Today, as the new generation is taking over, a new roster of multi-talented female R&B artists is taking the Filipino R&B genre to new levels. With the determination to create fresh OPM sound and explore different styles, they also want to resonate with the rest of the world through music.
So, to know more about the new generation of Filipina R&B artists, we give you five Filipina R&B artists you should listen to right now!
Denise Julia
May it be from a TikTok video, Instagram reels, or YouTube shorts, I’m sure you’ve heard one of her songs roaming around social media right now. With over 29 million streams on Spotify and counting, Denise Julia’s “NVMD” (pronounced as nevermind) serves as her latest hit single. Released in February 2022, the upbeat boy-bye R&B track has gained a strong following and instantly became a crowd favorite.
As a rising Filipina R&B singer-songwriter, she's often compared to foreign artists, but Denise always stays true to her craft and continues to find her sound. In her interview with Nylon Manila, Denise mentioned her musical influences and how her sound is a combination of 90s R&B women and modern R&B women.
Before her viral hit single NVMD, Denise had also released a handful of singles and did a couple of collaborations with different musicians, too. So, if you’re looking for an R&B independent woman anthem like “Pity Ya” or a song that expresses the hardships of being in a toxic relationship like “Difficult,” make sure to stream her sensational discography on different digital music platforms.
jikamarie
Angelika Lois Ponce aka jikamarie has first gained popularity on TikTok. With her debut single “Lutang” (Filipino word for “float”), which has over 17 million streams on Spotify alone, jikamarie became a famous internet sensation. Released in August 2021, "Lutang" is a song about the uncertainty of life, frustrations, and feeling trapped that became an ultimate escapist alt-pop anthem.
As a creative R&B singer-songwriter under Warner Music Philippines, jikamarie also dives into alternative, soul, and dream-pop genres. Through her music, jikamarie wants to write songs and share her feelings about love, mental and emotional challenges, and how one navigates their youth. So if you want to listen to chill, groovy yet comforting music like “Kailangan ko ng…” and “aking buwan”, checking out jikamarie’s discography is a must.
DENȲ
If you haven’t heard the music of DENȲ, oh girl, you’re missing a lot! Pronounced as Deni, DENȲ is a Filipina R&B singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and dance artist.
Reppin the WAYBETTR collective, a youth movement composed of well-rounded artists in the Philippines, DENȲ started making waves in the Philippine music industry. With her distinct and versatile voice, DENȲ mostly sings about the different facets of love and just being an independent woman.
Aside from her solo compositions, DENȲ also did collaborations with various Filipino hip-hop and R&B artists. So, if you’re looking for a bop song to dedicate to your crush, you should totally check out her latest single, “Mahiyain,” and her viral hit single “Gusto With Ya,” which has amassed over 2 million streams now on Spotify.
Jolianne
With her silk-smooth vocal riffs and runs, Jolianne is on her way to level up the local R&B genre. As a young R&B-pop singer-songwriter, Jolianne first made waves in 2015 as a contestant on The Voice Kids Philippines (Season 2). Now, Jolianne is under Careless Music, a record label in the Philippines, started by singer-songwriters and actors James Reid and Bret Jackson.
Through her unique and distinct sound, Jolianne elevates her music through dreamy and sentimental yet powerful lyricism. As she is still honing her craft, Jolianne intends to explore various sounds and styles with the hope that her music will resonate with the rest of the world.
If you’re looking for a powerful jazzy R&B tracks to add on your lo-fi playlist, make sure to add Jolianne’s “Sublime,” “Brand New,” and her latest single “Routine.”
Kiana V
Of course, a list of new-gen local R&B artists is not complete without the one and only Kiana V! As she grew up surrounded by music and entertainment, Kiana Valenciano, aka Kiana V, has become one of the most seasoned female R&B artists of today’s generation. Currently, Kiana is an L.A.-based Filipina R&B-pop singer-songwriter.
With the successful release of her 2017 hit single, “Does She Know,” which has over 17 million streams now on Spotify alone, Kiana has released a handful of singles, collaborations, and at least three EPs. Last year, Kiana was also awarded the People’s Choice Award for Best Female Performance at the 33rd Awit Awards 2021. As she continues to cultivate her unique sound and gain new listeners here and abroad, her involvement with Tarsier Records and 88rising’s Filipino sub-label Paradise Rising did help to expand her musical range as an artist.
So if you’re looking for dreamy R&B/soul therapeutic dream-pop songs, you should check out Kiana V’s latest EP, Dazed. Also, make sure to listen to her newest single, “Heartbeat On Me,” a song that delves into the exciting feeling of falling in love and a certified kilig anthem.
Let’s support our local female R&B artists, go check out their music now!
━━ Art By Rhian Cultiva
