Filipino singer/rapper and one-fifth of the boy band SB19, FELIP has been branching out into a solo career since late 2021. Now, he dials up the guttural power and imagination of his music with "Bulan," a song that draws from ancient Filipino mythology to tell a contemporary truth.

A primordial moon god who is arguably the best known of the Bicolano deities, Bulan is said to descend from the heavens with a flock of wind nymphs, rendering even the fiercest monsters tame and docile in his presence. Another moon deity, Haliya — who is sometimes described as Bulan's sister, and sometimes his daughter — is the arch-nemesis of Bakunawa, the sea serpent intent on swallowing the moon and covering the land in darkness. 

In this episode of Global Spin, FELIP recounts that piece of Filipino lore — but his song, "Bulan," is much more than a history lesson. He uses it as a metaphor for contemporary life, and specifically, as a message to those facing crab mentality — aka, the idea that "if I can't have it, neither can you."

Flanked by dazzling light production and a phalanx of backup dancers, FELIP asserts his prowess in his growling performance of the song. His song's message is one of brushing off negativity, and issuing a word of caution to any naysayers who would try to diminish his accomplishments. 

FELIP embraces his hip-hop influences into the track, adding aggressive beats and a rhythmic, rapping vocal line. The song marks an expansion of some of his previous forays into various genres, but turns the R&B of past singles like "Palayo" into something more hard-edged.

Press play above to watch FELIP's theatrical, dazzling performance video of "Bulan," and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more episodes of Global Spin.

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It's no secret that Filipinos can unapologetically belt out a song from Celine Dion, Whitney Houston or any pop diva on the mic. But beyond the viral videos of them singing their hearts out in malls or in their homes, the Filipino music scene is vibrantly filled with heart and emotions; and often taken over by powerful soloists like the Philippine pop princess Sarah Geronimo, balladeers like Martin Nievera or Morisette Amon, and acoustic/rock bands like Ben&Ben or Up Dharma Down that often sing about love, heartbreak and life.

Within the last decade, we've seen an evolution in the Philippine music scene: while solo stars continue to shine, pop groups have begun to take over the spotlight. The concept of pop groups have existed before in Philippine entertainment, however, were usually formed through variety shows or composed of actors and actresses — not necessarily pop idols that you can compare in other Asian music markets like Japan and South Korea.

It really wasn't until 2018, during the peak of third-generation K-pop, where we saw the beginning of first generation Pinoy pop idol groups. Inspired and influenced by the K-pop idol training system, some P-pop entertainment companies have begun implementing similar systems, or inviting Korean mentors who are active in the industry for any vocal and dance training needed.

Two of the most notable first-gen P-Pop groups are SB19 and BINI, who are at the forefront of bringing P-pop to a global audience. Five-piece boy band SB19 became the first Southeast Asian group to be nominated for a Billboard Music Award in 2021, and their 2023 single "GENTO" was approved for GRAMMY consideration last year. Meanwhile, eight-piece girl group BINI have earned the title as the Nation's Girl Group after a string of successful viral hits including "Salamin, Salamin" and "Pantropiko"; just this year, they made history as the first P-pop act to perform at KCON in Los Angeles.

Of course, the P-pop universe wouldn't be complete without solo acts. P-pop fans love to celebrate the timeless discography of Sarah Geronimo or gush over Asia's pop heartthrob Darren Espanto, and there's always new individual talent proving that the scene is still thriving.

As major P-pop stars continue to make waves, there's tons of blossoming acts who are helping to raise the Filipino flag in the global music scene. In light of the bright future ahead, here are a mix of P-Pop groups and soloists you should check out.

If the actual country of the Philippines were a pop group, it would be ALAMAT. The six member group — composed of Taneo, Mo, Jao, Tomas, R-ji, and Alas — under Viva Records values Filipino culture in their concepts.

Each member hails from different regions of the Philippines and also speak different dialects from their respective regions. Using dialects and culture to their advantage, ALAMAT often incorporates traditional folk dances, instruments, and lyrics in their native languages; and blends them into the modern sounds of hip-hop, R&B and dance.

Formed in 2018 and officially making their debut under Star Music in 2021 with "The Light," the quintet composed of Gelo, Akira, JL, Mikki, and Nate are known as the "Aces of P-Pop." The name BGYO even celebrates their heritage, as it's an acronym for "Becoming the change, Going further, You and I, Originally Filipino."

Often fusing pop sounds with R&B, the boy group isn't afraid to get quirky with their concepts — whether they're singing a ballad in suits or wearing vibrant oversized ones. As a result, their music is helping BGYO score big wins: Their single "The Baddest" made them the first Filipino act to top Billboard's Next Big Sound chart in 2021, followed by P-Pop Group of the Year at the TikTok Awards Philippines in 2022.

KAIA

Debuting under SB19's former label, ShowBT Philippines, KAIA is composed of members Angela, Charlotte, Sophia, Alexa, and Charice. The quintet officially made their debut in 2022 with their lead single "BLAH BLAH" — a powerful EDM-pop track that can be considered for your gaming playlist.

The name KAIA is a double entendre: a Cebuano word "kinaiya" meaning one's self and personality; and the Tagalog word "kaya" which roughly translates "to be able to" or "can do." In other words, a P-pop girl group that can give you the extra boost when you need that sonic encouragement on the daily.

One of the Philippine heartthrobs, Inigo Pascual is a suave and smooth pop soloist who aims to make you swoon with his R&B-pop serenades. His pop-doowop hit "Dahil Sa'Yo" off his solo debut of the same name became the first song to top the Billboard Philippines Top 20 chart in 2016.

Right from his debut, the actor and singer/songwriter continued to soar in his career when he released his international single "Options" in 2019. Just last month, the chart-topping singer unveiled his latest project, Basta't Alam Kong Tayo 1, a three-track single-album under Republic Records Philippines.

If you already listen to K-pop, then you are familiar with the girl crush concept where the sounds are bass-heavy and the looks are all about dark outfits with smokey makeup. If that's up your alley, then check out G22.

Under Cornerstone Entertainment, the former quartet-turned-trio composed of members AJ, Alfea, and Jaz are known to be the "Female Alphas of Philippine Pop." The trio officially made their debut in April 2022 with their first single "BANG!" which was then followed by their second single "Babalik!" in May. But don't be fooled by their powerful demeanors — the trio also has a light and soft side to themselves in their B-sides and singles too.

VXON

If G22 is dubbed as the "Female Alphas of Philippine Pop," then VXON are said to be the "Monsters of P-pop" — so don't be fooled by the pretty boy looks VXON may carry. They are a P-pop group that can balance bubblegum pop with beast-like concepts, as if you're watching the transformation of boys to men. But at their core, they're making music to capture your heart (see for yourself with their viral R&B hit "Sandal").

Making their official debut in January 2022, the group consists of five members: C13, Franz, Patrick, Vince and Sam. After a big first year — they won Favorite Rookie P-Pop Group at Nylon Manila's Big, Bold, and Brave Awards in 2022 — VXON have continued winning hearts, most recently delivering a series of swoon-worthy live sessions on their YouTube channel.

A multi-talented soloist, Maymay embodies Filipino entertainment, a fun and vibrant breath of fresh air within the Philippine music scene. She takes pride in her Visayan roots and stays grounded from her humble beginnings, even naming and singing her songs in Visaya, Tagalog and English.

First known as the season 7 winner of "Pinoy Big Brother" in 2016, Maymay has made a name for herself as a musical artist in the last couple of years. Signed under the same label as BINI and BGYO, Maymay is grandiose in her music, presenting a plethora of genres in her discography, from disco to dance pop to a little salsa with visuals that encapsulate inspiration from Filipino culture. "Her journey is only going further as she teased her first and upcoming international single "Paradise" at the 'ASAP Natin 'To in California' concert earlier this month."

Formerly known as SBTCBoys, the six-member boy group composed of Theo, Gab, Justin, Yen, Haro, and JL made their debut in 2023 with their first EP +.Y.M. (stylized and read as Time). Steering away from the traditional lead single promotions, PLUUS broke boundaries by promoting three tracks at once with "Amigo," "My Time" and "Cross My Heart" last year.

The trio of tracks also displayed PLUUS' wide array of talents: "Amigo" is a hip-hop-heavy dance pop track celebrating camaraderie; whereas "My Time" follows the personal stories of being an idol; and "Cross My Heart" is a love song about letting go. They've continued showing their versatility in 2024, with the airy single "Universe" and the thumping track "Summotion."

1st.One was already putting themselves on the map, and embodying their name, before they even made their official debut in July 2020; the month before, they became the first Filipino act to perform at the Seoul Music Awards. The six members — Ace, Max, Alpha, J, Joker, Jayson — debuted under the Philippine subsidiary of FirstOne Entertainment in South Korea with their single electronic pop single  "You Are The One (Ttak Maja Nuh)."

If you're into the nostalgic sounds of second-gen K-pop, 1st.One may be your seamless transition into P-pop. But just like any other group, they've explored different sounds and concepts; earlier this year, the group switched it up and dropped their R&B slow jam single "Dito" that was choreographed by member Max.

DIONE

1st.One's sister group, DIONE (or stylized as D1ONE), also debuted in 2020, carrying that girl crush aesthetic with them. Some members of the group were first introduced as LUNA, a project trainee group under FirstOne Entertainment set to debut. Eventually, the quartet composed of Joyden, DK, Clara, and Ella released their digital single "BLING BLING" in April 2022.

Upon their official debut, the quartet's image delivered expensive pop, soundtracking their luxurious, high-fashion looks with EDM-driven pop — somewhat reminiscent of the sounds of second-gen K-pop groups like 2NE1 and After School. Their music is fun, energetic and quite tantalizing.

Fairly new to the game, YARA is oozing with charisma, from their rap flows to their dance moves. Signed under Sony Music Philippines, YARA consists of four members — Gelou, Rocher, Christa, and Kim — who blend rap, hip-hop and pop all together.

Debuting in March 2023, the P-pop girl group released their first single "Adda" (short for "Apat Dapat Dapat Apat"). Earlier this year, the group revived the old school bubblegum pop song "Bakit Papa?" by variety show girl group Sexbomb Girls, and gave it an R&B twist. Their recent track "Katawan Flow" sees the group making the dancehall genre their own — hinting that their musical direction will always be unpredictable.

Maki isn't your typical idol pop singer, but that's exactly what makes him a promising soloist. He seamlessly blends alternative rock and pop together, triggering a listener to get in their feels along the way.

When he's not dancing to BINI's "Cherry On Top," you can often find Maki strumming a guitar, questioning various love-related situations. And it seems his approach is working: his latest release, "Dilaw," topped the Billboard Philippines' Hot 100 and Billboard Top Philippines Songs for multiple weeks in July.

Officially making their debut under Tyronne Escalante Artist Management and Merlion Events Production in 2022, CALISTA is working toward being the next P-pop greats. Carrying more of a girl crush vibe, CALISTA's sounds blend dreamy pop with 808 beats and R&B.

Originally debuting as a six-member ensemble with the trap-inspired pop single "Race Car," the group has spent the majority of 2024 as a quartet comprised of Anne, Dain, Elle, and Denise. Their latest single "Let Me Know" has made its way around TikTok, helping them get one step closer to achieving superstar status.

ECLYPSE

Originally known as YAMA, ECLYPSE is fairly new, but definitely promising, to the P-Pop game. Comprised of six former participants of reality-survival show "Top Class" (Lex, Gilly, Dean, Clyde, Gab, Joshuel) and one who was announced as a member on the live-streaming app KUMU (Rave), the group have been forming since 2022 and made their official debut this year under GKD Labels.

Whether they're taking on a light or dark concept, their sounds revolve around the EDM genre — a seamless fit for their tones and voices. If you're a fan of synths, harmonies and falsetto, this may be the group for you.

On March 22, Bodine unveiled her latest EP, Quemo Lento. Translating to "I burn slow," the eight-song project displays the duality of pain and pleasure — but on the EP's only piano-driven track, "Bambi," it's all heartache.

"It's short, but it explains everything it has to explain in that minute," Bodine said of the song in an interview with Univision. "It describes the feeling of slow-burning, a pain so deep that it is inexplicable."

In the latest episode of Global Spin, the Amsterdam-born, San Juan-raised artist performs a stripped-down version of "Bambi." Mirroring the black-and-white imagery of the song's music video, the performance is even more haunting than the original with just a piano and her soprano vocals.

Quemo Lento has been touted for its dreamy visuals and experimental sound. As of press time, Bodine has released four music videos from the EP, most recently delivering the visual for "Nalgaje," featuring fellow Dutch rapper Zefanio.

Earlier this year, Bodine made her SXSW stage debut and performed a string of shows throughout Puerto Rico to celebrate the release of Quemo Lento.

Press play on the video above to watch Bodine's chilling performance of "Bambi," and remember to check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.

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The mission for The Snuts' third album, Millennials, was to tap into "the emotions that we maybe haven't processed" and put "those big boiling points in your life" into song. And on their B-side, "Novastar," the Scottish indie rock band takes autonomy of their actions and emotions.

"Hey, mama, what you gon' tell me? I can be a heartbreaker, troublemaker, sunshaker/ Yeah, you better bet on me," they declare. "Alive/ I'm a Novastar, coming of age."

In this episode of Global Spin, The Snuts deliver an electrifying performance of "Novastar," playing each of their instruments live in the studio.

The Snuts released the standard and deluxe versions of Millennials on February 23 via Happy Artist Records, their imprint via The Orchard.

"On the last record, there was a bit more nuance," frontman Jack Cochrane said in a press statement. "With this one, we wanted to see how it would feel if we went more direct on the songs and to connect as easily as possible."

They recently wrapped the North American and European leg of the project's accompanying tour. In May, they'll perform a string of shows in Australia and Japan with support from Eliza & the Delusionals.

Press play on the video above to watch The Snuts' explosive performance of "Novastar," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.

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On her burning single "she," Slovakian singer Karin Ann beams about a confident, effortlessly beautiful mystery woman — from her unique distaste for modern television to her quaint apartment in the city.

"If someone ever would take her to the dance floor/ The world would disappear, the music would still be playing," Ann croons in the chorus. "Her heart beats so loud, even after everyone is gone/ She'd still be dancing, dancing in her own mind."

In this episode of Global Spin, watch Ann deliver a full-band performance of the track, complete with two guitars, a keyboard and a drum set — and a wall of records as a backdrop.

Ann came up with the concept for the track while searching through her phone during a sleepless night: "I stumbled upon a sentence that sparked inspiration. Most of my songs lean towards the sad or melancholic, but this particular lyric was different. I find it challenging to write happy songs, so it felt like creating this character allowed me the freedom to explore new territories with 'she.'"

"She" is the lead single from Ann's debut album, through the telescope, which arrives May 10 via 3amRecords. As "she" and second single "false gold" hint, the album will explore themes of love, identity and mental health while also showing off Ann's musical versatility.

Press play on the video above to watch Karin Ann's edgy performance of "she," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.

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