The Filipino-Australian artist brings her own versions of the songs that shaped her career to the Philippine stage
Ten years after launching her professional music career, Ylona Garcia returns to the Philippines for two homecoming shows that are as much about looking back as they are about moving forward.
The two-part anniversary celebration will revisit songs from her decade in the music industry while presenting them through her own interpretations and the perspective of the artist she has become.
The homecoming begins on September 4 with Backyard Live: Ylona Garcia Spotlight, a Manila-exclusive performance at Backyard Warehouse Studio in Baesa, Quezon City. By invitation, the intimate, music-focused show offers a limited audience a first experience of Ylona’s 10th anniversary celebration.
The following day, September 5, Ylona brings the celebration to a wider public audience with 10 Years of Ylona Garcia: Live at Venice Grand Canal Mall in McKinley Hill, beginning at 7 p.m.
“Celebrating 10 years in music is a reminder of how far I’ve come, but also of what really matters to me,” Ylona shares. “Personally, the first five years were a great challenge as I was learning more about my culture and how showbiz worked. However, the last five years have been some of the hardest years of my life. I lost someone very important to me, went through experiences where I allowed people to take advantage of me emotionally, and found myself alone in another country for the second time. Artistically, though, those experiences taught me a lot about the difference between being a singer and being an artist.”
The two live experiences will eventually be part of Ylona Garcia’s 10th Anniversary Live Album, a nine-track collection featuring her versions of the songs from the past decade. The project also serves as a bridge to her long-awaited second EP, with elements of her emerging new sounds and inspirations woven intricately into the anniversary performances.
Ylona’s journey in music has always been rocky but filled with delightful surprises. After establishing herself as a pop star with a loyal following in the Philippines, she signed with Paradise Rising, 88rising’s Filipino-focused imprint, and subsequently relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her music internationally. Her work has included a performance at 88rising’s Head in the Clouds festival and “Entertain Me,” released in partnership with Riot Games’ VALORANT. At the same time, her growing international profile has led to recognition from outlets such as V Magazine.
As she makes a comeback in the Philippines to celebrate her tenth year in music, Ylona Garcia is reclaiming the songs, experiences, and lessons that brought her here, hoping to carry them forward into what comes next. For this project, the eclectic multi-hyphenate is working with Sony Music Entertainment to reimagine her catalog in exciting new forms.
“This is my third time working with a music label, and collaboration truly means a lot to me,” Ylona explains. “So, through this project, being able to figure out what collaboration looks like between Sony Music Entertainment and me has actually been a very healing experience. I’ve learned a lot about what it means to bring my vision into a room, listen to other people’s perspectives, and build something together without losing what I came there to say.”
Catch Ylona Garcia as she celebrates her tenth anniversary as an artist:
Event 1: Backyard Live: Ylona Garcia SpotlightDate: Sept. 4, 2026Location: Backyard Warehouse Studio, Baesa, Quezon City
By invitation (registration link): http://ylonagarcia.lnk.to/Ylona_At_Backyard_Live
Event 2: 10 Years of Ylona Garcia: Live at Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley HillDate: Sept. 5, 2026Location: Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley HillEvent Time: 7:00 PM
Register to get free tickets: http://ylonagarcia.lnk.to/Ylona_at_Venice
Source: Nyou