Cover Letters from June at Warner Music's We Play Here at UP Diliman (Photo: Facebook / We Play Here)
Letters from June at Warner Music's We Play Here at UP Diliman (Photo: Facebook / We Play Here)
1 / 1
Listen to the bands who are revitalising the underground OPM scene
The OPM scene is alive with the sound of electrifying music. If you’re an avid listener of the genre, you probably know of the giants such as Cup of Joe, Lola Amour, and Ben&Ben who brought us plenty of bangers to rock out to or feel sentimental about. As the industry grows, several new players are showing off what they can do. In this article, we spotlight seven up-and-coming bands who are keeping the spirit of OPM alive through masterful lyricism and sheer passion.
More from Tatler: The Odd Corner: Kean Cipriano on why backing up the ‘odd creatures’ matters in today’s OPM industry
Fly Mama!
“Pwedeng wag nang umalis? Teka muna, sandali.”
With four songs all released in 2024, Fly Mama! has a respectable 10,000 monthly listener average. Their top song, Teka Muna (Sandali) currently has over 120,000 streams and has been used in multiple trends on TikTok. The four-man OPM band consistently performs at gigs either at malls or their frequent spot—Brewing Point Music Lounge.
Kahel
“Wag mag alala, Ika’y aalagaan ko sinta.”
A five-piece band formed in 2023, Kahel currently has three songs released on Spotify—with Diwata being their greatest hit. While often themed around love, their lead vocalist, Marko reveals that they plan to release more songs that speak to our inner child. The band has performed at multiple gigs including Warner Music’s We Play Here school tour where they sang covers of other OPM artists and their upcoming song Beh Buti Nga, which is slated to be released around New Year.
Letters From June
“Bawat bituin, susungkitin, mga bundok, tatawirin. Mapasa’yo lamang, giliw.”
This six-piece acoustic rock band from Cavite debuted early in 2024 with their top song Bituin—which talks about the lengths one would go to in the name of love. Its relatable lyrics and heartwrenching melody have garnered over a million streams on Spotify alone and have propelled the OPM band to enormous heights. While they currently only have two songs released, the Letters From June consistently jam out at gigs and keep their fans engaged on social media.
12th Street
“Sa’yo lang nakamasid. Walang humpay na pag-ibig.”
A four-man band from Laguna signed under O/C Records, 12th Street currently has over 220,000 monthly listeners on Spotify with just two songs. Their top song, Walang Humpay boasts around 1.8 million streams and they just released a second one titled Alitan on October 18.
Also see: Over October on authenticity in today’s music scene
Drive of Daydreams
“Kapag ika’y dumarating ay tumitigil ang mundo. Ang oras natin ay humihinto.”
A four-piece alternative rock band from the south formed in 2017, Drive of Daydreams has released nine songs over the years while performing at gigs and music festivals. They have garnered 49,000 monthly listeners as of writing and their top song K.L.A. has over a million streams. In August of 2024, they released their latest single titled Nanlamig.
Solace Out The Door
“Kahit di sigurado ay, ang alam ko eto na talaga.”
A five-piece female-dominated OPM band formed in December 2022, Solace Out the Door focuses on creating music that finds comfort in the uncomfortable. This is evident in their first debut single, Tumalon which currently has over 57,000 streams on Spotify. The band’s on its early legs but frequently performs at gigs all around Luzon.
Purple Hail
“Para para, hindi ko na to kaya. Di ba diba wala naman tong kwenta.”
Hailing from La Union, Purple Hail is an alternative pop band consisting of four members. The group started out by performing in bars around San Juan, La Union. After releasing their three debut songs, they were able to front for bigger bands such as Silent Sanctuary, I Belong to the Zoo, Hale, and more. As of writing, they have around 4,000 monthly listeners and just released their first EP.
NOW READ
How Noname builds a community with music, wine, and good company
Reb Atadero on what matters most when acting
Lola Amour on its latest album and building an engaging community
About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
