Star Powerhouse

  Filipino indie pop outfit the vowels they orbit (tvto) return with their third EP, gusto ko lang maalala —a delicate and nuanced exploration of love and loss, nostalgia, and remembering.  Following their sophomore release, tuloy tuloy tuloy! , which chronicled moments and survival amid the pandemic years, gusto ko lang maalala embraces reflection. It leans to the bittersweet nature of remembering: the realization that as time moves forward, what we once held dear and near can only be revised in fragments. Led by the haunting single “ miss na kita ,” the EP encapsulates the quiet pain of longing, be it for a person, a place, or even a former version of oneself. As lead vocalist Nikka Melchor explains it, “I wrote ‘ miss na kita ’ one morning because I wanted to express that sudden feeling of missing your younger self. But it’s not limited to that narrative. The meaning differs per person, from loss of self to loss of a loved one.” Guitarist Gene Santiago adds, “It’s about l...