Pop rock singer-songwriter Ashanti Silonga, who releases music as SHANNi, has steadily grown a following through songs that are intimate. Since 2023, her work has leaned toward soft pop rock and city pop, shaped by close-range storytelling and featherweight vocal delivery. Her songs often return to small emotional moments, written in a way that feels casual and observant.
Her debut single, “sa panaginip,” released in 2023, introduced that approach clearly. The track came with a simple music video that follows SHANNi biking along the Marikina riverside, cutting between dreamlike scenes that mirror the song’s theme of unrequited love unfolding in the protagonist’s dream. The song’s charm came from its infectious melody, with lyrics that carry the song from start to finish. That same instinct appears across her later releases. “Kdrama,” released the following year, uses a slightly compressed, telephone-like vocal texture that pulls the listener closer. The lullaby-like pacing and hushed tone give the song a private feel, as if it were written for smaller venues.
In conversation with Rolling Stone Philippines, SHANNi reflects on how that closeness developed naturally. She’s spent time uploading covers of Alice Phoebe Lou, NIKI, Men I Trust, to name a few, and demos on SoundCloud, drawing from artists whose writing leaned toward her signature softness. Those recordings became a testing ground for her voice and songwriting, allowing her to figure out how she wanted to sound before committing to a larger release plan.
“I didn’t expect na people to connect with it the way they did,” SHANNi tells Rolling Stone Philippines. “Siguro dun ko na-realize na di mo kailangan magpanggap or sumunod sa uso. Just be yourself as long as totoo ka.”
Rooted in the Family
Music has always been part of SHANNi’s life. She comes from a family of musicians, with her father Allan Mitchell Silonga, formerly part of the R&B group Kindred Garden, and her older brother Blaster Silonga serving as lead guitarist of IV of Spades. That background gave her early exposure, though it also brought pressure. As one of the youngest in the family, she spent time worrying about being seen through someone else’s shadow rather than her own work.
“Nag-start talaga ako as a small artist, and I was afraid. Kasi, syempre, artist din ‘yong siblings ko,” she says. I was kind of afraid to be associated na parang ganun lang yung maiisip na, ‘Ay, kapatid ni ganito.’ So, parang medyo nagsa-self-doubt talaga ako that time. Gusto kong pag-start na sariling name na ako talaga.”
“Success for me now is being able to create freely and sustainably. So, hindi siya about numbers lang. It’s about growth, connection, and being proud of what I put out.”
That desire for independence shows in how she approaches live shows. Over the past year, SHANNi has taken part in and organized small DIY gigs around Metro Manila, often sharing lineups with younger and emerging artists. Her recent single tour for “Sikretong Tayo Lang Ang May Alam” ran across several legs back in 2025, drawing consistent crowds who followed her from one venue to another. Those shows have become a key part of how her community formed. For SHANNi, growth now comes from staying active and present. She continues to write at her own pace, make decisions hands-on, and support smaller acts whenever possible. Since then, SHANNi has signed to SONY Music and is looking forward to releasing her debut EP this year.
“May mga things na ako ‘yong nag-decide for myself,” she says. “Although, ang dami kong na-achieve with the help of others. Success for me now is being able to create freely and sustainably. So, hindi siya about numbers lang. It’s about growth, connection, and being proud of what I put out.”
