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Artist, activist, actor, director, DJ, producer…Mumbai’s multifaceted Kiss Nuka releases her latest single “I Love The Drive”.

Kiss Nuka first performed “I Love The Drive” as part of her debut LIVE electronic set at the legendary Mixmag The Lab in Goa earlier this year in March, where Ninja Tune co-founder Matt Black heard her for the first time. “I Love The Drive” generated such a great reaction on the dance floor and across audiences online, Matt and Kiss Nuka decided to release this track via Ahead Of Time, the label Coldcut set up in 1987 and the forerunner of Ninja Tune, known for its eclecticism.

A departure from her thought-provoking, audio-visual narratives like her globally acclaimed directorial debut “Ayo Burn” and “Don’t Be Afraid”, “I Love The Drive” is a groovy bass, vocal-driven, electronic dance track, a relentless, thumping, 5 and a half minute piece that twists and flips in Kiss Nuka’s signature style.

Kiss Nuka shares, “Growing up, all I heard was the rock and roll my parents played, and that is where my roots lie. With its unapologetic, in-your-face brashness, I Love The Drive feels like home. Matt’s artistic work and contribution to electronic music is legendary. I am pumped to have him not just release my music, but also produce a slamming dub version of this track.

On discovering Kiss Nuka, Matt Black says, “Since the Big Chill Goa in 2008 and inspired by my partner Mumbaikar Dinaz Stafford, I’ve been fascinated with the future-facing Indian music scene and its electronic evolution. Kiss Nuka represents a new wave of this excitement and we hope to collaborate, channel and support it further.”

Kiss Nuka’s artistry has always been an expression of her unabashed acceptance of all the experiences of her life. She writes about illicit relationships…twisted, adrenaline-fueled, explosive interactions that are no bark but all bite, the kind many of us have experienced.

Kiss Nuka first performed “I Love The Drive” as part of her debut LIVE electronic set at the legendary Mixmag The Lab in Goa earlier this year in March, where Matt Black heard her for the first time. “I Love The Drive” generated such a great reaction on the dance floor and across audiences online, Matt and Kiss Nuka decided to release this track via Ahead Of Time, the label Coldcut set up in 1987 and the forerunner of Ninja Tune, known for its eclecticism.

The release includes a bonus track…a Dub mix from Matt Black using Coldcut’s Jamm Pro app.

The artwork for the track has been hand-painted in oil by interdisciplinary, award-winning artist Mihir Sud- a long-time friend and collaborator of Kiss Nuka, with his roots of education in Parsons School Of Design and Prague Film School. For Mihir, the intimacy of the experience of creating this piece came from embracing the complexity of his emotions.

Raw, eclectic and phantasmic, Kiss Nuka AKA Anushka Manchanda is a global award-winning music producer of Indian origin who fearlessly bends genres creating uncensored and immersive audio-visual experiences. She has been recognised at the Independent Music Awards, Berlin Music Video Awards, London Music Video Awards, and is now featured at the exhibition at Völkingen Hütte World Cultural Heritage Site. Her free-spirited love for nature and activism translates into thought-provoking pieces of mid to hard electronic bass blended with ambient layers, electro-pop melodies, distorted vocals, and an occasional hint of roots. In 2015, Kiss Nuka starred in the hard-hitting Indian film ‘Angry Indian Goddesses’

Singaporean-Filipino singer-songwriter Ysa Yaneza has released the music video for her new single “1Nightwitu.”

Helmed by new filmmaker Jaig D. Guzman, the visuals showcase the R&B/electro-pop artist having the time of her life with friends and a guy she just met in the club.

“For this music video, I was drawn to earthy tones, giving those late Y2K vibes,” says the indie pop star. “What the director brought was kind of a modern twist to all of these nostalgic inspo that I had. I wanted the music video to really convey female empowerment.”

The music video was shot in Metro Manila, with locations that include a bohemian-inspired apartment and a neon-lit club.

“1Nightwitu” is an island-tinged, dance-pop track that celebrates women empowerment and encourages young ladies from varying cultures and upbringing to embrace their sexuality and value their self-worth.

The upbeat jam is penned by Ysa Yaneza herself, and co-written/produced by LA-based artist Shubu, who has worked with international music acts such as Paul Cherry, Anna Burch, and Dorian Electra. Grammy-nominated sound engineer Stuart Hawkes, who has shaped records by artists ranging from Charli XCX and Disclosure to Lorde and Mabel, also mastered the track, giving it a fuller, more intricate musical direction.

“1Nightwitu” is the official lead single of her upcoming self-titled EP, YSA, which follows her journey towards heartbreak, reinvention and womanhood.

Filipino-Australian indie singer-songwriter grentperez releases his newest project ‘Trail Mix Tape’, an eclectic mix of four songs, via Fast Friends. Accompanying the project is a visual for the single “Day By Day”.

On ‘Trail Mix Tape’, grentperez explores new sonics and production, while continuing to perfect his “laid back chill sound with a lot of soul.” The new project also includes recent singles like joyous “Wishful Thinking”, heartfelt “Don’t Grow Up Too Fast”, and the upbeat “Ego”. All of the tracks on the record were written by grentperez, with additional writing, and producing credits that include Dan Henig (Jax ‘Victoria’s Secret’, ZAYN, G-Eazy, Noah Cyrus), and GRAMMY-nominated Linden Jay (2 x US Platinum Doja Cat ‘Woman’, Erick The Architect, Joji, Flatbush Zombies). 

“I wanted to collect some of my favorite songs that I’ve written recently and turn them into a ‘collective’ rather than being scattered as singles. Thought it’d be a fun way to go about doing things. So in a way, it serves itself with the Tape title being ‘Trail Mix’, it’s just a bag of goods, you got a Sad Song, Love Song, Rap/ RnB style track and a fun indie rock type beat in there,” grentperez shares of the EP release.

Music lulls us into a meditative state. It allows us to relax, reflect, and, ultimately, recharge. Sydney born singer, songwriter, artist and producer grentperez unlocks this place whether in the studio, on stage, or under the watchful eye of the computer camera in his childhood bedroom where he’s recorded most of his music to date. His handcrafted DIY pop instantly soothes on a series of releases that have helped endear grentperez to rapidly growing audiences at home in Australia, as well as in South East Asia and across the globe.

Generating close to 60 million YouTube video views as an independent creator, the newly found YouTube fame spurred grentperez on to experiment with releasing some of his own self-written and recorded music on streaming platforms. his debut single “Cherry Wine” was a hit, steam-rolling into the viral charts in Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam soon after its release, and accumulated over 67 million streams to date. He has also garnered amazing support throughout Southeast Asia, landing coveted features on MTV Asia, Vh1 India, SEA Today (Indonesia), ABS-CBN (Philippines), Nylon Manila and more.

Several singles following up to the release of his debut EP ‘Conversations with The Moon’ in February 2022 has seen his music grow at an accelerating pace to over 100 million streams, with droves of new fans discovering him daily.

Born in Australia, grentperez grew up as the youngest of three kids in a Filipino family. Raised on a diet of The Eagles, The Beatles, and Queen thanks to his dad before moving onto the likes of Musiq Soulchild. As soon as he received his first nylon string acoustic, he taught himself Jeremy Passion’s “Lemonade”, learning chords, shapes, and plucking patterns. At the end of 2013, he launched his YouTube channel which currently sits at over half a MILLION subscribers.

‘Trail Mix Tape’ Tracklist
1. Wishful Thinking
2. Don’t Grow Up Too Fast
3. Ego
4. Day by Day

Begins with highly anticipated hometown return to Jakarta on December 3 and first ever Asian solo performances in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei.

Concludes with just announced headline performance at Head in the Clouds Manila.

Jakarta-born, LA-based singer-songwriter, and producer NIKI announces the Asian dates of “The Nicole Tour”.  “The Nicole Tour” will be pulling up in Asia, heading to the city of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei. NIKI will also be headlining Head In The Clouds Jakarta and Manila. The tour will take place on:

December 3-4 – Jakarta, Head In The Clouds Jakarta, Community ParkPIK2 [HEADLINER] Tickets

December 6 –  Singapore – The Star Theatre Tickets

Presale starts on Wednesday 5 October at 10:00AM local time

Public on sale starts on Thursday 6 October at 10:00AM local time

December 8 – Kuala Lumpur – Zepp Tickets

Public on sale starts on Thursday 6 October at 10:00AM local time

December 9-10 – Manila – Head In The Clouds Manila, SM Festival Grounds, Parañaque City [HEADLINER] Tickets

December 13 – Taipei –  Zepp New Taipei Tickets

Presale starts on Wednesday 5 October at 10:00AM local time

Public on sale starts on Thursday 6 October at 10:00AM local time

Public on sale starts on Thursday 6 October at 10:00AM local time

NIKI unveiled her latest album “Nicole” in August, which sees her returning to her singer-songwriter roots in a carefully crafted coming-of-age juncture that sees present-day NIKI meet with her teenage self. The album contains archived songs from NIKI’s past that have been re-imagined for the album, in addition to a number of brand-new tracks. Throughout the 12 songs on the project, NIKI uses her innate and detailed storytelling abilities to expertly explore themes of love, heartbreak, and every emotion in between.

On the release of Nicole, NIKI shares “During the pandemic, I did a deep dive of the archived videos from the YouTube channel I started in middle school and realized that these songs are where my heart is. We made most of the songs in my collaborators’ garages and living rooms, and the whole process felt so carefree and energizing, like being a kid at the playground. With this record, I learned to trust my gut and have real confidence in myself as a songwriter and producer, and it was so freeing and so much more fun.”

Fully written by NIKI, Nicole features production from Jacob Ray (Alison Wonderland, Evan Giia), Tim Anderson (Halsey, BANKS), Ethan Gruska (Phoebe Bridgers, Remi Wolf), and Jacob Reske (Vince Staples, Trippie Redd), with additional production from NIKI.

Her most recently released “High School in Jakarta” has already amassed over 45 million streams. The track’s music video surpassed 15 million views since its release, becoming NIKI’s fastest video to ever reach this milestone. “High School in Jakarta” follows previous single “Oceans & Engines,” a heart-wrenching ballad on surrendering to a broken relationship that serves as an impassioned moment of clarity and demonstrates NIKI’s songwriting ability. NIKI first announced Nicole with the release of lead single “Before,” a reflective nostalgia-tinged record that upon release, received acclaim from NME, UPROXX, and Teen Vogue who praised that the record “perfectly highlights NIKI’s songwriting prowess.” All three tracks appear on Nicole. Stream/download Nicole HERE.

In April this year, NIKI became the first Indonesian artist to ever perform at Coachella, alongside Rich Brian. NIKI will follow up her Coachella appearance with a performance at 88rising’s 2022 Head in the Clouds Festivals in Jakarta and Manila. NIKI previously headlined at the 2021 Head in the Clouds Festival last November with a striking set that received acclaim from MTV, Flaunt, and The AV Club who hailed her a “goddamn superstar.”

To date, NIKI has accumulated over 1.8 billion streams across all platforms. Her hit single “Every Summertime” from the soundtrack of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings went viral earlier this year, reaching Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits and currently has over 220 million streams and climbing. The track, written and produced by NIKI and longtime collaborator Jacob Ray – is an exuberant love song with a throwback sound reminiscent of classic R&B and soul.

Jay Garche releases his own version of “Mahal Na Mahal”, the hit love song that made lots of hearts melt with its profoundly romantic lyrics.

The song, which was originally popularized by Archie D in 1991 revived its pop stardom when Sam Concepcion did his lovable rendition back in 2013 as part of his Infinite album under Universal Records. This 2022, you will surely love to hear Jay Garche’s own take of this song which features a simple yet compelling stripped-back piano arrangement. It injects such a bittersweet flavor to the already known love song.

The Voice Teens Season 2 runner-up turned UR artist already finished recording the song in August and believes that it’s perfect to release the song right away. He’s also set to unveil an official music video for “Mahal Na Mahal” later this year. It follows the release of his debut original single “Hayaan Lang” last June.

Don’t sleep on this version and stream it on your favorite digital streaming platforms!

R&B singer-songwriter LOIR submits to the pull of her heart in her new single “MAMA,” released under Sony Music Entertainment.

On the stripped-down ballad, the talented newcomer asks big questions about life’s purpose and her conflicting sense of direction. But while doing the things that she loves the most comes with existential baggage, LOIR recognizes the need to work on herself and apologize for her misgivings.

“I’ve made some decisions in the past that I’m not happy about,” says the budding young artist. “This song is my way of closing that chapter in life, and hoping that I’ve made my parents proud as I welcome change with positivity, dreams, and love. I’m more than inspired to do well in my chosen craft.”

Starting out slow and assured with just a piano to accompany LOIR’s lush, dreamy vocals, “MAMA” further progresses into an emotional epiphany and peels its layers with a hopeful note that “she is still here and is going to hold to whatever is left”—her family and dreams, included.

The song is written and arranged by LOIR herself, with production by frequent collaborators HavoMusic and Goodson.

“I started working on the instrumentals for MAMA before I asked sir Havomusic and Goodson to be involved in the production work,” shares LOIR. “While I developed the structure and melody for this particular track, both of them added a more emotional touch to the sonic palette. The final product maintains the rawness of the original, but it’s also more vulnerable and powerful to an extent.”

Before signing up with Sony Music Entertainment, LOIR has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the local hip-hop/R&B scene, including Gloc-9 on socio-realist gems “SANIB and “OKA” and Guddhist Gunatita’s on smash single “DALAMPASIGAN.” LOIR is also part of Asintada Management and Production Inc.—home of artists such as Gloc-9 and Shanti Dope. To date, she has amassed more than four million streams on YouTube and Spotify combined.

LOIR’s “MAMA” is out now on all digital music platforms via Sony Music Entertainment.

Singaporean-Filipino singer-songwriter Ysa Yaneza returns with an island-tinged, dance-pop track that evokes the days of Y2K aesthetics and frosty digital futurism.

Her new bop “1Nightwitu” celebrates women empowerment and encourages young ladies from varying cultures and upbringing to embrace their sexuality and value their self-worth.

According to the indie pop star and social media influencer, the song is also about knowing one’s self, exuding confidence, and promoting self-love, especially in a time where modern society still puts a conflicting pressure on how women should carry themselves in public.

“I’m really glad that I’ve stepped up my game in terms of completely understanding my individuality and sense of self,” said the promising newcomer. “This energy somehow reflects my work, and I’m really proud of how it has honed my artistry and way of thinking on a musical and visual level.”

The upbeat jam is penned by Ysa Yaneza herself, and co-written/produced by LA-based artist Shubu, who has worked with international music acts such as Paul Cherry, Anna Burch, and Dorian Electra. Grammy-nominated sound engineer Stuart Hawkes, who has shaped records by artists ranging from Charli XCX and Disclosure to Lorde and Mabel, also mastered the track, giving it a fuller, more intricate musical direction.

“For mastering, it was pretty last minute and I was so thankful that Stuart Hawkes was able to work on the track according to schedule,” the eclectic pop act shares. “I was looking up albums that I really liked from artists I would say influenced my sound and artistry, and that I wanted my songs and EP to have a similar sound direction, and I realized most of them had actually worked with Stuart Hawkes so it was a definite go for me.”
“1Nightwitu” is the official lead single of her upcoming self-titled EP, YSA, which follows journey towards heartbreak, reinvention and womanhood. Its accompanying music video, which was directed by Jaig D Guzman will be released on 04 October 2022.

Ysa will also be embarking on a Manila Press Tour this Nov 2022 to promote the EP. Aside from music, Ysa has garnered over 32,200 followers on TikTok with her original skits, style and personality.

“1Nightwitu” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide.

P-Pop girl group KAIA explores a more R&B-leaning direction in their new single “Dalawa,” released under Sony Music Entertainment.

Standing out in sublime contrast with their previous releases, the five-member act’s smooth jam alludes to the idea of expressing infatuation in the most reassuring, youthful way.

“Dalawa is a song that tells a story familiar to many: catching unrequited feelings for someone close to you,” describes the eclectic pop quintet. “While it veers away from the upbeat, dance-pop tunes that we’ve been dishing out since our debut, this particular material sticks to our strengths as a girl group.”

Brimming with 2000s-indebted R&B melodies and whimsical beats, “Dalawa” embraces stylistic adventurousness with effortlessness that doesn’t overwhelm the vocals. The track is written and produced by Jayson Franz, who brings a mellow yet groovy direction to the Filipino group’s sound.

“I wanted a different approach for KAIA this time around, but I made sure to take into consideration their individual and collective personalities,” shares Franz. “I’ve added some string instruments and other sonic elements to help elevate the arrangements. But more importantly, the groove that I was trying to achieve was leaning towards Y2K R&B: simple, yet melodically interesting.”

According to Franz, KAIA was also heavily involved with the demo recording, making sure to relay their own inputs on vocal arrangements and the overall vibe of the song. “One of the memorable moments during the recording of the track was the first run of every member of KAIA,” adds Franz. “It was that moment when everyone knew that the song was really made for them. Each one of them has an own personality or taste in terms of the delivery of their lines.”

KAIA’s “Dalawa” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Sony Music Entertainment (SME) Philippines today announced the opening of its new office in Manila, to continue the Company’s business to discover and develop the next generation of Filipino artists.

Located in Pasig City, a major business, entertainment and cultural hub, the new Office will be the home for SME Philippines and The Orchard Philippines, housing specialists in A&R and digital marketing to support SME Philippine’s roster of more than 70 local artists, discover and develop up-and-coming musical talent, and promote music from the country.

SME Philippines is home to some of the most well-known artists and musical groups in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, including Ben&Ben, SB19, NOBITA, Ace Banzuelo, and Clara Benin.

The opening event was attended by Pasig City Deputy Mayor Dodot Jaworski, as well as senior executives from Sony Music Group, artists, and business partners. Guests enjoyed performances by local SME stars Ace Banzuelo, I Belong to The Zoo, Alex Bruce, Clara Benin, Young Cocoa, and Of Mercury.

“The Philippines is a music-loving nation. It is exciting to witness the growth of the local music industry and see local musicians making it big regionally and internationally. We are heartened to see that Sony Music Philippines is calling Pasig City its home,” said Vice Mayor of Pasig City, Dodot Jaworski.

“Here, in the Philippines, the vibrant cultural fabric of the country has given rise to a new generation of artists who are pushing boundaries with their music and showcasing the best of local music,” said Shridhar Subramaniam, President, Corporate Strategy and Market Development, Asia and Middle East, Sony Music Entertainment. “The cultural diversity and creativity in the Philippines coupled with the pace of digital adoption presents enormous opportunities for artists to create and share their music, and we are committed to supporting their efforts.”

“Over the years, we have worked closely with musicians, creators and partners to build an impressive roster of local artists and provide each of them with best-in-class support,” said Roslyn Pineda, General Manager, Philippines, Sony Music Entertainment. “As a result, we’ve created numerous international hits and local favorites, as well as making our mark as the only music company with a Christian music sub label in the country. Looking ahead, we are ready to further our efforts to support Filipino music both in the country and beyond.”

Among the homegrown artists who have made a name for themselves regionally and internationally are Ben&Ben and SB19.

“Sony Music has been a lovely partner in helping us reach out to our fanbase, Liwanag, with our music,” said Ben&Ben. “They have opened so many doors for us, making it possible to bring the emotions and messages of the songs we’ve made to the people who need it. They have constantly given us renewed energy to keep pushing boundaries and keep moving forward, no matter what direction the wind blows. It’s an honor to be working alongside an organization full of passionate and dedicated people. As we embark on a new adventure with our first North American Tour, it’s sad that we’ll miss the opening of the new office, but we’re proud to see how far Sony Music Philippines has come.”

Five-member sensation SB19 debuted in late 2018 and has received widespread recognition with their singles, “What?”, “Alab (Burning)” and “Go Up”. The pop group was nominated for “Top Social Artist” at the 2021 Billboards Music Awards and has the longest-running number one hit in the history of Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart for “Bazinga”.

“Sony Music has been a key and vital partner for us through the years, helping us reach our fans and audiences through their wide and extensive network,” added SB19 in a statement. “From working with us on our first album, to supporting us on our recently released international single ‘WYAT’ and helping us with our upcoming world tour, we couldn’t have asked for a better team. From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to congratulate them on the opening of their new office.”