Entertainment

The band brings their most personal and sonically adventurous album on vinyl, reaffirming the enduring value of physical media

With the exclusive vinyl release of their critically praised album Andalucia, award-winning Filipino pop-rock powerhouse IV OF SPADES continues to intensify the celebration of their eagerly awaited reunion.

During the first and second days of IV OF SPADES’ concert, which took place in the SM Mall of Asia Arena on December 12 and 13, 2025, some of the 1,000 copies of the new record were already available.

Do not be alarmed if you are unable to attend the concert! Backspacer Records will begin selling Andalucia on their official website on December 15, 2025.

“Andalucia feels like a special snapshot of where we are in our lives right now,” shares the acclaimed quartet in a press statement. “This is the first vinyl of IV OF SPADES.  Pangarap din namin ito.”

Hailed as one of the most astounding creative rebirths in OPM for the last decade, Andalucia stands as a testament to renewed brotherhood and friendship. Shaped by years of individual growth and nearly seven years of separation, the album was forged through trust, mutual respect, and a deep appreciation for the member’s creative process.

While staying rooted in the band’s distinctive introspection, emotional honesty, and painstaking musical craftsmanship, the twelve-track album also explores a wide range of sound and experimentation.

Andalucia, the new album by IV OF SPADES, is currently available on all digital music platforms across the globe through Sony Music Entertainment.

The award-winning band closes 2025 with a year-end celebration of music, storytelling, and community, giving fans a front-row experience from anywhere in the world

Ben&Ben welcomes audiences into the bright world of Liwanag with Traveller Across Dimensions: The Concert Film, a year after turning their award-winning 2025 concept into a sold-out show at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

On December 14, 2025, the unique full-length film—which was made in association with LunchBox Productions—will debut on YouTube, providing viewers worldwide with the unique chance to relive the concert experience in its entirety at no cost.

Ben&Ben explains: “We really wanted all our listeners to get to enjoy this concert that we poured our hearts and souls into, so we deliberately chose to make this as accessible as possible by putting it up on YouTube. We thought it would also be a nice way to bring families together for the holidays, sharing with each other the magic and joy of our concert from the comfort of their homes.”

Billed as a “multiverse of music and emotion,” the original TTAD concert blurred the boundaries between concert, animation, and theater. Staged late last year, the arena show received widespread acclaim for its storytelling, emotional depth, and technical execution, setting a new benchmark for multimedia concerts in the Philippines. The cinematic retelling offers both a retrospective and a revelation for fans who want to relive that night in the arena and for those  who will be seeing it for the first time.

“When we first conceptualized the concert and saw all the work that had to be put into it, we knew we wanted to exert an equal amount of effort to document it all. It represented many firsts for us: our first major concert at the MOA Arena, our first time performing that many songs, and our first time attempting to record a show of that scale,” Ben&Ben shares. “With all the work we put into each second of it, we knew a well-made concert film also needed a lot of work and enough time for it to be ready for public release. So that, along with us continuing to tour The Traveller Across Dimensions throughout the year, we ultimately decided to release the film as a first anniversary special offering.”

According to the nine-piece band, the concert film was conceived as a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to their fans, fondly called Liwanag. The film’s free release emphasizes Ben&Ben’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and community.

“This year has been just so challenging for so many of us,” Ben&Ben says. “But despite these challenges, we’ve felt so much love and support from all of our Liwanag, from them constantly listening to our music to still showing up and attending our live shows. As the year ends, we wanted to give back by simply letting people enjoy this show, no strings attached, no paywall.”

While the live concert captivated the crowd with its scale and immediacy, the film version provides a more intimate encounter, allowing audiences to discern subtle details, symbolisms, and emotional arcs that may have been missed in the live setting.

Ben&Ben won Album of the Year at the Awit Awards 2025, the nation’s counterpart of the Grammy Awards, in the weeks preceding the release of The Traveller Across Dimensions: The Concert Film. Soon after, during The Traveller Across Dimensions: An Immersive Storytelling Experience, fans were given an unexpected first peek at the concert trailer. On December 3, 2025, a day after the concert film’s official announcement was posted online, the trailer finally had its social media debut.

You can listen to the set playlist on Spotify here and see the concert video on YouTube here.

The poignant new single “Don’t Worry” is a collaboration between London-based pop band PREP and Thai artist James Alyn (former 1/2 of HYBS). James’ warm, emotional tone and PREP’s smooth blend of soft pop, funk, and soul complement each other to create a sound that feels both intimate and timeless, offering comfort and hope.

A heartfelt interaction with a fan served as the inspiration for “Don’t Worry.” She informed me that my songs got her through some of her worst moments. I wrote this song in the hopes that it might serve as a lighthouse for those in need. I sincerely appreciate my fans supporting me through good times and bad. I will always be there for them, just like the saying, “Even in another life, you can find me by your side.”

Combining soothing vocals, lush synths, and PREP’s signature groove, “Don’t Worry” is a reminder to keep faith through difficult moments.

“It was the night I opened for PREP in Taipei,” James recalls. “After the show, I and the guys from PREP went to Kuo from Sunset Rollercoaster’s house and jammed for a bit, not intending to make anything of it. A year later, I found a voice memo from that night and built the rest of the song from there.”

Formerly the lead vocalist of the highly regarded group HYBS, James Alyn has started a successful solo career, demonstrating his flexibility in a variety of musical genres. His image as a trendsetter in the music industry is cemented by his repertoire, which includes both cherished HYBS classics and innovative new material that he has composed and played.

With a band that has supported him for more than ten years, James Alyn enthralls audiences with his thrilling performances on stage. Fans are captivated for the duration of the performance as they work together to produce an immersive and thrilling live experience.

Today, the deluxe edition of JADE’s incredible debut album, THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY, is released! THE ENCORE.

In addition to JADE’s widely acclaimed rendition of the Madonna classic ‘Frozen,’ the deluxe album includes eight new tracks, including the stirring “Church” and the socially aware anthem “This Is What We Dance For.”

This is THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY’s grand finale! era!

The full track list is:

1. Angel Of My Dreams
2. IT girl
3. FUFN (Fuck You For Now)
4. Plastic Box
5. Midnight Cowboy
6. Fantasy
7. Unconditional
8. Self Saboteur
9. Lip Service
10. Headache
11. Natural At Disaster
12. Glitch
13. Before You Break My Heart
14. Silent Disco
15. Church
16. This Is What We Dance For
17. Dreamcheater
18. Best You Could
19. Use Me
20. Frozen
21. If My Heart Was A House
22. Tar

The deluxe album is available on cd and vinyl. The CD will be released on 19th December, with vinyl released on 27th February 2026. Pre-order here: https://jade.me/THEENCOREPR

Upon its release in September, the album ‘THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!’ had the biggest opening week for a debut album of 2025 on the Official UK Albums Chart and topped the Official Record Store Chart. The album sees JADE work with a variety of A-list collaborators on the project including Mike Sabath, Lostboy, Cirkut, RAYE and Pablo Bowman. It features the previously released singles ‘Fantasy,’ ‘Midnight Cowboy,’ ‘IT girl,’ ‘FUFN’, and ‘Plastic Box’, in addition to ‘Angel Of My Dreams’, the smash hit that catapulted JADE’s solo career into the spotlight.

Released last summer, ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ immediately turned heads on a global scale with its attention-grabbing sound and larger-than-life, hyper-stylized visual directed by Aube Perrie (Megan Thee Stallion, Harry Styles). The song to date has amassed over 107 million streams, debuted in the Top 10 of the UK Official Singles Chart and has just gone Gold in the UK. The overwhelming success of ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ helped lead to JADE’s triumphant night at the 2025 BRIT Awards, where she took home the award for ‘Pop Act’ – making her the first former girl group member to win a solo award – and delivered the stand-out performance of the night with a live rendition of the track.

‘Angel Of My Dreams’ was named the No.1 song of 2024 by DIY Magazine and a Top 10 song by The Guardian, DORK, Clash and NME. JADE was nominated for a Ivor Novello Award for ‘Best Contemporary Song’ for the track and Dazed named it video of the year.

This Summer she performed showstopping sets at major festivals including Glastonbury, Radio 1’s Big Weekend, All Points East, Mighty Hoopla, TRNSMT and the Montreux Jazz festival in Switzerland.  She also played a special full orchestral concert at the BBC Proms in Newcastle, alongside supporting Chappell Roan at her shows in Edinburgh.

JADE embarked on her first solo tour of the UK and Ireland in October. “THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!” Dublin, Belfast, Brighton, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Newcastle, and London’s esteemed Roundhouse are all included in THE TOUR. The tour will go to the USA and Europe next year.

The Trailblazer Award at the Rolling Stone UK Awards, the 2025 Popjustice Twenty Quid Prize for “Plastic Box,” and Artist of the Year at the Artist & Manager Awards are just a few of the accolades JADE has received in the past year. Earlier this month, she won the Musician Award at Harper’s Bazaar’s esteemed Women of the Year celebration to cap off the year.

JADE’s solo music has received over 300 million streams to date.

Album tie-ins include an e-book and plush collectibles of characters from the TTAD story

(LEFT) Paolo Benjamin with the characters of the TTAD lore in plushie form; (RIGHT) Miguel Benjamin reading the free-to-download TTAD e-book

The largest folk-pop group in the nation, Ben&Ben, is celebrating the first anniversary of the release of The Traveller Across Dimensions (TTAD) concept album by bringing it to life with a variety of record tie-in materials and goods.

Released on November 29, 2024, the 2025 Awit Awards Album of the Year winner went on to create other hits, including “Autumn,” “Could Be Something,” and “Triumph,” which was nominated for Best Performance by a Group Artist by the same awards program.

They mounted the first TTAD concert on December 14, 2024, playing to a sold-out crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The show was packaged as an animation-concert hybrid that combined live music and animation to tell the story of Liwanag, the album’s titular character. Since then, the band has brought the show to various parts of the country, including Cebu City, Bacolod City, Baguio City, Davao City, and Cagayan de Oro City, with the last stop for the year happening in Iloilo City on December 7.

To reach an even wider audience, the band last month released an e-book companion to the TTAD album, which fleshes out Liwanag’s story in greater detail. Liwanag belongs to a race of inter-dimensional beings called Travellers, whose goal is to reach a place called the Duyan Dimension—a place where all Travellers are said to achieve perpetual inner peace.

In her journey, she goes through three Dimensions: Light, depicting innocence; Energy, depicting struggle; and Feel, depicting maturity. She writes 12 songs along the way, which relate her experiences in each of the Dimensions. In every step that she takes, she tries to answer a fundamental question: “How must we live?” After many adventures and both good and bad experiences, she eventually reaches the Duyan Dimension, her ultimate goal.

Liwanag’s songs—the 12 songs in the TTAD album—reflect the various experiences of the band members over the past several years and showcase their growth as people, as songwriters, and as musicians.

While the songs themselves reflect the whole TTAD narrative, the companion e-book gives the story more flesh.

To make the TTAD universe even more tangible, the band has also launched the Traveller Plush Series, featuring four characters from the TTAD lore: Liwanag, Mahiwaga, Puhon, and Dilim. These are advocacy-driven collectibles inspired by the TTAD story’s message of being “present with love.”

“In the story of The Traveller Across Dimensions, to be ‘present with love’ is what is generally known as mindfulness, or being aware of our thoughts and emotions, and responding to the present moment with love and kindness. As you listen to the songs in the album and read the e-book to get a more detailed story about the Traveller, you will be taken on a journey through the three dimensions to discover what it means to be present with love,” Ben&Ben said.

Come along with us as we explore the TTAD realm. We must always remember to be “present with love.”

Visit thetravelleracrossdimensions.com/story to read the TTAD narrative.

Available globally starting today, these exclusive one-take recordings mark another trailblazing achievement for the P-Pop supergroup 

The FIRST TAKE versions of “DAM” and “Time,” two of SB19′s most well-known hits, have been officially released globally, according to Sony Music Entertainment. The updated versions are now available for streaming on all digital music outlets for music lovers worldwide.

Both “DAM” and “Time” were originally exhibited in exclusive one-take performances on THE FIRST TAKE, which broadcast on November 3 and November 24, 2025, simultaneously. With these releases, SB19 makes a noteworthy comeback to the prominent Japanese YouTube channel, where they are the first and only Filipino and Southeast Asian artist to perform, and the first to do so twice.

[Watch THE FIRST TAKE performance of SB19’s “DAM”]

[Watch THE FIRST TAKE performance of SB19’s “Time”] 

Artists are invited to perform for a single take on the Japanese YouTube channel THE FIRST TAKE. BTS’ V, Harry Styles, Stray Kids, and Hitsujibungaku are just a few of the performers that have made appearances on The First Take.

Representing the Philippines on a global stage remains a milestone the group deeply treasures. Pablo shares, “We are happy and honored to be back in TFT. It has always been our goal to champion Filipino talent and perform on a globally recognized platform. This is a huge opportunity and honor for us, and we are excited to share our passion with the world.”

For Stell, the opportunity to perform on a prestigious platform like THE FIRST TAKE is an achievement worth celebrating.  “Our first appearance already made an impact, and this return makes us even prouder. Performing on THE FIRST TAKE is a huge achievement. It may not be a trophy, but it is an honor to share our music and represent our country. We hope that more Filipino artists will have the opportunity to perform on that stage and share the richness of our music with the world.”

Josh adds, “We used to daydream about performing there, and now we’ve grown and are finally doing it, not just for SB19 but also to show what real Filipino talent is.”

Performing on THE FIRST TAKE is unlike any other stage. Ken emphasized the pressure and pride involved in performing for the global platform. “Although the performance is similar to what we’ve done before, we did the song in a single take. It really is a true one-take recording, and the first take is what they used. We put in a lot of hard work to give our best and perform without mistakes. We are truly grateful for the opportunity and feel proud that we were able to share this moment with everyone.”

Apart from their record-breaking stint at THE FIRST TAKE, SB19 also made history as the first Filipino group to chart on Billboard Japan, debuting at No. 17 on the Top Album Sales Chart with Simula At Wakas EP, released in September 2025. Additionally, their song “Time” previously reached No. 1 on the Line Music Japan World Music Top 50 chart, while “DAM” holds the record for being the second most viewed Filipino music video within 24 hours after its release.

SB19 is also the first Filipino act to make it into The Official MENA (Middle East & North Africa) Chart, entering the UAE Top 10 at No. 7 and the Saudi Arabia Top 20 at No. 17.

“We are very happy and proud to represent Filipino talent and to showcase the skills of Filipinos around the world,’ Justin explains. “Being part of TFT for the second time is such an honor because we know this show is recognized globally. This opportunity brings us one step closer to our goal.”

Sony Music Entertainment has made THE FIRST TAKE versions of SB19’s “DAM” and “Time” accessible on all digital music platforms throughout the globe.

Follow SB19 on their socials:

Website: https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/SB19

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm4v7afBTnJKRm4SlfHJzyg

X: https://twitter.com/SB19Official

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsb19

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialsb19

The Pinoy pop-rock legend is set to bring decades of music, humor, and warmth to the Middle East audience

The Itchyworms, a multi-awarded Filipino pop-rock group, will visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi in January 2026 as part of their highly acclaimed “Akin Ka Na Lang” tour. The Love Team group will play some of their biggest songs and rarities at the Pakistan Auditorium in Dubai and New Bar, Arkadia in Abu Dhabi on January 17 and 18, respectively, marking their eagerly awaited return to the Middle East after more than ten years.

In addition to bringing the band’s journey that began in the area decades ago full circle, the two-city run aims to reestablish their connection with their Filipino supporters abroad.

“Our first-ever out of the country tour was in Dubai and Abu Dhabi way back in 2007,” the band shares. “We’ve been back a few times since, but our last UAE show was in 2014. We are so excited to fly back and perform for our kababayan out there!”

For The Itchyworms, returning to the Middle East is both nostalgic and momentous. Since their last performance in the region, the band has continued to evolve musically, perform on international stages, and expand their iconic catalog while remaining anchored in the melodic pop-rock DNA that fans love.

Now, with a renewed sense of artistry and confidence, The Itchyworms are ready to deliver a show that honors their humble beginnings while celebrating their creative growth as artists. “When we first went there, we were still very young and in our 20s. Now, we are more mature musically, as individuals, and as a band. This return feels very special.”

Known for their contagious energy and famously interactive live shows, The Itchyworms are poised to take overseas audiences “home” even if just for a few hours. Fans can also expect a powerhouse setlist composed of chart-toppers, deep cuts, crowd favorites, and few surprises sprinkled in.

“Our out-of-country sets are highly interactive,” admits the award-winning band. “Sometimes, we end up playing for 2.5 or even 3 hours. We always make it a point to bring back our kababayan to the Philippines, even for just a short time.”

Beyond just the music, the tour gives the band a chance to re-establish a connection with the local people and culture. The Itchyworms are particularly excited to explore the quickly evolving urban landscapes, especially the famous Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

“We haven’t performed in the Middle East in twelve years,” The Itchyworms acknowledge. In addition to the delicious meals, we can’t wait to see the Burj Khalida in person. When we last visited, it hadn’t even been constructed.

Take the Akin Ka Na Lang Middle East Tour to Catch the Itchyworms:

Janauary 17, 2026 – Dubai

Pakistan Auditorium

Tickets

January 18, 2026 – Abu Dhabi

New Bar, Arkadia

Tickets

Follow The Itchyworms on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes moments:

Facebook: The Itchyworms Facebook Page

Instagram: @theitchyworms

X (formerly Twitter): @theitchyworms

Spotify: The Itchyworms on Spotify

TikTok: @theitchyworms

YouTube: The Itchyworms Official Channel

Music video for “Nobody’s Girl” out now

Pop sensation Tate McRae, who is nominated for a Grammy, releases SO CLOSE TO WHAT??? (deluxe), RCA Records’ enhanced version of her #1 critically acclaimed album So Close To What.

It includes five new songs, including her most recent one, “TIT FOR TAT,” which debuted at number three on Billboard’s Hot 100, making it her third top 10 success. Listen HERE to more songs like the lively, sonically rich “NOBODY’S GIRL,” the beloved “ANYTHING BUT LOVE,” the poignant “TRYING ON SHOES,” and “HORSESHOE.”

Today, Tate shares the ethereal music video for “NOBODY’S GIRL,” directed by Thibaut Grevet with choreography by the French dance collective, (LA)HORDE.

SO CLOSE TO WHAT??? (deluxe) Tracklist: 

01 TRYING ON SHOES
02 ANYTHING BUT LOVE
03 NOBODY’S GIRL
04 HORSESHOE
05 TIT FOR TAT

06 Miss possessive

07 Revolving door

08 bloodonmyhands (feat. Flo Milli)

09 Dear god

10 Purple lace bra

11 Sports car

12 Signs

13 I know love (feat. The Kid LAROI)

14 Like I do

15 It’s ok I’m ok

16 No I’m not in love

17 Means I care

18 Greenlight

19 2 hands

20 Siren sounds (bonus)

21 Nostalgia

The celebrity recently concluded her worldwide Miss Possessive Arena Tour, which sold out. The tour includes trips in North America, Europe, Latin America, and the United Kingdom, with over 80 performances and a million tickets sold. The New York Times wrote, “Dance, which has been a central part of McRae’s pop persona from the beginning, is thrillingly showcased,” while Rolling Stone praised the performance, calling it “a manic pop-glitz spectacle.” 

(Photo Credit: Igor Pjörrt)

Follow Tate McRae:

Official Website | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

The acclaimed documentary on the Philippines’ most iconic rock band heads for a 2026 theatrical release in North America, Middle East, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Latin America

Photos by Lawrence Del Rosario

The international distribution rights for the highly regarded documentary Eraserheads: Combo On The Run, which chronicles one of the most significant Filipino bands in history, have been formally acquired by Evan Saxon Productions and The Filipino Channel (TFC).

Evan Saxon, a seasoned entertainment executive who has successfully negotiated the finest aspects of the music and film industries, is the head of Evan Saxon Productions. For some of the biggest music film events in recent memory, such as Coldplay’s world premiere party for their tenth studio album, Moon Music, which screened in more than 800 theaters across 40 countries, and Pearl Jam’s ground-breaking visualization experience for their 2024 album, Dark Matter, which debuted in more than 900 theaters across 45 countries, Saxon has led global marketing and distribution campaigns. The Beatles, Dolly Parton, Syd Barret and Pink Floyd, Green Day, Melanie Martinez, Jimi Hendrix, Raye, Rush, Iron Maiden, and many more have all had music videos or documentaries produced by him.

“When I met Evan Saxon Productions, I found a partner that truly understands how to bring music stories with emotional depth to the world,” said filmmaker and producer Maria Diane Ventura. “Their work with Coldplay, Pearl Jam, and Jimi Hendrix gave me confidence that they can carry this film’s spirit across borders. What excites me about this collaboration is the chance to make every screening feel alive. Evan Saxon Productions has turned music films into cinematic events that connect artists and audiences in a powerful way. That’s exactly the kind of experience I want for this film, something that feels shared, emotional, and lasting.”

With the company’s expertise in global music film distribution, Ventura is optimistic that the film will resonate with audiences far beyond the Filipino diaspora, appealing to music lovers and cinephiles worldwide. Under this partnership, the documentary is slated for an initial international release in 2026 that will cover North America, UK, Spain, and Latin America with theatrical runs in key cities across these regions.

The Filipino Channel (TFC) has also acquired the distribution rights to the film for the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand, with a planned release across cities in the Arabian region in January 2026. TFC is part of ABS-CBN International, which has distributed several Filipino films in North America under its brand, TFC at the Movies.

“These partnerships allow the film to grow in scale while keeping its heart intact,” Ventura explains. “At its core, Eraserheads: Combo On The Run is a human story about resilience, healing, artistry, and the enduring pull of music to bring people together, themes that echo far beyond one band or country.”

Eraserheads: Combo On The Run, directed and produced by Maria Diane Ventura, has been causing a stir at international festivals. The movie became the first Filipino film to screen at the San Diego Comic-Con and received the Best International Feature Documentary Award at the Ierapetra International Feature Documentary & Film Festival in Croatia.

The documentary was included in the official selection for the 44th Annual Hawai’i International Film Festival’s Spotlight On The Philippines event.

DVent Pictures, WEU, and Mano Y Mano are the producers of Eraserheads: Combo On The Run.