DYING
5. BET
6. LEADS (ME TO YOU)
7. WYL
8. FEBRUARY
9. ANYBODY'S GUESS
10. CLEANING OUT THE FRIDGE (FT. EMILY ROWED)
11. MANGOES AND RICE
12. WHO WE WERE
13. CODEPENDENT
14. PARALLEL
15. BETTER
16. CLICK
17. CLOUD
18. SOL

Stream "MANGOES AND RICE" here
Watch the official music video 
here
 

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About Labit

Stephen Ordoñez, aka Labit, is a Los Angeles-based Filipino-American multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, producer, and artist. Labit is a storyteller who writes with unfiltered honesty and emotional depth, often drawing from personal connections and the people who have shaped his world. As a result, Labit creates spaces where lived experiences and cultural memories intersect, inviting others into moments that feel both intimate and universal through his music.

Outside of his solo project, he is also a versatile songwriter that incorporates his unique melodies to accompany his strong vocal and guitar playing. Ordoñez has written countless songs that have been synced across the pop, rock, and R&B genre spectrum, including credits with Emei, BYRNE, and more.

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Wolf Alice return with brand new single ‘Bloom Baby Bloom’

May 16, 2025

With announcement of new album The Clearing to be released August 29th

 

(Photo Credit: Rachel Fleminger Hudson)

 

Seminal British band Wolf Alice return today with new single ‘Bloom Baby Bloom’ alongside highly anticipated news of their fourth studio album The Clearing, confirmed for release on August 29th via their new global label home, Sony Music. Written in Seven Sisters and recorded in LA with Grammy-winning, master producer Greg Kurstin last year, The Clearing reveals where Wolf Alice stand sonically in 2025, delivering a supremely confident collection of songs bursting with ambition, ideas and emotion; The Clearing is a truly timeless record.

 

‘Bloom Baby Bloom’ marks the beginning of an exciting new era for Wolf Alice. A fiercely powerful and fervent introduction to The Clearing, it’s an arresting ode to growth, evolution and expansion in life, music and art. With its rolling bass riff, this first piece of music in three years, is a whip-smart de-testosteroned twist on heavy rock. “I wanted a rock song, to focus on the performance element of a rock song and sing like Axl Rose, but to be singing a song about being a woman,” Ellie Rowsell notes. “I’ve used the guitar as a shield in the past, playing it has perhaps been some way to reject the 'girl singer in band' trope, but I wanted to focus on my voice as a rock instrument so it’s been freeing to put the guitar down and reach a point where I don’t feel like I need to prove that I’m a musician.”

 

The video for ‘Bloom Baby Bloom’ is a collaboration with noted alt-pop director Colin Solal Cardo, famous for collaborations with Charli XCX, Robyn, Christine & The Queens and Phoenix. The video deconstructs a classic rock performance by drawing on Bob Fosse and All That Jazz, featuring a brilliant performance from Ellie in the middle of a host of dancers choreographed by Emmy Award-winning choreographer Ryan Heffington(Euphoria, Sia, Kenzo + Margaret Qualley). Watch HERE.

 

 

(‘Bloom Baby Bloom’ Artwork HERE)

 

Wolf Alice have come a long way since the North London quartet first emerged in 2013 as a young band holding a mirror up to their own emerging generation. Today, Wolf Alice’s fourth album The Clearing finds them at the peak of their powers, grown into a band of generational importance. While the bruised euphoria of their debut My Love Is Cool, which featured the Grammy-nominated ‘Moaning Lisa Smile’, both captured and perfectly soundtracked the experience of youth first cutting their musical teeth, 2018’s follow up Visions Of A Life cemented their rise with a Mercury Music Prize, before the precious hurt of 2022’s Blue Weekend and its resultant UK number 1 and Brit Award for Best Group. In the process, lead singer Ellie Rowsell has grown into a storytelling icon, weaving cautionary tales of how your twenties will hurt you, but in valuable ways. Wolf Alice have also toured the world multiple times headlining sold out tours, gracing numerous festival stages and supporting an array of key artists including pop icon Harry Styles. This summer so far sees them performing at Radio 1’s Big Weekend followed by a top spot at Glastonbury.

 

Both playful and serious, ironic and straight-talking,TheClearing is a progressive shift from a band whose exploration of love, loss and human connection has already articulated the coming-of-age experience for a whole generation. It’s a classic pop/rock album that nods to the ‘70s while remaining rooted firmly in the present. If Fleetwood Mac wrote an album today in North London, you’d get somewhere close to this run of effortlessly grand tracks, each as distinct as the last. Sonically, there is no waste, no fuss, with more authoritative melodies than the band has ever crafted before. This is a new beginning, and each of the band feels it as keenly as listeners will.

 

Front and centre of The Clearing is Rowsell’s ever-evolving poetic storytelling alongside an innate desire for Ellie, Joff, Theo and Joel to have fun, secure in their ambition and ability at this unique moment in time. The Clearing encapsulates that freeing feeling of finding a moment of peace and clarity, having survived the freewheeling frivolity of your 20s, emerging into your future and is a portrait of Wolf Alice standing on the precipice of a new decade in both life and art.

 

Pre-save / pre-order The Clearing HERE

Source: Nyou

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CBN Asia Recognized at Malacañang as Philippines Exits FATF Grey List

May 16, 2025

CBN Asia, the producer of The 700 Club Asia and Superbook, was honored as one of over 200 awardees at the national recognition ceremony for the Philippines' successful exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List.  

  

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the ceremony at Malacañang and personally handed out plaques of recognition to 29 heads of government agencies.  

 

Meanwhile, Retired Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, Executive Secretary; and Eli Remolona, Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, handed out the rest of the plaques to the honorees. Representing the ministry, President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Kairuzaccepted the plaque of recognition. Vice President for Administration Malou Ibañez and Senior Director for Finance Danilo Camerino received certificates of recognition. 

  

“As a non-profit organization, the award speaks about CBN Asia’s integrity, about our commitment to cooperate with our government in the best way we can. We are here to be good citizens, be good stewards of what the Lord has entrusted to us,” Kairuz said.  

 

The FATF Grey List includes countries under heightened monitoring due to risks such as money laundering and terrorism financing. Being officially removed from the grey list reflects stronger global confidence in the Philippines’ financial systems and brings multiple benefits to the country: it strengthens greater trust from international investors, creates more opportunities for local businesses, and lowers remittance costs for our hardworking overseas Filipino workers sending money back home.  

   

For CBN Asia, it brings greater transparency, credibility, and trust to the way resources are managed – a powerful testament that, by God’s grace, integrity and excellence remain at the heart of its mission. It remains faithful in stewarding resources, knowing that good governance is the foundation of true transformation.  

  

"CBN Asia was honored, but we were there on behalf of our nation. By the grace of God, we were part of this achievement. It was truly a great honor," Ibañez said.  

  

To know more about CBN Asia, its Family of Ministries, and the work they do, call 8737-0700 or visit cbnasia.org. 

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Indie Rock Project of Soyoon Hwang SE SO NEON Shares Vibrant New Song "Twit Winter"

May 16, 2025

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Photo Credit: Bahno Jung

May 16th, 2025 - Philippines — Genre-defying South Korean band, SE SO NEON makes their highly anticipated return with the release of "Twit Winter" — a vibrant indie rock anthem that contemplates life's fleeting nature. The new track is accompanied by a music video that was shot in Seoul and self-directed by front woman, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Soyoon Hwang. Fans can stream the single HERE and watch the music video HERE.

With the new music, the group has crafted their own sonic identity, displaying a wide spectrum of musical influences varying from blues and psychedelic rock to new wave and synth pop. Sung primarily in Korean, their music is rooted both in the present and in nature, making "Twit Winter" relatable regardless of any language barrier. "People will feel my energy and my soul," Soyoon proclaims.

SE SO NEON – "Twit Winter" (Official Music Video)

Co-produced by Soyoon and Kenny Gilmore (Weyes Blood, Sudan Archives) and mixed by Nathan Boddy (Pink Pantheress, Geordie Greep), the song hears Soyoon exploring the complexity of time and human existence. With the band's new music still in its infancy, she found herself reflecting upon music she had started writing as a teenager. Despite the growth and development that had since followed, she felt the songs were tethered to a past version of herself. 

Of performing these songs, Soyoon explains: "Each time I do, I feel as though I'm singing alongside the Soyoon of the past. This is not a nostalgic return to an earlier self. Rather, it is the past Soyoon — the one who once wrote and sang these songs — who now meets and sings with the Soyoon of the future. It struck me, with a kind of quiet clarity, that music and the stage allow one to dismantle time's linearity altogether."

Art is often regarded as timeless, its impact surpassing any time constraints and often outlasting those that created it. "Twit Winter" hears Soyoon grapple with her own mortality, while also questioning the longstanding legacy of her creations. In her own words: "That thought made me want to leave behind questions for the past and future, sensations I'd still want to share, signals and traces that might survive the years. I imagine myself, aged, singing this song. And so I decided to create a kind of time capsule, through both music and image."

The music video became an experimental extension of this concept, acting as a time capsule for future Soyoon to revisit in 2065. Throughout watching "present" Soyoon in various scenarios, a white box remains present. It marks the designated spot that the Soyoon of the future will occupy. 

Stream "Twit Winter" here
Watch the official music video 
here
 

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About SE SO NEON

SE SO NEON was formed in 2016 by Soyoon. Mirroring their sonic dexterity, the band has seen various iterations with Soyoon remaining the consistent anchor. Winning 
Rookie of the Year and Best Rock Song of the Year at the prestigious Korean Music Awards in their debut year, SE SO NEON instantly became a leading figure of South Korea's indie scene.

In 2020, SE SO NEON released their EP 
'Nonadaptation', which was featured in Pitchfork's 'The 35 Best Rock Albums of 2020' and Paste's 'The 40 Best Rock Albums of 2020'. In addition, the band was also selected as one of Fender's 'Next Artists of 2020'. SE SO NEON was also the only South Korean band to be selected for YouTube Music's global artist development program, YouTube Music Foundry. 

With over 
145 million global streams to date, SE SO NEON's growing popularity is reflected in their strong Southeast Asian fanbase, with key regional cities #2 Jakarta, #3 Bangkok, #5 Singapore, #6 Taipei, and #7 Kuala Lumpur ranking among their top global listeners.

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15 days

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May 19, 2017
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