The Vowels They Orbit Release New EP: ‘gusto ko lang maalala’

The third EP offers a soft yet striking reminder that while moments fade, the feelings they leave behind stays forever

Filipino indie-pop outfit the vowels they orbit (tvto) makes a poignant return with their third EP, gusto ko lang maalala, a tender exploration of love, loss, and the nostalgia of remembering.

Following the introspective tuloy tuloy tuloy!, which captured survival and fleeting moments amid the pandemic, the band’s latest offering delves deeper into reflection. The EP embraces the bittersweet nature of memory—the realization that as time moves forward, what we once held close can only be reconstructed in fragments.

Leading the EP is the haunting single “miss na kita,” a meditation on longing in its many forms. Vocalist Nikka Melchor shares, “I wrote ‘miss na kita’ one morning to express missing your younger self. But it can mean so many things: loss of self, loss of someone dear, or even a lost moment in time.”

Guitarist Gene Santiago adds, “It’s about longing—someone, something, a moment, or a dream. It’s that feeling of wanting to pause or rewind time to live it all again.”

True to its themes, gusto ko lang maalala carries an ethereal yet grounded sound. Each arrangement mirrors the intimacy of the lyrics, creating an experience akin to flipping through a photo album of cherished memories. Nikka explains, “We focused on emotional cues—basslines dancing with sadness, guitars evoking flashbacks. Every detail matters to tell the story.”

The EP was produced by Darwin Hernandez of Soupstar Music, with arrangements from Filipino rock icons Raymund Marasigan and Buddy Zabala of Eraserheads, and additional production from Eunice Jorge of Gracenote. Recorded at Velvet Playground Studio in Marikina, tvto’s first session there proved both challenging and rewarding. “Working with Raymund and Buddy was surreal. Even small tweaks transformed our songs entirely. We learned so much in one session,” the band recalls.

gusto ko lang maalala features three original tracks and one special rendition of a classic hit, each capturing a unique shade of longing—from the reflective “miss na kita” to the wistful energy of “basta” and “para bago.”

The five-piece indie pop-rock band from Metro Manila—Nikka Melchor (vocals/guitars), Hannah Dela Cruz (keyboards/vocals), Gene Santiago (guitars), and Patch Javier (bass)—continues to craft music that resonates with the poetry of everyday Filipino life.

gusto ko lang maalala is now streaming worldwide on all digital platforms via Sony Music Entertainment.