Vic Vic Bautista

The October 16 benefit show brings together friends and fellow musicians to help cover Echo’s medical expenses and rehabilitation following a stroke

The Filipino music community is coming together for “Alingawngaw Para Kay Echo,” a fundraising gig for Echo Singson, a longtime fixture in the local music scene who is recovering from a stroke.

Echo has long been part of the Itchyworms family, with ties dating back to when his older brother, Chino, joined. In 1999, he co-founded Boldstar with Jazz Nicolas, Marie Jamora, and Justin Sunico.

Over the years, Echo has worn many hats in the industry, including host, sound technician, production assistant, and lighting crew member. Apart from his behind-the-scenes work, he has remained a valued presence in the Filipino indie music community as both an active participant and supporter.

On September 19, Echo suffered a stroke while hosting a March of the Penguins gig at Mow’s. He was rushed to East Avenue Medical Center, where he received medical care before being discharged. As he continues his recovery, he has shown small signs of improvement, offering hope to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Official poster

In response, members of the music community have teamed up for “Alingawngaw Para Kay Echo,” a benefit gig on October 16 at 123 Block in Mandala Park, Mandaluyong City. Ebe Dancel, Urbandub, The Itchyworms, The Ronnies, and The Revisors are joining forces for an evening of music in support of someone who has given so much to the industry.

All proceeds from the fundraising gig will go directly to Echo for his medical expenses and rehabilitation. Every contribution, every presence, and every expression of encouragement can make a meaningful difference.

As Echo continues his fight toward recovery, his friends and colleagues are rallying around him with one shared message: he is not alone.

Tickets to Alingawngaw Para Kay Echo are available at the venue on the day of the event.

Watch the official music video here

Upcoming new album, wor$t man in america, out December 4, 2026

“one of 2026’s breakout pop stars” – THE NEW YORK TIMES

“a straight-up rock star” – VARIETY 

“Slayyyter has fine-tuned one of the most visually alluring and intellectually interesting aesthetics in contemporary pop music” – BILLBOARD

Today, SLAYYYTER releases new song and self-directed video, “i think he’s got a girl” out everywhere now via RECORDS / Columbia Records. The release arrives following the announcement of wor$t man in america, the ‘brother’ album to this spring’s critically acclaimed WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA, due out December 4th via RECORDS / Columbia Records.

LISTEN TO “i think he’s got a girl” HERE

WATCH “i think he’s got a girl” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO HERE

PRE-SAVE / PRE-ORDER wor$t man in america HERE

Built around mounting suspicion and vulnerability, “i think he’s got a girl” captures the unraveling of a relationship with raw, emotionally charged honesty. The track has already built a strong fan following through its live performances throughout the sold-out WOR$T GIRL IN THE WORLD TOUR ahead of its official release. The vintage-inspired official music video, directed by SLAYYYTER, is out now.

Credit: Kait Muro

Earlier this week, SLAYYYTER announced wor$t man in america, the counterpart to this spring’s critically acclaimed WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA. The new album introduces contrasting visuals and a fresh perspective on the themes and ideas explored in the project before it.

While wor$t man in america is comprised entirely of new songs, each track is connected to the world established by WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA. Some songs act as direct inversions, while others revisit familiar ideas from an entirely new angle, creating a parallel narrative that both mirrors and challenges the original project.

“i think he’s got a girl” follows the release of singles “brand new chanel$” and “crank 2”, the former of which marked her debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at #98. Slayyyter performed “brand new chanel$” live for triple j’s Like A Version – watch HERE.

The entirely sold out WOR$T GIRL IN THE WORLD tour began in July with three shows in SLAYYYTER’s hometown of St. Louis and hit major cities across the United States. The tour continues globally with shows in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Berlin, and more before wrapping in London on November 5, 2026. SLAYYYTER is joined by Pearly Drops for all UK dates. Kalika will join as support for all EU dates.

This month, SLAYYYTER was announced as part of the Laneway 2027 and Lollapalooza South America lineups, during which she will perform her acclaimed live set across Australia, New Zealand and South America.

SLAYYYTER 2026-27 LIVE DATES

10/09/26 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – ZIG Festival^ SOLD OUT

10/10/26 – São Paulo, Brazil – ZIG Festival^ SOLD OUT

10/18/26 – Paris, France – Le Trianon** SOLD OUT

10/19/26 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso** SOLD OUT

10/20/26 – Cologne, Germany – Die Kantine** SOLD OUT

10/22/26 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega** SOLD OUT

10/23/26 – Hamburg, Germany – Fabrik** SOLD OUT

10/24/26 – Warsaw, Poland – Palladium** SOLD OUT

10/26/26 – Prague, Czechia – Lucerna Music Bar** SOLD OUT

10/27/26 – Berlin, Germany – Metropol** SOLD OUT

10/28/26 – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix** SOLD OUT

10/30/26 – Manchester, United Kingdom – Albert Hall* SOLD OUT

10/31/26 – Birmingham, United Kingdom – O2 Institute* SOLD OUT

11/01/26 – Glasgow, United Kingdom – O2 Academy* SOLD OUT

11/03/26 – Brighton, United Kingdom – CHALK* SOLD OUT

11/05/26 – London, United Kingdom – Roundhouse* SOLD OUT

2/12/27 – Sydney, Australia – Laneway Festival^

2/13/27 – Brisbane, Australia – Laneway Festival^

2/19/27 – Melbourne, Australia – Laneway Festival^

2/21/27 – Auckland, New Zealand – Laneway Festival^

3/12/27 – 3/14/27 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Lollapalooza Argentina^

3/12/27 – 3/14/27 – Santiago, Chile – Lollapalooza Chile^

3/19/27 – 3/21/27 – São Paulo, Brazil – Lollapalooza Brazil^

Follow SLAYYYTER:

Spotify | Apple Music | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook

Reggae rhythms, indie-rock energy, and Manila Sound collide on the quartet’s colorful new offering

Fresh from a strong showing at the 2026 Awit Awards, where they took home Album of the Year and Song of the Year, and the Filipino Music Awards, where they won Alternative Song of the Year, Filipino band IV OF SPADES returns with “Rollercoaster,” a new single that explores the exhilaration of surrendering to the moment and embracing life’s unpredictable turns.

Released during the band’s US/Canada tour, “Rollercoaster” borrows from a colorful palette of sonic influences while retaining the inventive sensibility that has defined their previous work.

A vibrant, psychedelic-leaning track, “Rollercoaster” integrates the rhythmic pulse of reggae with indie rock and Manila Sound sensibilities. It’s a buoyant, groove-forward song that veers away from the usual hit-making formula: carefree and laid-back, but brimming with summertime infectiousness.

The song evokes an open-road journey: windows down, music turned up, and nowhere in particular to be. Its easygoing groove lends itself to late-night gatherings and spontaneous moments with friends, embracing the song’s themes of freedom, movement, and the thrill of letting go.

“Rollercoaster” serves as the second song released by IV OF SPADES this year, following “Isang Pag-ibig,” which dropped last month. The latter has racked up more than three million streams on combined platforms and has peaked at No. 18 on YouTube Music’s Trending Music charts. “Isang Pag-ibig” was originally posted to the band’s SoundCloud page in 2015, and was later on revisited for a 2026 re-release.

IV OF SPADES’ “Rollercoaster” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Recorded during her 10 Year Manila Exclusive Set, the live album reflects a decade of growth, healing, and finding her voice as an artist

A decade into her journey in the spotlight, Ylona Garcia reflects on the music, memories, and experiences that have shaped her career with ylona, so far. (live), a nine-track live album set for release on October 5, 2026 via Sony Music Entertainment.

More than a compilation of live performances, ylona, so far. (live) offers a look back at the songs that have been part of Ylona’s journey, from her early years as a young performer to the artist she has become today. Through newly interpreted live versions of familiar tracks, the album revisits different chapters of her life while highlighting her growth, deeper self-understanding, and stronger sense of artistic ownership.

“It feels like a healing experience, and that means the world to me,” Ylona shares about the project. Revisiting the music she has released over the years brought back both beautiful and difficult memories: from the opportunities she once could only dream of to the pressures of growing up in the public eye and navigating expectations from both the industry and fans. “Looking back now, I’m incredibly grateful for all of it because it’s given me the perspective and experience to take more control over my career and, more importantly, to understand who I am as an artist.”

The album features nine tracks spanning Ylona’s career, including “my name is ylona garcia,” “lie so well,” “space,” “dahan dahan dahan lang,” “o pag ibig,” “don’t go changing,” “don’t say goodbye,” “win the fight,” and “entertain me.” As longtime listeners may know, the songs and their live renditions reveal how dramatically Ylona’s relationship with them has evolved.

“Before, I was so grateful for the opportunities I was given that it was hard for me to be fully present in them,” she explains. “I did my best to perform each song in the studio and on stage, but I was often more focused on making sure everyone else was happy than connecting with the music itself.” A decade later, she approaches these songs from a more personal place, letting her present-day perspective reshape music that once represented earlier versions of herself.

The album’s rollout began with “entertain me (live),” which was recorded during Ylona’s 10 Year Manila Exclusive Set at Backyard Live. The performance teased the overall vibe of the new record and its central theme of reclaiming her story.

“It became a reminder that people can take things from you, but they can’t take away your heart or your mind,” she says. “That’s what this project represents to me—taking back ownership of my story and who I am as an artist.”

The Manila exclusive set will also live beyond the stage through a series of performance videos recorded at Backyard Live, which will be released on Ylona Garcia’s YouTube channel. The videos invite fans to experience—or relive—the energy of the 10 Year Manila Exclusive Set while witnessing how Ylona reimagines songs they have known for years. In doing so, the artist also honors the people who have been part of her journey from the beginning.

“I hope they feel how much I care about my work and the impact it has on them,” Ylona says. “I wanted them to feel the intentionality behind reimagining music they already know through the perspective of who I am today. More than anything, I wanted to give them a glimpse of the artist I’ve become while still honoring the girl they first fell in love with.”

Among the album’s most poignant moments is “o pag ibig (live),” featuring Bailey May, a full-circle reunion that connects Ylona’s present with one of the earliest chapters of her career. Having not seen each other since they were 16, the two reunited onstage to revisit the song with a decade’s worth of life and experience behind them. Even after the years apart, the performance carried an unmistakable sense of familiarity. “Performing ‘O Pag-Ibig’ together honestly felt like no time had passed at all,” Ylona recalls.

At its core, ylona, so far. (live) pays homage to the stage that played a crucial role in shaping Ylona into the performer she is today. “Live performance was my training ground as an entertainer,” she shares. When the idea of turning her exclusive Manila show into a live album came up, Ylona immediately embraced it as a chance to celebrate not just the past decade of her life and career, but also the experiences and beginnings that paved the way for where she is now.

“I think these live versions capture all of who I am,” Ylona says.

Tracklist — ylona, so far. (live)

1. “my name is ylona garcia (live)”
2. “lie so well (live)”
3. “space (live)”
4. “dahan dahan dahan lang (live)”
5. “o pag ibig (live)” ft. bailey may
6. “don’t go changing (live)”
7. “don’t say goodbye (live)”
8. “win the fight (live)”
9. “entertain me (live)”

ylona, so far. (live) is now available worldwide on all digital music streaming platforms through Sony Music Entertainment.

The Filipino-British singer-songwriter explores love, faith, self-discovery, and growing into her own voice across a 15-track collection of original songs

After winning listeners around the world with her intimate and understated renditions of global pop favorites, Filipino-British singer-songwriter Sam Benwick is stepping into a new chapter with her debut album, HIGHS and lows. The 15-track collection of original songs offers a candid glimpse into the experiences, lessons, and discoveries of a young woman navigating her way through life.

Rooted in stripped-back pop, HIGHS and lows highlights Benwick’s evolution as a songwriter and storyteller. Throughout the album, she reflects on life’s shifting seasons and the influence of faith on the way she sees the world. While deeply personal, the songs remain open and relatable, drawing from Benwick’s own experiences while giving listeners space to connect with the music in their own way.

Love, in its many forms, is another binding thread integral throughout the record. Benwick writes about the exhilaration of finding love, the hurt of encountering the wrong kind, and the lessons that emerge from both. Rather than presenting herself as someone who has found all the answers, she treats love as an ongoing process of understanding: what it can give, what it can take, and how it can ultimately change a person. In this sense, HIGHS and lows becomes both a personal account and an open invitation for listeners to recognize pieces of their own stories within hers or encounter a perspective different from their own.

Benwick recently teased the attendees by playing songs from her forthcoming release at a by-invite listening party on October 3, 2026, at Concept Space MNL in Quezon City. Joined by members of the press and The Samshines, her community of supporters, Benwick also took part in a Q&A session, where she shared insights into the stories behind the songs.

Independently produced with distribution support from ONErpm, HIGHS and lows is set for release on Friday, October 16, 2026, across major digital music platforms worldwide. The 15-track album brings together previously released songs—including “OUT OF THE DARKNESS,” “told ya so,” “FINALLY,” “mr. nonchalant,” and “STEP BY STEP”—alongside ten new tracks.

With HIGHS and lows, Sam Benwick steps beyond the covers that first brought her music to a wider audience, marking a new chapter defined by original music, honest storytelling, and a willingness to embrace the many highs and lows that come with finding her way and becoming the person she is meant to be.

Download the artist profile here.

After a very successful Osaka tour in 2023, The Itchyworms are back in Japan! This time, the Filipino rock band is bringing their music to three cities in the Kansai region — Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe — for a special run of shows this October.

The tour kicks off on October 4 at Panhead Groove in Osaka, where The Itchyworms will represent the Philippines at this year’s Kansai Music Conference, an international music event that brings together artists and audiences from different parts of the world.

On October 5, the band heads to Kyoto’s MUSE, where they’ll share the stage with fellow Filipino singer-songwriter Reese Lansangan and Ariel from Los Angeles. The show is produced by Pintig Productions.

Then on October 6, The Itchyworms make their Kobe debut at Live Music Padoma, once again joining Reese Lansangan for a night of live music, also presented by Pintig Productions.

Japan has become a regular stop for The Itchyworms. The band tries to visit at least once a year — playing Nagoya last year, and Tokyo and Saitama the year before that. And they’re not done yet. For future visits, the band hopes to take the Itchyworms experience to Okinawa, Fukuoka, and maybe even Hokkaido.

But this Kansai tour will be a little different.

For these shows, The Itchyworms are going semi-stripped down — no big bells and whistles, just the band, their instruments, and the songs.

Pure music. Pure Itchyworms.

Three cities. Three nights. One very Itchy October.

Remaining schedule:

Kyoto – Oct.5 (Monday) at Kyoto Muse

Tickets: https://peatix.com/event/5166570

Kobe – Oct.6 (Tuesday) at Live Music Club Padoma

Tickets: https://peatix.com/event/5166611