The five-track collection seamlessly fuses elements of OPM, Manila Sound, soft rock, and indie pop to create a self-assured declaration of her artistic direction. Throughout the release, she thoughtfully navigates universal experiences of love, yearning, and the intricacies of human connection.
Filipino singer-songwriter SHANNi has officially established a more assured artistic footprint with her debut EP, Cure For Loneliness, released today through Sony Music Entertainment. The five-track project showcases the young musician effortlessly navigating a diverse sonic landscape of Manila Sound, soft rock, sunshine pop, jazz, and indie pop. This musical evolution introduces a more sophisticated approach to her songwriting and instrumentation while maintaining a warm, intimate acoustic atmosphere.
Throughout the collection, SHANNi navigates the multi-layered complexities of love and emotional connection with a maturity that belies her years. She finds poetic sophistication in everyday experiences, openly confronting themes of inner darkness and emotional pain. While each track spotlights a unique dimension of affection, the EP’s central narrative underscores her realization that true healing often begins by embracing the love that already surrounds her.
“The songs are mostly about love and the different ways we experience it, whether through longing, connection, or simply feeling loved by the people around us,” shares SHANNi in a press statement. “As I was writing these songs, I also came to realize that I wasn’t as alone as I sometimes felt. The love and support I received from the people around me became a big part of my healing. In a way, the EP is a reminder that loneliness can be eased not only by finding love romantically, but also by recognizing the love that already exists in our lives.”
Co-produced by SHANNi alongside Max Cinco, the EP masterfully balances bright, welcoming instrumentation with a raw undercurrent of emotional vulnerability. This combination creates a rich sonic backdrop perfectly tailored for late-night drives, solitary urban walks, or moments of quiet reflection. Cinco’s distinct horn arrangements inject unique character and depth into the project’s retro pop vibe, transforming tracks like “2 O’CLOCK,” “Pag-uwi Mo,” and “Sorry Na Please” into highly engaging standouts.
A stellar creative team helped shape the record’s polished yet intimate sound signature. Recording engineer Marcus Mababangloob (Meadowlark Productions), digital mixing engineer Jet Francisco (Wild Grass Studio), and analog mastering engineer Marco de Leon (Mix Machine Analog) worked together to polish the EP’s warm, cohesive tone. Their technical precision seamlessly elevates SHANNi’s subtle and emotionally resonant storytelling.
“I didn’t really want to limit myself to one genre,” SHANNi explains. “Instead, I focused on what each song needed and what sound best expressed the story I wanted to tell. I think what ties everything together is the sincerity of the songwriting and the overall feeling of the EP. At the end of the day, I wanted the music to sound like me, like SHANNi, and to create a world that listeners could feel comfortable in. For me, finding my identity as an artist is about embracing the different things I love and making them my own.”
To celebrate the milestone, SHANNi is hosting an official EP launch party at the Theodore Events Place in Marikina City on October 31, 2026, starting at 6:00 p.m. The celebratory gig features an impressive lineup of guest performers, including iconic OPM band The Itchyworms, alongside alternative pop acts ena mori, One Click Straight, Suyen, Planetena, and Uncle Jonny.
“Having all these amazing artists come together makes the night even more meaningful, and I think it’ll be a beautiful celebration of music and community,” SHANNi shares. “More than anything, this is my way of saying thank you to everyone who has supported me and believed in this journey.”
With Cure For Loneliness, SHANNi delivers far more than a simple musical introduction. Instead, she crafts a relatable space where listeners can see their own lives mirrored in her narratives, offering comfort through the shared realities of human experience. SHANNi’s debut effort ultimately serves as a comforting reminder that no one has to navigate these emotions entirely alone.
SHANNi’s Cure For Loneliness is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.
