Monday, April 6, 2026

It's just March, but here's June: Ligaya Escueta's New Shoegaze Single

New music alert! Punk rock young blood Ligaya Escueta releases a new single titled June, a dreampop love song that sonically reiterates the ache of young romance in a soft, almost ethereal melody. The song is now available on all digital streaming platforms. 

Coming down from the high of her previous emotionally-charged album "Dollweb" (2025), Abigail Escueta, better known as her stage name, Ligaya Escueta, pulls yet the heartstrings of her listeners with the release of June. 

“Love songs have always been hard for me to write. I just feel like so much has been said about love that it kind of feels so overwhelming to try to sum it up in a song,” shares the 19-year-old musician, expressing her difficulties creating such a vulnerable track. However, for June, Escueta remarks how fast the flow came naturally to her the moment the idea came to mind. “A lot of lyrics came easily to me. I got the choruses done quickly, but was only able to finish the verse lyrics in the car on the way to a gig, which is a funny story.” 

NYMA’s Kat Bautista Named Judge for Hashtag Asia Awards 2026

Kat Bautista, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of NYMA Talent Management, has been named as one of the judges for the Hashtag Asia Awards 2026, a regional platform recognizing excellence in social media and digital campaigns.

Bautista brings over a decade of experience in digital strategy, talent management, and brand partnerships. Under her leadership, NYMA Talent Management has grown into a leading agency representing some of the Philippines’ most influential creators, artists, and personalities, helping bring Filipino talent to a global stage.

This year, Bautista also serves as a judge for the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards and the Webby Awards, further underscoring her recognition as a trusted industry voice across global award-giving bodies.

Live-Action Adaptation Of The Guilt-Driven Japanese Coming-Of-Age Story “The Flowers Of Evil” To Debut April 9 On Disney+

Based On The Hugely Popular Manga of the Same Name, This Upcoming Series Is Adapted For The Screen By Keita Meguro and Shuho Takase And Stars Fuku Suzuki And Ano

When a teenage boy is caught smelling his female classmate’s gym clothes, his blackmailer will send him down a guilt-ridden spiral in The Flowers of Evil, a harrowing new Japanese coming-of-age story debuting April 9 on Disney+.

Driven to despair by life in his dull hometown, high school student Takao Kasuga finds comfort in the pages of his favorite literary works. Inspired by the poems of Baudelaire, Kasuga yearns for the attentions of his seemingly perfect classmate Nanako Saeki, but when he gets caught smelling her gym clothes after school, he’ll find himself being pushed down a dark path by his blackmailing classmate, Nakamura. As Takao spirals with guilt over one bad decision, Nakamura takes advantage of him, pushing him to make even worse decisions at every turn. Caught in a terrifying situation with seemingly no escape, things come to a head at the local town festival.

Sunday, April 5, 2026

AXEAN Festival 2026 heads back to Bali for its seventh edition

With growing global recognition, the platform continues to reshape how the world engages with the region’s artists

AXEAN Festival, Southeast Asia’s top intra-regional music showcase and conference platform, is scheduled to return for its seventh edition at Jimbaran Hub in Bali, Indonesia, from August 29 to 30, 2026.

Launched in 2020 by a collective of music industry professionals across the region, AXEAN Festival has exponentially grown into a key export platform for Southeast Asian music, as well as a prominent convergence for cross-border collaborations and partnerships between global industry stakeholders and artists. To date, the music showcase and conference event has successfully hosted both virtual editions (2020-2021) and in-person gatherings (2022-2025) in Singapore and Bali. Over six editions, AXEAN has featured nearly 300 artists representing more than 20 countries.

Saturday, April 4, 2026

‘Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special’ Hits Superstar Numbers Driving 6.3M Views on Disney+ and Hulu

Fans fuel anniversary into full blown celebration from events and activations to massive brand collaborations and nonstop social conversation

Two decades later, Hannah Montana still owns the spotlight as a defining cultural icon, proved by this week’s celebration:

The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special drove 6.3M views on Disney+ and Hulu after three days streaming.

The celebration of the anniversary drove nearly 1,000% increase in viewing of the Hannah Montana catalog this past week.

Thai Pop's Rising Star ALLY Launches Global Push with Manila Visit

Thai pop star ALLY (Achiraya Nitibhon) came to Manila this month as the first stop of her international campaign for new English single “but you,” marking her official push into the Southeast Asian market.

At just 21, ALLY has emerged as one of Thailand’s most promising new-generation artists, known for her dynamic performances, fashion-forward presence, and emotionally resonant pop sound. Her Manila stop signals the beginning of a broader regional rollout aimed at connecting with international audiences and building a global fanbase.

Her latest track, “but you,” represents a pivotal moment in her artistic journey. Performed entirely in English, the song blends R&B, pop, and lo-fi hip-hop influences into a smooth, atmospheric soundscape that captures longing, emotional distance, and the ache of enduring feelings often tied to an undefined relationship.

Friday, April 3, 2026

Central Cee releases highly anticipated EP “ALL ROADS LEAD HOME”

Featuring “Iceman Freestyle” & “Slaughter” Ft. J Hus

Central Cee releases his highly anticipated EP, ALL ROADS LEAD HOME. The seven-track project arrives in the wake of two stand-out records, “Iceman Freestyle” and “Slaughter” featuring J Hus.

“Slaughter” saw two of the UK’s most influential voices unite on record for the first time, a landmark collaboration for Cench, whose work with UK artist collaborations have been notably selective to date. The track has quickly emerged as a fan favourite, underlining the chemistry between the pair and setting the tone for the wider project.

It's just March, but here's June: Ligaya Escueta's New Shoegaze Single

New music alert! Punk rock young blood Ligaya Escueta releases a new single titled June, a dreampop love song that sonically reiterates the ...