The third EP offers a soft yet striking reminder that while moments fade, the feelings they leave behind stays forever
With their third EP, gusto ko lang maalala, Filipino indie pop band the vowels they orbit (tvto) returns with a gentle yet profound reflection on love, loss, nostalgia, and the act of remembering.
Following their sophomore release, gusto ko lang maalala continues their journey, this time inviting listeners into a more introspective space. The EP captures the bittersweet nature of memory, recognizing that as time moves forward, the people and moments we once held dear inevitably transform, even if only slightly.
Selfir with the vowels they orbit
I greatly enjoyed hearing their thoughts and witnessing the event that explored how they see longing from a different perspective. From gusto ko lang maalala, I realized that it beautifully captures how memories can be both comforting and painful. the vowels they orbit remind us that while time changes the things and people we love, remembering them—no matter how fragmented—keeps their meaning alive within us.
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 longing: for someone, something, a moment in time, or a dream. It’s like wanting to stop time just to breathe for a while or turn it back to experience those things again.”
True to its theme, gusto ko lang maalala carries a sound that is both ethereal and emotionally grounded. The musical arrangements perfectly mirror the intimacy of the narrative, resulting in an experience that feels like flipping through the pages of a photo album.
“When we started coming up with our individual parts, one of the things I asked my bandmates to do was to really listen to the emotions of the lyrics,” Nikka shares. “That was one of our conscious efforts for this EP. Even small details like the basslines in ‘miss na kita’ dancing along to the sadness on the second verse, or the guitar work in ‘para bago’ sounding like a flashback, these things are vital and part of the emotional cues.”
The EP was produced by Soupstar Music’s Darwin Hernandez, with arrangements from Filipino rock icons Raymund Marasigan and Buddy Zabala of Eraserheads, and additional production support from Eunice Jorge of Gracenote. Recording took place at Velvet Playground Studio in Marikina, marking tvto’s first time in the space.
“Working with Raymund and Buddy was surreal,” the band recalls. “We were nervous at first, but they made the process chill and collaborative. It was amazing how even small changes transformed the song completely. We learned so much in just one session.”
The new EP features three original tracks and one special rendition of a classic hit, each one tracing a different shade of longing. From the introspective songwriting of “miss na kita” to the upbeat yet wistful energy of “basta” and “para bago,” every track carries its own sonic blueprint.
Metro Manila is home to the five-piece independent pop-rock group the vowels they orbit. Their music embodies the everyday poetry of contemporary Filipino youth, and they are well-known for their poignant lyricism and melodic pop sensibility. Nikka Melchor on vocals and guitars, Hannah Dela Cruz on keyboards and vocals, Gene Santiago on guitars, and Patch Javier on bass make up the Filipino band.
the vowels they orbit’s gusto ko lang maalala is currently available on all digital music platforms across the globe through Sony Music Entertainment.
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