Music of a wonderful world

[2026] Overview of Popular Filipino Artists and Singer-Songwriters

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Suddenly, but have you all been checking out music from Asia outside of Japan?

Many of you might say, “Well, maybe just K-pop…,” but in fact, whether it’s indie rock, hip-hop, or pop, Asia is home to countless amazing artists!

This time, we’re focusing on the music scene in the Philippines, a country with deep ties to Japan.

We’ll be introducing not only legendary singers but also plenty of young Gen Z artists born from the late ’90s to the 2000s.

Whether you usually keep up mainly with English-language music or you only listen to Japanese music, we hope this article gives you a feel for what’s happening in Filipino music right now!

[2026] Roundup of Popular Filipino Artists and Singer-Songwriters (41–50)

HoverUrbandub

Urbandub – Hover

HoverUrbandub

An indie band that was the first in the Philippines to land a major-label deal.

Since the early 2000s, they’ve gained a large fanbase across East Asia.

This track is no longer indie.

It’s a slick production where the guitar and his high-pitched voice sound sexy—one of those songs you can keep listening to.

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NardaKamikazee

Kamikazee – Narda (Official Music Video)

NardaKamikazee

Wouldn’t Japanese people be startled by the artist’s name? Contrary to that name, the mellow vocal tone and the gentle sound of the band have made them famous as pop culture icons.

The song also resembles Japanese pop songs, so it might be easy for Japanese listeners to get into.

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In conclusion

If you’re well-versed in music, you probably already know that Southeast Asia’s scenes in genres like indie rock and hip-hop are on fire.

This time we’ve featured many Gen Z up-and-comers, so I’m sure quite a few of you were surprised to find artists like these in the Philippines.

If you keep digging, you’ll discover plenty more amazing artists—bands included—so be sure to explore further.