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| Muriel Gonzales a.k.a. Muri (Image Source: Manila Standard/NYOU Marketing) |
Filipino violinist and singer-songwriter Muri (Muriel Gonzales) made her Focus Wales debut last May 16, 2026, performing on the festival’s AXEAN Stage as the sole representative of the Philippines. Joining artists from Malaysia and Indonesia on the AXEAN showcase — a curated spotlight on Southeast Asian music within the festival — Muri brought her signature blend of violin swells, neo-soul vocals, and introspective songwriting to the stages of Wrexham, North Wales.
Now in its 16th edition, Focus Wales is one of the world’s leading international music showcase festivals, welcoming over 22,000 attendees and featuring 250+ artists across 20 stages. Supported by the Arts Council of Wales, the Welsh Government, and the PRS Foundation, it is consistently recognised as one of the most important launching pads for emerging international talent in the UK and Europe — having previously earned the Best Music Festival for Emerging Talent award at the UK Festival Awards. The AXEAN Stage appearance marks the latest milestone in an expanding global run for Muri, who has spent the past year building a presence on the international circuit. In early 2025, she performed at SXSW Austin as the Philippines’ sole representative — a debut that drew coverage from Mega Magazine, Billboard Philippines, and others. This was followed by performances at Bangkok Music City 2025 in Thailand where she was one of the Philippine acts on the bill. “It makes me proud to be representing the Philippines on such a global stage, along with representation from the rest of South East Asia. It’s not often we come together as a united front from the region, but that’s the beauty of it – bringing people together through music and showcasing what SEA has to offer to the world,” said Muri.
A member of Manila’s beloved indie folk group The Ransom Collective, Muri has forged a parallel solo career built around the interplay of her voice and violin. Her single “Letters” earned nominations for Wishclusive Contemporary R&B Performance of the Year at the Wish Awards 2022, and Favorite Female Artist at the 35th Awit Awards — the Philippines’ answer to the Grammys. Her collaboration with producer LUSTBASS on a remix of her track “Thunder” received a Best Remix Recording nomination at the 36th Awit Awards. With a growing fanbase and milestones in Asia, Europe, and the UK — Muri is steadily building the kind of global profile that few Filipino independent artists have achieved. Her Focus Wales appearance adds another significant marker to that journey, planting the Philippine flag firmly in the European music conversation.
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Filipino Singer-Songwriter syd hartha Finds Solace By The Sea In TONEEJAY Collab Track “dito muna tayo”
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| syd hartha x TONEEJAY (Image Source: Manila Standard/Sony Music Entertainment Philippines) |
Filipino singer-songwriter syd hartha reunites with acclaimed artist TONEEJAY for their latest collaborative single “dito muna tayo”, now available worldwide on digital music streaming platforms via Sony Music Entertainment. Capturing the human need to stay in spaces that soothe the mind and nurture inner peace, the folk-pop track draws inspiration from syd’s emotional connection to the ocean: a place that she describes as a source of calm and contentment throughout her life. The free-spirited musician recounts how her deep connection with the vast body of water inspired her to write the song, stating, “My great grandparents, who I spent a lot of time growing up with, would always bring me to beaches near where we lived in Cebu. That child-like spirit never really left me, even as an adult.”
Now that syd is older, she considers every trip to the ocean as deeply restorative and healing. “One of the biggest inspirations behind this song was the time I got to spend a few months living by the sea, and how it healed me physically, mentally, and emotionally. Leaving it was heartbreaking because a part of me really didn’t want to.” Cushioned on soft instrumentation and understated arrangement, “dito muna tayo” allows both artists’ distinct songwriting voices to meet in riveting unison. The partnership reveals both their vulnerabilities and strengths as artists, finding refuge in unmasking defenselessness and allowing the words to soar with poetic grace and restraint. syd explains, “The collaboration came out naturally. We’ve worked together before on one of his songs, and I’ve been wanting to collaborate with him again since the. When I chose ‘dito muna tayo’ as my next single, it felt like the song needed more color and texture. TONEEJAY was the missing piece in the puzzle, and he’s certainly the perfect fit for the song — thanks to his uniqueness and distinct songwriting voice.”
According to syd, the songwriting unfolded organically, with the recurring line, “babalik at uuwi ako dito” inscribing her journey with nothing but great memories. To make it feel more at home, syd included a few Cebuano lines in the lyrics to capture both her childhood connection with the ocean and the comfort that it brings to her up to now. She recalls, “I started by imagining what that sense of calm would sound like on guitar, and the lyrics just flowed from there. We mostly just focused on bringing the song to life in the simplest and most honest way possible, staying true to its core emotion throughout the process.”
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HONNE Unveil 10-Year Anniversary Album ‘HONNE — 10’, Share Heartfelt Version Of ‘Crying Over You’ feat. BEKA
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| HONNE (Image Source: Starmometer/Will Coutts) |
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the release of their debut album, HONNE have announced ‘HONNE — 10’, a special re-recording project featuring stripped-back, reimagined versions of some of their most beloved songs. This new 12-track album revisits material from the duo’s first two records, presenting the songs in an intimate, minimal setting. This approach spotlights their songwriting and emotional core while capturing the honesty and warmth that have made them deeply woven into the fabric of Asia’s pop culture over the past decade. Successful re-recordings so far include “Warm on a Cold Night (10 Years)” and “Location Unknown feat. NIKI (10 Years)” – the latter has amassed nearly 10 million streams worldwide in just two months and landed Spotify viral charts across Indonesia and the Philippines.
Reflecting on the project, HONNE shares, “We’ve been sitting on this for a while, and we’re really excited to finally share it with you. To mark 10 years of HONNE, we went back to the songs that started everything, recording stripped-back acoustic versions from our first two albums. Spending time with these songs again reminded us why we started HONNE in the first place, and why this music still means so much to us.” The album release is joined by the final single, “Crying Over You (10 Years)”. Speaking on the track’s significance, BEKA says, “This song holds so much history for me. It was the continuation of a lovely friendship and the beginning of a collaboration that’s shaped so much of what’s come after. Reimagining it now feels really emotional — like returning to a past version of yourself, but with everything you’ve lived since. I hope this version finds new hearts and gives people a different way to feel the song.” HONNE adds, “One of the few true heartbreak songs in our catalogue. It’s always been very close to our hearts, made even more special by BEKA’s beautiful vocals. In this re-recording, her voice somehow feels even more fragile and heartbreaking. She truly has the voice of an angel, and we’re so grateful she’s one of our closest friends. We really can’t wait for people to hear this version”.
Since releasing their first song, “Warm on a Cold Night”, HONNE’s journey has taken them far beyond anything they could have imagined. What began as a single late-night track from humble recording sessions in Bow, East London quickly grew into a global career, encompassing sold-out tours, multiple albums, and a devoted international fanbase. The 12-track album, ‘HONNE — 10’, serves as both a tribute to the duo’s journey and a heartfelt thank you to their fans – a reflection of where they began and the deep connection they continue to share. Following the release, HONNE will bring these reimagined versions to life on their recently announced Asia tour, performing stripped-back, intimate sets with stops in Bangkok, Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila. For more information and updates, visit HONNE's official website at hellohonne.com.
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Global Rising R&B Star Denise Julia Announces New Partnership With Empire, Shares New Single ‘Changes’
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| EMPIRE Founder Ghazi and rising Filipina R&B singer/songwriter/producer Denise Julia (Image Source: Starmometer/XYZ) |
Rising Filipina R&B singer/songwriter and producer Denise Julia makes smooth, sensual R&B that blends ‘90s and early-2000s influences with modern R&B and pop production. Her sound is equipped with airy vocals, layered harmonies and flirtatious lyrics – as seen in her brand new single “Changes” out now on digital music streaming platforms worldwide under 2nd Floor Entertainment in a new partnership with global independent record label EMPIRE.
Founded in 2010 by Bay Area, California, U.S.A. native Ghazi, EMPIRE is a global music company operating across label, distribution, and publishing which played a key role in developing and supporting some of today’s most influential artists including Kendrick Lamar, Fireboy DML, Shaboozey, Asake, XXXTentacion, and Anderson .Paak. Beyond the U.S., EMPIRE has also worked with global artists such as Afgan, G-DRAGON, and EL CAPITXN, continuing to expand its presence across Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America while connecting artists and audiences worldwide. Ahead of the recently-announced partnership, Denise shared an early track with the indie powerhouse last month titled “2GOOD4U” that earned praise from Billboard, VIBE, Okayplayer, Sweety High, and many more. The single also landed on more than two dozen new music Friday playlist placements from Spotify, Audiomack, Apple Music, and more. Denise Julia caught attention in 2022 with her song “NVMD” which helped solidify her as a rising star within the global music landscape. The single accumulated 200M streams on Spotify and reached the Top 20 of Spotify’s Global Viral chart. She continued her rise in 2023 when she collaborated with her now labelmate – the RIAA certified rapper P-Lo – for their single “B.A.D.” off her debut EP, Sweet Nothings (Chapter 1). The single peaked at #7 on Spotify Philippines, entered the Top 50 of Spotify’s Global Viral Chart, and reached #4 on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100. She has since followed up with Sweet Nothings (Chapter 2) and performed the title track on On The Radar.
Born and raised in the Philippines, Denise Julia is known for her smooth R&B sound and emotionally resonant songwriting because she was heavily influenced by early 2000s R&B and pop. She first captured widespread attention through viral covers and original releases on TikTok before breaking out globally. Denise Julia quickly became the most-streamed Filipina artist on Spotify for three consecutive months and remains one of the country’s top-streamed acts with nearly 2 million monthly listeners.
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ABS-CBN Expands Global Digital Reach, Launches ‘Together Forever’ Campaign
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Filipinos all over the world can rid themselves of homesickness by connecting with their loved ones at home while enjoying their favorite ABS-CBN shows online through Kapamilya Online Live or iWant which are easily accessible for streaming 24/7. To celebrate Kapamilyas’ unwavering support for ABS-CBN’s shows and stars, the company recently launched the “Together Forever” campaign with a heartwarming video that features stories of how overseas Filipino workers are able to bond with their loved ones in the Philippines by watching their favorite shows together, whether on the go or in the comfort of their homes, on Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube and the iWant app.
Kapamilya Online Live is ABS-CBN’s livestreaming service that is available on ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel, the most-subscribed media and entertainment channel in Southeast Asia with 54.8 million subscribers. It offers an elevated viewing experience with free streaming on mobile and connected TVs of ABS-CBN’s currently airing programs and well-loved classics with video-on-demand to allow viewers to enjoy replays. Some of the programs available on Kapamilya Online Live are the hit primetime series “Blood vs. Duty” and “The Alibi: Ang Buong Katotohanan”, noontime show “It’s Showtime”, musical variety show “ASAP XP”, news telecast “TV Patrol”, and fan-favorite weekend game shows “Kapamilya Deal or No Deal” hosted by Luis Manzano and “Everybody, Sing!” hosted by Vice Ganda. Viewers will also be able to watch soon on Kapamilya Online Live the highly anticipated primetime action series “Coco Martin’s Sigabo” starring Coco Martin and Julia Montes. Kapamilyas are also able to interact real-time with viewers from other parts of the world through the live chat box as they watch the shows together.
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN’s streaming platform iWant offers the biggest library of Filipino feels. Apart from housing ABS-CBN’s live programming and full episodes of its primetime shows, iWant also offers beloved teleseryes, blockbuster movies, and a roster of new iWant Originals, including some exciting microdramas. Its most recent titles include “The Secrets of Hotel 88” which streams seven days ahead of TV and microdrama “The Chambermaid’s Daughter.” Upcoming titles include Originals like “Miss Behave”, iWant's first LA-based production “Nurse The Dead”, and “Twist Of Fate”. Kapamilya Online Live and iWant are part of the continuing commitment of ABS-CBN, the country’s biggest content provider, to strengthen its digital presence to reach more audiences in different parts of the world.
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BINI Celebrates Five Years As P-Pop Phenomenon Reaches Global Audiences Via “BINIverse And Chorus” On iWant
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
The nation’s girl group BINI celebrates its fifth year as a P-pop phenomenon reaching global audiences through sold-out shows, international milestones, and a growing worldwide fanbase in “BINIVerse And Chorus”, a new 10-episode reality series streaming for free on iWant, available on Google Play and Apple App Store, and the iWant YouTube channel with new episodes every Thursday and Friday at 7:00 pm PHT.
The first-of-its-kind reality competition gives Blooms the chance to write a song that could potentially become BINI’s next single, while also offering viewers a glimpse into the girls’ creative process as they listen to, evaluate, and select songs throughout the competition. The series comes following BINI’s recent success at Coachella and ahead of the group’s fifth anniversary on June 11. More than a songwriting competition, “BINIVerse And Chorus” also serves as a celebration of BINI’s music and the strong connection they have built with Blooms through the years. In the show, Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena review more than 300 demo entries submitted by Blooms featuring only a verse and chorus. The members will eventually narrow the entries down to a Top 12 before selecting the Top 8 songs that will be opened for public voting.
