OPM’s Rising Stars The Vowels We Orbit Unveil Their Most Personal EP Yet
the vowels we orbit wrap their sound in a nostalgic, melancholic haze, effortlessly channeling the spirit of ’90s rock. Listening to them feels like discovering Kitchie Nadal all over again, times two, with her distinctive influence clearly present in their sound. Their music is deep, contemplative, and wistful.
While comparisons may occur, the vowels we orbit, or simply VTO, have worked diligently to establish their distinct sound. With two EPs to their name, the band—comprising Nikka Melchor (guitar and vocals), Hannah dela Cruz (keyboard and vocals), Gene Santiago (guitar), and Patch Javier (drums)—has maintained their musical integrity throughout their careers, starting with Ang Unang Ikot in 2021, and tuloy tuloy tuloy in 2023.
These two EPs spawned hits for the band like Selos in 2019, already under Sony Music, and Kiliti a year after. Tuloy Tuloy Tuloy on the other hand, cemented VTO even more into familiarity with hits like Una, Sandali, Bangungot, and If You Come Back to Me, to name a few.
Moreover, their experience in the lull during the pandemic motivated them to create an even more uplifting and confident lineup of compositions, reflecting their ongoing personal growth and creativity. Introspection made releasing another EP feel destined. Yet, it took a full year before Soupstar Promotions finally recognized their efforts.
Perfect timing nonetheless propelled them even further as they dropped their third EP, fueled by the mentorship and wisdom of Eheads legends Buddy Zabala and Raymund Marasigan.
At a recent exclusive listening session, the band treated select members of the music press to an early taste of their latest EP, gusto ko lang maalala. Introducing the foursome is Josh Villena, husband to VTO’s lead vocalist, who also performed two songs, namely Hello and Minsan.
As the group readied themselves and took the stage, a hush fell over the room, as everyone quietly soaked in the music and rediscovered the familiar singles that defined their sound from 2021 to 2023.
VTO performed two new singles for their third and latest EP called Para Bago and Miss Na Kita.