LILY, one of the Philippines’ most beloved bands, releases its latest single, Higa, an enticing track sure to fulfill your musical desires. Their lead vocalist, Joshua Bulot, conceived this irresistible track while people-watching at a bar in Poblacion. “I was drawn to the thrill of attraction. I wanted to sing about the power dynamics and the excitement of that first encounter,” Joshua narrates. Listen to ‘Higa’ here: https://lilymusic.lnk.to/Higa.
However, Joshua’s self-doubt as the newest member of the OPM hitmakers almost led to Higa being scrapped. He worried that his song differed from the themes explored by his bandmates before.
Lem Belaro, chief songwriter and LILY’s drummer recalls, “When Josh first played Higa to us on his guitar, he was filled with uncertainty. But when we heard his lyrics and chords, it sparked something in each of us. We were inspired to bring his song to life using our skills and instruments.”
The team felt that Higa was the perfect song to demonstrate the band’s musical range. Aaron Ricafrente, the bass guitarist, shares his enthusiasm: “This song was a great opportunity for me to experiment with different genres. I’m known for playing rock, but I was able to incorporate funk, jazz, and swing elements – something that our audience hasn’t heard from us before.”
In addition, everyone knew that Joshua’s raw and honest narration was a step in the right direction. Nathan Reyes, the band’s rhythm and lead guitarist, explains, “This song truly reflects our growth as songwriters. We’ve taken a more mature approach, even exploring topics like sensuality.”
When you listen to Higa, every instrument—guitars, keyboard, and drums—comes through clearly, each complementing the other and perfectly balancing Joshua’s voice. Keyboardist Ezra Bañez adds, “Higa is truly a team effort. There was freedom to explore, resulting in a truly unique piece of music reflecting LILY.”
Beyond personal expression, LILY knows that Higa is a gift to their loyal fans and a gateway for new audiences to explore their music. Alden Acosta, LILY’s lead guitarist teases, “The lyrics of the song are open to interpretation. We encourage the listeners to discover what each word means to them.”
To showcase LILY’s creative evolution, they collaborated with Malupiton, one of the country’s top content creators, on the Higa music video. The final product captures each group member’s personality while incorporating the sharp comedic sensibilities of both Malupiton and the band.
Keep an eye out for the mysterious woman with fiery red hair—her presence adds an intriguing twist that invites you to delve deeper into the ever-evolving sound of LILY.
Higa, LILY’s latest single is now available on all streaming platforms and the music video is now available to watch on YouTube. WATCH: LILY ‘Higa’ Music Video featuring Malupiton here.
