Metroscene Mag - For the young, empowered & creative

There is a specific kind of bravery required to build a kingdom out of the things most people run away from. For Filipino bedroom pop artist Peej , that kingdom is a sprawling, melodic landscape of isolation, and he is ready to claim his crown.

January is loud with urgency—the need to prove, to reinvent, to arrive all at once. By February, the noise softens, but the eagerness doesn’t disappear. The first half of the year still pulses with quiet pressure: to be seen, to stay relevant, to keep up with a world that never stops watching.  For Waynona Collings , this season marks a deliberate shift away from that glare. Her journey today is no longer about chasing milestones or performing growth for public consumption. Instead, it centers on choosing authenticity, protecting her mental peace, and allowing herself to exist without constantly proving her worth.  It’s a striking contrast to where many of us first met her. We remember Waynona inside the Pinoy Big Brother house, living under the intense scrutiny of cameras and expectations. When you stay too long beneath it, you risk shrinking yourself to fit the frame, slowly replacing your own voice with what the audience wants to hear. For our #MetrosceneProfile this Fe...

If everyone can be a viral sensation now, the real question is who’s willing to do the work that comes after the spotlight hits?  In the age of virality , everyone gets to be seen; popularity can be as simple as hitting “upload.” But visibility isn’t stardom. Anyone can go viral, but to be a star is a conscious choice to claim your artistry.  Sassa Gurl understands this, and the proof is in her work. From creating viral videos to becoming a rapper and producing music, to doing high-fashion editorials and walking the runway, her work is a clear indication of her intention to grow and push her art.  It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we are witnessing the birth of a star.

Forget everything you thought you knew about Waiian . You might remember Waiian for his off-kilter rhymes and cartoonish bravado. But with the release of his third studio album BACKSHOTS ? It's a different beast entirely. Sure, the trademark quirkiness is still there, like a mischievous grin peeking out from behind in his album cover. But underneath the playful surface, a mature, almost unsettlingly self-aware artist is emerging.  "I think right now, in 2025, Waiian is gonna be unapologetically him," he proclaims, a statement that lands with the force of a well-placed backhand or a BACKSHOTS if you may. And he's not wrong. The nine-track is a masterclass in controlled chaos, a tightrope walk between the absurd and the profound. It's the sound of an artist who's finally found his voice that's both hilarious and mature. "My writing has shaped to completely suit my personality outside of music," he reveals. "So when I do enter the studio for wo...

If being born is the ultimate act of creation, what comes next? For 26-year-old Andre Chan from Cebu, the answer unfolds through questioning everything in his art. Reflecting on what inspired his artistic journey, he reveals, " QUESTIONS. Questioning existence (I was aware of this at six). Questioning authorities. Questioning the elements of the world. Why was I born? Why should I be grateful? What’s the reason behind it all? I did not consent to enter this world, and now I’m constantly grappling with these QUESTIONS ." At 16, Andre started his artistic journey, selling his first piece, “Man Against Society.” His influences are as diverse as they are profound, drawn from the richness of his experiences and the ties of thoughts that shape his creative vision. He finds beauty in the natural world, letting its elements inspire and inform his work, imbuing each piece with a sense of wonder and deep connection. "I mainly play with thoughts," he shares. "And thoughts...

Fighting for the rights of the rainbow community demands real work–– to show up a day carrying your true self, dwell on the sidewalks of unwarranted offense, endure the unmoving traffic of legislative bills, and be coerced to sit in an office of toxic ideology; but for the gays, it does not start at 9 and end at 5, it is a year-round persistent plead to trash the narratives of exploitation. Growing up queer, per se, is already a stretch in society, let alone wearing feminine clothes and accessories in a country where the notion of machismo is culturally entrenched. But Deo Cabrera is a paragon of being unbothered–– with a dress, make-up, and a pair of heels they snatched from their closet, they walk out of their house indifferent to what other people might think. With courage and strength, it is every day that Deo challenges gender norms by presenting themself to the world with their fleeky, girly outfits– – HALATA! In their TikTok, which is warmly embraced by most spectators, they emp...

If you’re a meme connoisseur or just chronically online on Facebook and Tiktok , it’s almost impossible not to come across these three men in the most random of videos posted in the said platforms. With more than 225 thousand followers on Facebook, 313 thousand followers and an accumulated 12.2 million likes on Tiktok – The Pebbles have certainly made a name for themselves with their chaotic, out-of-the-box, and downright comical videos.  With their content on countless timelines, it’s safe to say that these boys are here to stay. On that note, let’s get to know Azul, Eua, and Haduj more – as Metroscene Mag is beyond lucky to be able to have them for an interview – allowing us to go inside and pick their brains which oozes with creativity, humour, and the randomness of it all. It’s Pebbles Time!  If you have not seen their work, it’s highly suggested that you go to their page right now and be mesmerized as you hit comedy gold . The Pebbles have always had a knack of making v...

A young mind, a guitar, and an eventual realization are the genesis of BUGS, aka Luis del Rosario’s life-altering step into the music scene.  Growing up with R&B and hip hop influences from artists like Neyo, Chris Brown, and Usher, BUGS always had a passion for music but didn't know how to turn his ideas into reality. That is, until he came across YouTube singers AJ Rafael, Gabe Bondoc, and Jeremy Passion, who inspired him to start creating his own music. A pivotal moment in BUGS's career came when Kindred Productions offered him an opportunity to develop his talent and mold him into the artist he is today. With Kindred's guidance, BUGS began to release his own music and quickly gained a following. In a recent interview with Metroscene Mag, BUGS opened up about his journey in music and how he is "trailing his heartbeat" to create music that is true to himself. A Glimpse Of His Musical Persona As an artist, BUGS doesn't follow a set plan when creating musi...