The romantic pop ballad serves as the new theme song of Someone, Someday, capturing the vulnerability and uncertainty of falling for a closest friend

James Reid and Kathryn Bernardo team up for “Aaminin,” a romantic pop ballad that explores feelings left unspoken and serves as the official new theme song of the hit teleserye Someone, Someday.

Inspired by the complicated experience of falling for a close friend, “Aaminin” delves into the longing, vulnerability, and uncertainty that come with realizing a friendship could turn into something deeper. The song opens with James’ heartfelt line, “Nung una pa lang, pansin ko naman na ’di pang-magkaibigan lang,” setting the tone for a story about discovering feelings that could change a relationship forever.

The track grew out of James’ intention to create an original song inspired by the series, particularly Jordan’s perspective as he deals with his feelings for Billy, portrayed by Kathryn. After a discussion with director Chad Vidanes, James worked on the lyrical concept as a confession shaped by the character’s evolving romantic relationship.

“I thought writing a song from Jordan’s perspective could be interesting,” James shares. “I teamed up with Jason Marvin to make this song, and we had finished it in hopes that we could get Kathryn to sing on the track, and I’m very grateful that she did. The process didn’t require much thought because we have been close to these characters for almost a year. It’s a simple yet beautiful song, and our vocals blended really well.”

Having spent nearly a year immersed in their characters, James and Kathryn brought an intimate understanding of Jordan and Billy’s emotional journey to the recording process. Their voices blend and soar effortlessly, giving the song the authenticity it needs.

James shared that honesty served as the foundation of the songwriting process. Collaborating with Jason, who also handled the production, he took inspiration from the series’ script, character descriptions, and his own emotions to create a track that feels genuine and unfiltered. The song’s minimal arrangement creates the intimate atmosphere of a personal bedroom confession, allowing the lyrics and vocal performances to express the feelings that remain unspoken.

“ Aaminin is a song about hope and trusting your feelings, wherever they may lead,” James says.

James Reid and Kathryn Bernardo’s “Aaminin” is now available worldwide on all digital music streaming platforms under Sony Music Entertainment.

The rising hitmaker expands his musical reach through a high-energy collaboration designed to bring reggaeton-inspired, Afrobeats-inflected sounds to a new generation of Filipino listeners

Photo credits: Arnold Pilapil (AShots)

Following the breakout success of “baby lika,” Filipino rapper-producer Trippie Budd returns with “cheekybang,” an upbeat collaboration with Jamaican-Filipino reggaeton/fusion artist SAJKA and rising Filipino rapper Zae.

Built around hard-hitting production and a celebratory atmosphere, the track gives each performer space to showcase their individuality while sustaining its momentum from beginning to end.

The song pivots in an exciting new direction for Trippie Budd, whose eclectic tropical sound effortlessly blends reggaeton, Afrobeats, and Moombahton. Rather than simply following established trends, the urban multi-hyphenate hopes to help bring these influences further into the Philippine mainstream.

“I want this track to somehow dominate the club scene across the country and maybe eventually become part of the street sound as well, alongside other genres,” Trippie Budd explains. “I don’t have plans to take over anything; I just wanna blend in and serve as a gateway to a bolder but totally different sound in our local music scene.”

The collaboration began during the music video shoot for “baby lika,” when Trippie Budd learned that SAJKA, whose music had caught his attention through Spotify’s KALYE playlist, would be visiting the set. The idea eventually evolved into a track that brought two kindred spirits together, with Zae eventually joining the lineup on the recommendation of Sony Music Philippines’ Urban team.

Produced by JayXagonto and ETRIZZLE, “cheekybang” incorporates island rhythms and clubby, infectious beats with synth elements. The arrangement supports the contrasting deliveries of Trippie Budd, SAJKA, and Zae, transforming their individual contributions into a cohesive party record.

“The majority of the arrangement of the instrumental came from JayXagonto, and I just asked for some minor changes while I was writing the track,” Trippie Budd adds. “It all aligned well since it wasn’t my first time working with JayXagonto. The sound that I think is the backbone of the track is the synth instrument with the stereo-widening effect, which is a really big factor if you’re planning to make a club banger.”

Beyond its dance-floor readiness, “cheekybang” shows that music can be a refuge from everyday pressures. “I wanna make people in bars, clubs, beaches, and other places forget about their problems for a while,” he shares.

With “cheekybang,” Trippie Budd, SAJKA, and Zae present a confident statement of intent: a new-generation party anthem that embraces global influences while honing the future sound of Filipino urban music with distinct flavor.

Trippie Budd, SAJKA, and Zae’s “cheekybang” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Drops music video for focus track “TARANTINO”

Photo Credit: Yeyoung Choi

World-renowned rapper, singer, dancer, and style icon, LISA releases her highly anticipated EP PRESS PLAY via LLOUD Co./RCA Records – Listen HERE. The six-track project is created with a movie in mind, so fans can sit down, and ‘press play.’

Alongside the EP, she releases the music video for focus track “Tarantino” – Watch HERE. The video follows LISA’s epic, action-packed journey through a hotel to deliver a note to her favorite director, Tarantino. In true Tarantino fashion, the video incorporates action sequences with LISA throwing punches at anyone who gets in her way.

PRESS PLAY includes the previously released single “SaWaDiKa.” “SaWaDiKa,” which is the Thai greeting for ‘hello’ and its accompanying music video shot in her native Bangkok, surpassed 70.8 Million YouTube views in its first 24 hours of release landing it among LISA’s biggest YouTube debuts and the #1 biggest YouTube debut of 2026 – Watch HERE. “SaWaDiKa” also debuted at #69 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her highest debut on the chart.

LISA returned to the MTV VMA’s to perform the television debut of “SaWaDiKa” – Watch HERE. She also took home the award for Best Pop for “Dream feat. Kenatro Sakaguchi” making history as the first solo K-pop artist to win the category.

Up next, LISA heads to Vegas, kicking off her VIVA LA LISA Residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for six nights in November. The first four nights sold out in under 10 minutes and she recently added two new dates. LISA is making history as the first k-pop artist to perform a Las Vegas residency.

Aside from music, LISA’s feature documentary Always Lalisa directed by Sue Kim recently released in cinemas worldwide following its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. The documentary chronicles LISA’s breakout year going solo around the release of Alter Ego, launching LLOUD and her solo Coachella debut.

PRESS PLAY  Track List

1. SaWaDiKa
2. V12
3. Cobra
4. Tarantino
5. Cut U Off
6. Sweat

Photo Credit: Yeyoung Choi

FOLLOW LISA: INSTAGRAM 

The 5-track release blends OPM, Manila Sound, soft rock, and indie pop into a confident statement of artistic identity, exploring love, longing, and human connection

Filipino singer-songwriter SHANNi establishes a more confident artistic identity with her latest EP, Cure For Loneliness—out today via Sony Music Entertainment. The 5-track release finds the young artist moving seamlessly between Manila Sound, soft rock, sunshine pop, jazz, and indie pop, bringing a more sophisticated touch to songwriting and arrangement while leaning into a warmer, more intimate sound.

Across five tracks, SHANNi explores the complexities of love and human connection with wisdom that goes beyond age, finding sophistication in the intricacies of everyday life while staying comfortable talking about her inner darkness and pain. Each song captures a different facet of affection and emotional connection. Still, the project’s overarching narrative reflects SHANNi’s growing understanding that healing can come from recognizing the love already present in one’s life.

“The songs are mostly about love and the different ways we experience it, whether through longing, connection, or simply feeling loved by the people around us,” shares SHANNi in a press statement. “As I was writing these songs, I also came to realize that I wasn’t as alone as I sometimes felt. The love and support I received from the people around me became a big part of my healing. In a way, the EP is a reminder that loneliness can be eased not only by finding love romantically, but also by recognizing the love that already exists in our lives.”

Co-produced by SHANNi and Max Cinco, the EP pairs light, inviting arrangements with an undercurrent of vulnerability, creating a sonic canvas that feels suited to solitary city walks, late-night drives, and moments of deep introspection. Cinco’s horn arrangements add character and texture to the EP’s nostalgic pop sensibilities, making “2 O’CLOCK,” “Pag-uwi Mo,” and “Sorry Na Please” an exciting listening experience. Recording engineer Marcus Mababangloob of Meadowlark Productions, digital mixing engineer Jet Francisco of Wild Grass Studio, and analog mastering engineer Marco de Leon of Mix Machine Analog help refine the record’s warm, cohesive sound, balancing eloquence and precision with SHANNi’s more nuanced, emotionally evocative storytelling.

“I didn’t really want to limit myself to one genre,” SHANNi explains. “Instead, I focused on what each song needed and what sound best expressed the story I wanted to tell. I think what ties everything together is the sincerity of the songwriting and the overall feeling of the EP. At the end of the day, I wanted the music to sound like me, like SHANNi, and to create a world that listeners could feel comfortable in. For me, finding my identity as an artist is about embracing the different things I love and making them my own.”

To celebrate the release, SHANNi will be staging her own EP launch party at Theodore Events Place in Marikina City on October 31, 2026 (6:00 p.m.). The event will also feature performances from The Itchyworms, ena mori, One Click Straight, Suyen, Planetena, and Uncle Jonny.

“Having all these amazing artists come together makes the night even more meaningful, and I think it’ll be a beautiful celebration of music and community,” SHANNi shares. “More than anything, this is my way of saying thank you to everyone who has supported me and believed in this journey.”

With Cure For Loneliness, SHANNi offers more than a personal introduction: she creates a space for listeners to find pieces of themselves in her stories and reassurance in the shared experience of being human.

SHANNi’s Cure For Loneliness is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.