Star Powerhouse

  Chamber rock duo Aviators are back in our daily rotation with new ‘rush-inducing’ track “Come & Go” — via Offshore Music . What started as an Iloilo-based music project between two friends, John Roxas and Arvy Zafra , has evolved into a band with unique sonic imagery: retro-pop with lush and ornate arrangements and post-punk sensibilities, perfectly carried by their previous single, “Hollow,” which was released in October 2025. Imbued with newfound range and character, their latest single “Come & Go” takes the familiar cinematic approach with a more manic sound. It’s intentionally made to feel as if the listener is chasing after each note as the song drives forward. “I wanted a song that had an energetic, frenetic pace, something you would hear as a soundtrack to a James Bond-esque movie,” shares vocalist and guitarist John Roxas . “The lyrics are centered around things that come and go, and what better way to bring that to light than with a song that comes at you, then ...

  Following the breakout success of her debut song “ GAGA ,” which garnered more than 300,000 TikTok creations and peaked at No. 60 on the Spotify Viral charts, RAMONA returns to the spotlight with the release of her new single, “ Laguna ,” out today via Sony Music Entertainment . RAMONA’s latest track chronicles the messy aftermath of a breakup. Balancing humor, confrontation, and disbelief, the angsty pop-punk anthem taps into the hyper-online generation’s obsession with decoding modern relationships and post-breakup behavior. It also unpacks the strange limbo between heartbreak and amusement: the spiral of watching someone move on suspiciously fast.  Where many breakup songs dwell in defeat and tortured sadness, “Laguna” chooses to fight back. It is restless, unfiltered, and loud, reflecting a generation that processes intimacy through screens, timelines, and lingering notifications. In the approved pitch for “Laguna,” the track is described as a straightforward reflection...

K-pop sensation, FIFTY FIFTY , returns with their highly anticipated new EP, “ Imperfect-I’mperfect , ” now available on all digital streaming platforms via Arista Records. Marking a new chapter in the group’s musical journey, the six-track project doesn’t try to hide or fill in its flaws. Instead, it embraces the idea that our raw, unpolished selves can be the most unique, and even the most complete. The album fearlessly confronts the honest emotions that exist beyond simple positivity and bright smiles. It reminds us that we don’t always have to be perfectly happy. Beginning with the pre- release single, “STARSTRUCK,” the album immediately introduces a striking transformation in both image and sound for the group. Built around powerful electronic synths, distorted textures, vocal chops, and cyberpunk-inspired production, the track creates a retro-futuristic atmosphere that feels immersive, hypnotic, and emotionally charged. The experimental soundscape offers fans an early glimpse in...

Keeping true to its commitment to nurture Filipino talent, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) proudly begins a new chapter of the Virgin Labfest Writing Fellowship Program (VLF WFP). Now in its 15th year, the fellowship program has selected eight (8) talented and passionate aspiring playwrights to participate in the educational component of the theater festival from June 16 to 28, at the CCP Complex. This year’s Writing Fellows are: Daniel John Augusto Rhea Kyla Dionisio Angela Nicole Divina Enrico Figueroa Reinhardt Patrick Orillos Rosemarie Uy Gio Alfonso Vega Kier Andrei Yonson In a span of two intensive weeks, VLF XXI WFP immerses its fellows in the craft of dramatic writing for the stage. Under the guidance of multi-awarded playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas, the program offers a rich curriculum of lectures, workshops, and discussions on playwriting and script critiquing for the selected aspiring playwrights. They will also be granted access to Virgin Labfest XXI: Hubo’t Hubad...

  Filipino independent record label Offshore Music teams up with award-winning illustrator and comics creator Rob Cham for a special limited-edition merchandise to mark the 30th anniversary of the Eraserheads ’ critically acclaimed fourth studio album, Fruitcake . The limited-edition t-shirt features Cham’s modern take on the album’s whimsical world, giving listeners a fresh visual entry point into one of the most important works in Philippine music. Known for his distinct visual storytelling, Cham approached the project as both a tribute and reinterpretation of the original Fruitcake universe. “I wanted to do my take on the storybook while also keeping it something that people would see and be curious about what the album is about,” the acclaimed artist explains. “I wanted to make other fans of Fruitcake happy and tried to capture the energy that the album has. While working on this, I listened to the album nonstop, reread the book, and looked up all the old music videos to ge...

  Get ready to fall in love and dance as Rockwell and 9 Works Theatrical bring the musical On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan to Manila this July! Directed by Robbie Guevara, with musical direction by Daniel Bartolome and a book by Alexander Dinelaris, On Your Feet! tells the awe-inspiring story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan—two artists whose unwavering belief in each other redefined the American soundscape. Fueled by passion and tested by tragedy, the musical explores the determination and creativity that turned a local band into an international sensation. This uplifting saga comes to life with a pulse-pounding playlist featuring some of the greatest pop hits of a generation, including “Anything For You,” “1-2-3,” “Conga,” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.” It is a celebration of heritage, family, and the music that moved the world. On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan is a 9 Works Theatrical production presented by Rockwell. The show will run in J...

Apart from the must-see main features, the Virgin Labfest (VLF) continues to expand its offerings with stripped-down staged readings of selected scripts from the VLFXXI: HUBO’T HUBAD submissions, reading performances of works from the diaspora, and a showcase from the VLF Writing Fellowship Workshop. The staged readings are composed of three sets, each featuring two scripts selected from the VLFXXI submissions. For Set 1, Jose Victor Torres’ Mga Tatsulok and M. Manalastas’ The Devoured will take the VLF stage on June 12, 2026. Set 2 follows on June 19, 2026, featuring Dingdong Novenario’s Manang and Rafael Jimenez’s Suor . Set 3, meanwhile, will spotlight Juan Ekis’ Kasal(anan) and Jay Fernandez’s Ang Huli on June 26, 2026. Mga Tatsulok follows the lives of three characters: Beng, a single mother struggling to cope with the death of her only son; Allan, her live-in partner who tries to keep their relationship together despite the tragedy; and Marky, Beng’s deceased son, whose mem...