The Monster Indieground Playlist has been around for quite some time and now we're upping it by getting to know the talented artists behind all these catchy independent OPM that you've been hearing on the Monster's air waves!
1. alpha yang
Jacob Yulo, who goes by the stage name alpha yang, is a Chinese/Filipino self made producer, singer and songwriter from Manila. alpha yang juggles both his Senior Year in college and music, studying Psychology and creating fire tracks along the way. The self-made artist started out by doing EDM remixes on Soundcloud back when he was still in high school. He actually wanted to first start a band back then but didn't have the luck in finding band members, until he decided to write and produce his own music. His shyness overtook him as well before in terms of singing his own song, so he first practiced by remixing songs then uploading song covers and demos of his early songs. Eventually, he broke out of his shell and is now making a name for himself in the world of music!
alpha yang reached some milestones in his life, one of them is by having his song, titled "Real" from his first album, featured in the movie "Isa Pa With Feelings" starring Maine Mendoza and Carlo Aquino. Director Prime Cruz actually reached out personally to alpha yang, the latter shared on his Faces Of Indieground interview. alpha yang describes the experience as "wild" seeing as he is just starting out on his music and already got featured on a movie soundtrack. Well, you can't argue with talent! Definitely much deserved!
View this post on Instagram
alpha yang describes his music as dense, bedroom pop which is, besides making all his music in his bedroom, is also about adding texture into his own songs which results in a creative blend of genres. He has also worked on two albums titled "Spellbound" and "Double Record"! In terms of his albums, he describes "Spellbound" as "more or less about a bit of innocence and emotions he has yet to understand" a more laidback vibe than his sophomore album "Double Record" which tackles awareness, love and reflections on different possibilites. alpha yang loves the idea of making an album, saying that it's like creating a story/concept which motivates him! We're for sure expecting his third album to, hopefully, be in the works!
alpha yang was part of the previous batch of Indieground 2020 but you can still listen to his songs on Spotify and catch his song "FIRE" that made it into the Monster's Indieground Playlist!
Oct. 19, 2020 - Faces Of Indieground interview of alpha yang live on The Daily Survey:
2. Majo Elli
Majo Elli is another bedroom artist who leans towards the indie side, with her influences of jazz, R&B, blues and more. She's not only a musician but also an architect! Majo is all about technicality and precision with her architectural side but plays with her imagination in terms of music. On her Faces Of Indieground interview, Majo shared that visual arts was her first passion and considered herself as an "art kid" drawing animes and the like but shifted into Architecture due to her mother's wishes for her to have a more stable profession. Majo's unexpected love for music started whenever she'd get stressed in Architecture, she'd pick up her guitar and play something outside of visual arts until it came to a point that she would play the guitar for 3-5 hours a day! Majo shared that her musical extent were just from singing the school hymn and National Anthem back in high school. Nothing major back then! She never really thought that she'd be doing music seriously in the future.
View this post on Instagram
Majo Elli released her debut EP last year titled "Nowhere, Somewhere" - something that she did on her own! She took inspiration from musician Tom Misch and applied all her learning and the inspiration she got into her debut EP. Majo's EP is all about her starting from nowhere and going somewhere with her music. Her songwriting motivation and ideas are about the "things I can't exactly tell someone personally" or "words that I wanted to hear from someone else that no one is saying to me". Either way, her artistry is terrific and well thought of which definitely relays the message on a personal level. Her song "Cigarette" is a metaphor for toxic love while "Move" talks about not figuring everything out and moving slowly in life, an unexpected idea she had when she's about to turn 25 in which she turned into a song after realizations and a heart-to-heart talk with a friend - both of which are included in her debut EP.
Prior to her EP, Majo has already been writing songs for herself only until she had saved up enough money to upgrade her instruments and other musical equipment. She also has been lucky enough as she gets to learn and work around her music and day job without any time constraints. Majo Elli proves that with dedication and passion, you can be able to reach for your dreams!
Majo Elli was also part of the previous batch of Indieground 2020 along with alpha yang. Catch her songs on Spotify and her Indieground song "Move"!
Nov. 9, 2020 - Faces Of Indieground interview of Majo Elli live on The Daily Survey:
3. One Click Straight
Fans of underground and local Pinoy music are probably already familiar with the band One Click Straight seeing as they're dominating the Pinoy music scene, playing shows after shows and releasing music left and right! One Click Straight consists of brothers Toffer Marquez (vocals/bassist), Sam Marquez (guitarist/songwriter), Tim Marquez (drummer/songwriter) and Joel Cartera (guitarist/percussionist). Stemming from the Monster Indieground Playlist back in 2016, The Daily Survey caught up with the band for Faces Of Indieground!
View this post on Instagram
The band shared the songwriting process and moments they had during the pandemic, saying that there was definitely a downside to it as they cannot record at a studio and had to do everything at home. The frustration and emotions they felt were also a con to making music during that time because of the whole situation but that didn't stop them from doing what they love by turning the situation right-side up, took inspiration from current events and surroundings and eventually releasing a titular single titled "S.S.H" meaning "Sumayaw, Sumigaw, Huminga" which is a statement that summed up how they felt that time. Drummer Tim quoted "Bawat araw walang pag babago" as to what their song wants to emulate to their audience. One Click Straight is reaching their pinnacle of fame, having a lot in store for their fans! It may be a long time to watch them live at a gig again but that doesn't stop them for coming up and releasing cool, dope music!
Check out One Click Straight on Spotify for more of their tunes, including their Indieground track "Electric":
Faces Of Indieground interview of One Click Straight live on The Daily Survey with JC and Ria last Nov. 16, 2020:
4. Afgala
Afgala came from the word "After" and "Gala" meaning "Afterparty". Composed of JM, Jandrell, Kell, Dom, Nico and Don, the band describes their music style as a "chill, after party" vibe hence the name Afgala. They also stated that it has been a staple for them to hang after every gigs and also another representation is that they always make it a point to meet up or "gala" every after their own personal agendas in life, which made their band name more biographical. The band met at the music ministry in their church and started forming their own group from there. They do take it to the next level by "partying with Jesus"! Devoted in faith and in music!
On their Faces Of Indieground interview, band member JM shared that their first few songs were all written by him but gave the rights to his band mates as well since they all pitched in with the music and instruments before releasing. Nowadays, band member Jandrell opens up his songwriting abilities and starts by practicing his skills in writing songs for the band, as he does want to explore more on the writing side. Finding hope in the midst of the chaos is what motivates Jandrell to create relatable yet encouraging lyrics.
Their second single that was featured on the Indieground playlist titled "Panaginip" was actually written in 2019. They were supposed to come out with an album but was halted due to the hardships of the pandemic. But despite that, the band still kept on creating and even got to overcome the maximized struggle as they got to hone their skills in recording by doing everything separately. Definitely a shared creativity and group effort of the band, all for the love of music! For now, they are really focusing on song producing since they have a lot of songs written by band member JM to produce and release real soon! The band's genre is also evolving from their first releases to their upcoming singles, saying that it's now more different as they don't want to be labeled as one single genre but known more for their story-telling in which they focus the feels and emotions of their songs more on the message they want to deliver to their audience.
Afgala was also part of the previous Indieground 2020 batch with alpha yang and Majo Elli, featuring their hit single "Panaginip"
Nov. 23, 2020 - Faces Of Indieground interview of Afgala live on The Daily Survey:
5. davido
David Ortiz or popularly known as davido is a visionary who immerses his music in the world of autotune and lyrics, comparing him to the likes of Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee! A definite game changer that sets the difference among other Filipino artists! He started out in 2017 by writing simple rap lyrics out of lo-fi beats and eventually taking music and song writing seriously in 2019. Mental and emotional experiences are what stemmed davido to pursue his creative skill in lyricism.
View this post on Instagram
davido cites Curtismith as one of his inspirations when it comes to music-making. He also looks up to Mito's carefree spirit where he doesn't need anyone's approval and just goes on doing what he thinks is best for him, which is something he also aspires to be. We're positive that you'll reach this part in your life and career, davido! In terms of his music, davido talks about his Indieground song "Menace" which he wrote during the early times of quarantine. He shared on his Faces Of Indieground interview that it was his way to relay his message and express his feelings to the girl he was seeing that time. He also mentioned how his song hit different when he first heard it on the radio from the time he wrote it, from being sad and down the first time to being happy hearing it again. It's definitely a win for davido despite what he lost during that moment. davido has written and made songs in the past but the ultimate song he's proud of, that represents his artistry and who he is as a musician is titled "Waves" a collab by D | V which is a duo consisting of him and his partner, Vinny. davido not only focuses on lyrics and melody of the music but also on his aesthetic which is also a factor for his music. He is very much into colors and does all of his music-related stuff in his dark bedroom with strips of bright lights. The ambience brings out ideas and thoughts to him that's why he chooses that specific type of mood lighting for his setting. davido really takes his artistry on a whole 'nother level by considering all factors to make him and his music the greatest they can be!
Tune in to hear the 2nd batch of songs from Indieground 2020 currently playing on the Monster, including davido's track titled "Menace"! Check out his Spotify and Soundcloud as well for more of his tracks!
Nov. 30, 2020 - Faces Of Indieground interview of davido live on The Daily Survey:
6. Young Cocoa
El Barrera goes by the artist name Young Cocoa, in which initially started out as a joke. He used to kid around about making music and called himself "Young Cocoa" as an ode to the "young'uns" and Cocoa because of his brown skin, which he's definitely proud of! Young Cocoa actually grew up and spent 16 years in Indonesia; 14 years in Jakarta and 2 years in Bali before residing in the Philippines. He literally started out on music in 2019 when he released his song titled "Quezon Don" and the rest is history!
View this post on Instagram
Initially, Young Cocoa wanted to become a footwear designer before diving into music. He would usually just do freestyle rapping for fun until him and his friend started writing a verse back and forth and "Quezon Don" came to life. Thanks to his friend, sister and girlfriend who gave him 100% support to write and release a song! The song started out on Soundcloud and immediately got 500+ plays until he decided to put the song on Spotify. The song is basically just pure randomness mixed together with a beat and it became such a vibe! His song "Manila" is one of the current songs included in the Monster Indieground Playlist and he shares the meaning behind it - Young Cocoa thought that he was leaving Manila and released that song as a lookback on the past and a tribute to the city. He also added sentimental value to the song by including his girlfriend in it and added his own "sauce" to the song. Obviously, "Manila" is a personal song to Young Cocoa but he also was hyped when it got played on radio and having the song end up on streaming platforms. It surely is a milestone for him! He also thinks that people can connect to his song with the same feelings or experience that he had. Young Cocoa also shared that his song "Seasons" is the song that he's really proud of, as he really poured his heart into it and wrote it from a very specific perspective. This song is basically about self-assessment as he looked back on every year, how much growth he's had and acknowledged everybody who's helped and shaped him be the person he is today.
When JC asked him on his Faces Of Indieground interview if he sees making a career out of music or continue living his dream of designing footwear, Young Cocoa did not hesitate to answer truthfully: "I've got music on this side, I got design on this side. They're both still a huge part of my life and I could go in either direction and for me that's okay." Whether he's El or Young Cocoa, we can see him shine in whatever path he chooses to take! He currently works at a design studio for certain hours and allot the extra hours for his music. Young Cocoa is certainly a young creative as well, pouring all of his time in different forms of art.
Catch Young Cocoa's track "Manila" on the current Indieground Playlist playing on the Monster!
Dec. 7, 2020 - Faces Of Indieground interview of Young Cocoa live on The Daily Survey:
7. Pugfish
Pugfish is a musical collective composed of members She, Jacob a.k.a alpha yang, Corro, Jib, Hein, Enrico and Derek - different collaborators from different musical backgrounds. The band's name came from something unconventional, choosing the word Pug in relation to a Pug dog being unconventional type of cute but it eventually grows on you. That's how the band wants people to perceive their sound. In terms of the fish, they added it to be experimental hence the result of "Pugfish". Pugfish's origin story started out in 7th grade, when they did a cover of "Don't Stop Believin'" and after some time started doing gigs outside of school and in Route 196.
View this post on Instagram
Hein shared on their Faces Of Indieground interview that the band only has 5 core members and they just added more people. They look within musical talent and also explore a connection and possible friendship to help grow their collective but they did share that everyone in the band knows each other from high school. In terms of being a collective, how does the band work on their music? How do they separate the work? One of the members, Jib is usually in charge of songwriting and basically the skeleton of the song and lyrics. But now, they do a much more extended effort in coming up with songs by pitching in ideas and brainstorming with one another. Although, they do believe that having one mind lead is easier even if they're all suggesting different ways just so they can follow one direction.
Pugfish tells the story behind their song "Azami", which is featured on the Monster's Indieground Playlist. Fun fact, it was the first song they ever wrote as a band back in their 8th/9th grade! Azami is also a name for a water spirit so they related that to the vibe of the song. "Azami" is a love song written from how they perceived love back when they were a bit younger. The band wanted to release the song as soon as possible since it was written at an early age and as an ode to show how much they've grown since then. What a sweet, unique inspiration! Pugfish's band members are still in school and in terms of how they want their future to go, they mentioned that music is a passion and a creative outlet that will always stay with them even if they have their own paths to take individually. "To be a rockstar, you don't just only have to focus on music. You can focus on other things and from those experiences, [you can] bring it to the music." That's one definite way to put Pugfish's end goal!
In terms of Pugfish's discography, the band released their last single for 2020 titled "Coraline" and will continue on making music for this year which they eventually plan on releasing a full-length album. The band also hinted about an easter egg in their single "Coraline" which is in relation to their upcoming album! Better get on crackin' about that one, eagle-eyed Pugfish fans! Another hint for their album in the works is the term "non conventional" so we better expect a mix of, basically a little bit about everything for this!
The collective path of Pugfish is surely looking bright as they have a lot of things in store for their music and it's something to look forward to! In the meantime, do tune in on the Monster to catch Pugfish's single "Azami" on the Indieground playlist as they are a part of the latest batch of Indieground 2020!
Dec. 14, 2020 - Faces Of Indieground interview of Pugfish live on The Daily Survey:
8. Pat Guno
Melodic rapper Pat Guno has a generous background in music, graduating from the UST Conservatory of Music. After finishing college, he took up a Master's Degree in Music Production in Macquarie University in Australia. Pat Guno's style is more electronic, synth-driven with hip hop elements. Initially, Pat was stumbling from field to field until he decided to pursue music for his studies as that was something that he sees himself doing in the long run.
View this post on Instagram
Pat Guno makes all of his music by himself, with collaborations here and there. He mentioned in his Faces Of Indieground interview that he has worked on something with fellow Indieground artist davido that will be released soon. We love collaborations between fresh, talented artists so that's something to be excited about! Pat Guno's music routine consists simply of either producing the music first, writing the lyrics or both at times. He also does help out other artists with their music so his hands are definitely full! He also hinted on working on a 5-track EP titled "Onward" in which he took some influence to from the Pixar movie with the same title! He plans to release his EP hopefully by this month, or soon at least. Interesting times ahead for the self-made artist for sure!
Talking about inspiration, Pat Guno gets inspired from pretty much everywhere from daily events to as far as the government. "Writing lyrics and writing songs, there's no such thing as creating something that hasn't been done." His track "Ambition" is featured on the current Indieground playlist and he describes it as "politically-driven". Even incorporating a speech from Rappler's Maria Ressa on the track! Certainly courageous and ethical on Pat Guno's part to use his artistry and voice out important issues thru a musical platform! He also stands by releasing creativity with fear as he uses his talent and skills to talk about something risky yet real. A true aspiring artist! Pat Guno also uses his voice to tell stories from his life experiences, releasing songs about particular topics to also relay a message. One of the songs he wrote is about a certain girl who deserves so much more than the relationship she was in. That's one way of expressing feelings, Pat! Currently, Pat Guno works a day job as a hospital equipment retailer but music will definitely stay on his side as he does see a career out of it. Looking forward to more of him in the coming years!
"Ambition" by Pat Guno is currently playing on the Monster Indieground playlist!
Dec. 28, 2020 - Faces Of Indieground interview of Pat Guno live on The Daily Survey:
9. JPAO
Jorel Ong who goes by the stage name JPAO became simply creative by combining all his initals to create a bangin' name! JPAO was our first artist for 2021's Faces Of Indieground interview. Another bedroom rapper who creates hip hop tracks with a hint of trap soul, JPAO started young creating music when he was still in high school! His origin story is rapping presentations in class and releasing Facebook rap videos. He continued on to seriously release music on streaming platforms. JPAO is a storyteller, comprising 90% of his songs with experiences and conveying emotions thru sick lyrics. Getting his message across to listeners is what JPAO mostly prioritizes in his music.
JPAO has already released 9 singles up to date, 3 on Spotify and 3 on Soundcloud. He does have a plan on releasing an EP/album soon but takes things one step at a time. In terms of language, JPAO does spits verse in English but he did mention in his Faces Of Indieground interview that he wants to work on rapping both in English and Filipino. Gotta embrace the roots! JPAO looks up to local rappers Curtismith and Gloc 9. Hopefully, a collaboration with them will be in the works in the future! In terms of his future in music, JPAO is working on a single titled "Loyola Hill" that he plans to release soon which emphasizes the ups and downs he had as a university student. He also plans to shoot music videos for his other songs, starting off with "Ivana".
The story behind JPAO's Indieground song "Ivana" started off as a basic song, telling the story of a guy meeting a girl at a bar and striking up a connection. The song became much more deeper as it transitions from plain flirting to sharing about past life and experiences to one another and eventually ending up together. For the title of the track, JPAO used the name "Ivana" as the title, based from the actress Ivana Alawi, just because it sounded quality. JPAO also uses his music to dedicate songs for the people in his life. His latest release titled "Giba" is about his cheerleading teammates where he thanks them for the years they've spent together while also looking back on their memories. It was also a farewell tribute for them as most of them are graduating this year so he really spent the time to create something so sentimental in the form of his passion. More to come from JPAO is in the works so better stay tuned for that!
JPAO'S single "Ivana" is currently playing on the Monster as part of the current Indieground 2020 batch!
Jan. 4, 2021 - Faces Of Indieground interview of JPAO live on The Daily Survey:
10. Calle Victoria
OPM rock band Calle Victoria has music on their sleeves and on the streets. Composed of Victoria, Jazon, Benedict, Rico, Ramil and Dave. Some of the members started out in 2009 while they where still in college, Calle Victoria came to a halt and reunited again 10 years later, with new members and ready to take their music off and out to the world. The band's genre is mostly alternative, Filipino music catered for the masses. Victoria, the lead singer and songwriter for the band, shared on their Faces Of Indieground interview that most of their songs are stories that friends have opened up to them.
View this post on Instagram
Calle Victoria shares the story and inspiration behind their Indieground song "Bawat Sandali" - it's about two people who fell in love and eventually realizing that they are truly meant to be. The original sound of Calle Victoria is still the same back then but upgraded more when their new members came in. The music-making process of the band is a group effort, pitching in ideas and suggestions to make their songs as a whole. Moving forward, Calle Victoria plans to resume their recording session as they have a lot of songs to finish. One of their released songs "Bawat Sandali" comes with a music video where they shot it back during the last quarter of 2019. The music video has a storyline along with it and filmed at an "all-around" location. For now, the band is still in the works of their music but hopefully, they'll be able to release more real soon!
Calle Victoria is also a part of the current batch of Indieground 2020 and their song "Bawat Sandali" is still played on the Monster!
Jan. 11, 2021 - Faces Of Indieground interview of Calle Victoria live on The Daily Survey:
The Monster has recognized a lot of unsigned, homegrown talents thru Indieground and we have more aspiring artists on the rise! We can't wait to see these underground artists/bands/rappers rise in the music industry as they also expand their discographies. Thank you to all the talented artists and all the listeners for supporting local! Expect more amazing artists on Indieground so stay tuned!
For more information about Indieground PH, check us out here: