If your current playlist feels a little too manufactured, it’s time to deep-dive into a band that is building an entire universe of their own. Meet NEW LORE—the all-female alt-pop trio that is quickly becoming the undisputed soundtrack of the local creative youth.
Composed of visual artist and poet Tita Halaman on vocals and guitar, Kim Escalona on bass, and Carole Lantican on drums, this three-piece act doesn't just write hooks. They turn physical art into indie melodies.
The Evolution of the Lore
ICYDK, the band originally started out as NO LORE, a dynamic indie-electronic sibling duo. But when that era came to a close, frontwoman Joisha Juatco fully embraced her visual artist moniker, Tita Halaman. Ready to expand her sonic universe, she teamed up with Escalona and Carole Lantican last year to officially birth NEW LORE.
What makes them a total visual and sonic experience is their creative process. Supported by independent record label Off The Record in a distribution partnership with Sony Music Entertainment Philippines, every track they drop is built directly around a physical painting or a raw poem illustrated by Tita Halaman herself. It is literal modern art repackaged into highly addictive synth-pop tracks.
From 'Trauma Pop' to Pure Healing
Following the success of their surprisingly mature debut album grief cake in 2025, which tackled the awkward growing pains of adulting, the band has officially entered a brand-new era. Their rapid rise recently landed them a coveted spot in the Spotify RADAR Philippines Class of 2026, cementing their status as OPM's next big global crossovers. If you think their local billboards across the metro are a flex, the girls literally made international waves when they were featured on a massive digital billboard right in the middle of Times Square, New York City.
Their latest studio album, GOOD GOOD JUJU (released this June 2026), marks a beautiful shift in direction. If their previous record was about sitting with loss, their new era is all about what they call "healing pop" or "therapy pop"—a sonically lush collection of songs dedicated to choosing joy, romanticizing small habits, and moving forward.
Leading this new sonic wave is their viral carrier single, "substack girl," which clocked thousands of streams in its first 24 hours and landed on massive global Spotify playlists. With lyrics that specifically scream out to the “art fair lovers, film enjoyers, and thrift store girlies,” the track perfectly captures what the band does best: creating anthems for the overfeelers and almost-healers.
When asked about the heart behind this record, NEW LORE shares exclusively with Metroscene Magazine:
"We hope they leave with a little more gentleness for themselves. GOOD GOOD JUJU was written during a season when we were learning that healing isn’t loud or linear. Sometimes it’s just making coffee, walking home with your friends, buying a shirt from a thrift store, or finally believing you deserve a peaceful life. If our songs can make someone feel a little less alone, or remind them that joy doesn’t have to be earned, then we’ve done what we wanted the album to do."
Time to Join the Lore
While the mainstream music machine struggles to find its soul, NEW LORE is quietly proving that the future of OPM is female, completely self-produced, and deeply human. They’ve given a safe space to a generation that feels everything all at once, and it’s about time we give them the permanent spot on our playlists that they deserve.
And if you think this era is peak NEW LORE, think again. The trio is just getting started.
"We’re not slowing down anytime soon," the band teases Metroscene. "We’ve actually got another full-length album coming later this year, and it’s probably our most ambitious and emotionally honest project yet. Aside from that, we’re working on a few special shows and collaborations that we can’t fully talk about yet. This year has really become about building a bigger world around NEW LORE, and we’re excited for everyone to step into it with us."
Metroscene Picks: Our Top NEW LORE Tracks to Loop
If you don't know where to start your deep-dive, here are the tracks currently destroying the repeat buttons of the Metroscene office:
- your playlist is a lie" (feat. Barbie Almalbis) — A legendary cross-generation link-up. It features the iconic, dreamy vocals of OPM alternative queen Barbie Almalbis layered beautifully over a late-night bedroom synth canvas. It is specifically dedicated to people who organize their music catalogs like a love letter.
- "girlhood" — This track is a masterclass in what the trio calls "softcore love". Built on cozy lo-fi beats, gentle ambient high synths, and incredibly playful, sentimental lyricism about raw emotional safety, it feels exactly like a reassuring warm hug from your best friend.
- "my crush and i will crush the system baby" — Hands down the coolest track title on GOOD GOOD JUJU. It’s punchy, unapologetically loud, and serves major main-character energy for your next daily commute or if you just want a track to stomp around your bedroom to.
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