R&B and soul producer Lustbass, known offstage as Allan Malabanan, has released a new beat tape titled Sentimental Vol. 1 — a sprawling 33-track project that showcases his ear for texture, rhythm, and emotion. Released on October 18, the collection lives exclusively on Bandcamp and SoundCloud, where listeners can stream or download it for free. Cassette copies will be available soon.
Across Sentimental Vol. 1, Lustbass leans into hip-hop’s roots in sampling while blending his signature sense of groove and soul. He pulls from classic soul records, creating intricate drum breaks and bass-heavy rhythms that make each track distinct. “I Can’t Stand to See U Cry,” a flip of The Whatnauts’ track of the same name, sits alongside “Stop Doubting My Love” and “Let Us Pray,” building a cohesive yet exploratory listening experience. The tape feels like an invitation to dig into his creative process — a rare, unguarded look at how a seasoned producer constructs mood and movement through sound.
For over a decade, Lustbass, as a producer, has been one of the most consistent forces in the Philippines’ R&B scene. His catalog, which includes his self-titled debut released in 2013, XXX in 2014, The Warmth of Your Sun in 2016, the Intraverse series from 2019 until 2020, and inner space released back in 2024, traces his growth from soul-inflected live musician to a master of sample-based production. Beyond his solo work, he has collaborated with the likes of Jess Connelly and Jason Dhakal, bridging the local and global sounds of contemporary soul.
As a free body of work, Sentimental Vol. 1 exists as an act of generosity. It’s a reminder that in a landscape obsessed with metrics, there’s still room for pure craft and community. For over 50 plus minutes of classic boom bap production, the beat remains both playground and archive.
