Welcome to Songs You Need to Know, our weekly rundown of the best music right now. The Rolling Stone Philippines team is constantly sharing things to listen to, and each week, we compile a ragtag playlist of songs that we believe every music fan today needs to know. Whether it’s the hottest new single or an old track that captures the state of the present, our hope is that you discover something for your musical canon.
This week’s songs feature the artists from our Music Forecast list, all of which have their own special quality on why they were handpicked by us at Rolling Stone Philippines. These qualities vary from the sweeping dream pop of KRNA and aunt robert, the romantic and chart-breaking success of hip-hop acts such as La Mave and Thugsta, or the more unusual, pop-driven oddities of fitterkarma and Novocrane. Here are the highlights of the 26 Filipino musicians you need to listen to now.
fitterkarma, “Sumpa”
A folk love song with a touch of melancholy and horror
Mix Fenix, “Take Me Home”
A soulful, gospel-influenced invocation
Jamiela, “Sikreto”
Obsession-fueled rock at a creeping pace
BABY FREEZE, “BISH LIKE BABY FREEZE”*
Super chill cloud rap, with attitude
SexyJay, “Zombie”
Post-punk music recorded from the DIY grave
Thugsta, “PERA LANG”
All money, all talk from Malate’s finest rap scene
Kyleaux, “Notice Me”
Hugot channeled through Y2K R&B lens
bird., “ride”
Surfing in La Union, drenched in reverb
Project Yazz, “Kape”
Morning jazz from the improv crew
IIICCCYYY, “anything 4 u”
Addicting, candy-flavored synth pop
Kristina Dawn, “BALAC (YOU WISH)”
Coy but self-assured delivery
August Wahh, “Tip Toe”
Jersey club meets bubblegum pop
aunt robert, “Blue”
Indietronica finds a new generation
Pette Shabu, “XDEAL O BARIL?”
A threat in the trappings of rap and techno
D Waviee, “Shot Para Igat”
At once slick and textured with horniness
Jikamarie, “Tayo”
Breezy R&B with honeyed vocals
Bita and the Botflies, “Peklat Cream”
A frustrated blues-y rock classic
Stef Aranas, “On My Grind”
Glitzy pop with flashes of trap-era Ariana Grande
Daspan En Walis, “Compute to Commute”
Punk music on living paycheck to paycheck
DJ Danz, “Break It Down”
Budots humor in full charismatic effect
Junoy Manalo, “Train to Izu”
Groovy house that never gives up the BPM
KRNA, “Dream Again”
Cagayan De Oro’s hazy and beautiful dream pop scene
Alisson Shore, “Sarili Muna”
Doomed relationship sung in sensual R&B style
Horseboyy, “Third Base”*
Nocturnal house with a hint of Balearic power
La Mave, “Dominga”
A love letter for Manila and the lovers who stay there
Novocrane, “Imaginary Party”
Unforgettable dream pop debut from Bacolod City
* These songs are not available on Spotify. To listen, click the hyperlink on the title.
