Never feel alone with Spotify Radar artists New Lore and Fitterkarma
Indie music thrives precisely because of its specificity: Not everyone will understand, but those who do understand more deeply. We spend so much of our lives, after all, sitting with a feeling of unbelonging, and I think this is where the draw of indie lies—that feeling is captured and in turn shared, until it’s no longer a cross to bear but something to be worn on one’s sleeve.
It comes as no surprise that indie music prevails in this year’s Radar Philippines, Spotify’s annual program that recognizes promising OPM acts. These artists are loyal only to their creativity and the people who believe. We chat with two of them below.
Two of the most promising OPM acts today know that not everyone will understand their music, but those who do understand it more deeply.
New Lore is an all-girl band that turns vocalist Tita Halaman’s paintings and poetry into music. Previously, they described their songs as “trauma pop,” having gone through challenges last year that led to a complete name change and starting from scratch. “But it felt good to start (again),” Tita Halaman told me. “In fact, it was the best decision,” echoed bassist Kim Escalona.
Fitterkarma is a four-piece band that had the entire country comparing love to cannibalism since going viral last year. With songs inspired by Philippine folklore, the band was also recently voted by listeners as a Spotify Tatak Pinoy Live headliner. They appeared on TV5’s Vibe and met fans during the intimate performance.
Heart-to-art with New Lore
Members: Tita Halaman (vocals/guitar), Kim Escalona (bass), and Carole Lantican (drums)
Song you may know: Substack Girl, which they hope reaches “gig goer, art fair lover, film enjoyer, thrift store lover, vinyl seeker, poetry reader, soul admirer, joybaiter” listeners.
Song we recommend: Who Hurt U, from their 2025 album “Grief Cake.”
YOUNG STAR: What “indie” means has shifted over the years. How do you personally define it, and what makes it the perfect label for you?
Tita Halaman: With the music we do, we don't try to chase what's trendy. We try to be real with ourselves, to express what we really feel and who we are as real people with real feelings. For me, that's indie.
Kim Escalona: New Lore is music from art and poetry. (Tita Halaman is) a real-life painter. Everything that we do is an expression of our art, from music videos to lyrics to the melodies, the beats—everything is so personal for us. Even our process is very personal. I think that's what makes us indie.
Tita: Even the way we record our songs, we only record inside our bedroom. We rent the mic from a co-musician because we don't have that expensive, high-quality mic.
Kim: It is personal, and we are in our safe space.
I really love that your music is so personal. What are the personal histories and influences that shape your music right now?
Tita: We love The Marías. I love the vocal harmonies (and) the way María Zardoya sings. We also love Hayley Williams—we mentioned her on our song Substack Girl, because we read her secret Substack.
Carole Lantican: Although, in our first album (2025’s Grief Cake), we tried to avoid imitating. We tried not to limit ourselves to a single genre or in a box.
TITA: It's very intentional because our songs reflect what's happening with us. So if we feel traumatized, we write songs about “trauma pop.” But right now we feel in love, (so) we write songs about love.
What's one of the biggest challenges you face as indie artists?
Kim: It's more of the frustration of, you make art for yourself, right? And you make art to share as well. (The challenge is) the discovery. You want to share your music, but then not many get to know your music.
That's why we're so happy to be part of Spotify Radar. It's such a great project. We've worked so hard for our album, for our live performances, our aesthetic. Everything is very intentional. And we really want to share it with the world.
Looking ahead, what does success look like for you guys at this point?
Tita: As a (musician) and as a visual artist, success is when I get to form a community of creative people who believe sa goals namin at sa paninindigan namin. And when I get to share my art with them, and they get to share their art with me. That’s why with New Lore too, we try to form different kinds of communities: art clubs and different kinds of workshops.
And (success is) when you're free. I think it's a privilege that I get to do art. I get to paint and write poems. I get to write songs and put them out there. It's really the freedom that you get to freely express, to freely share your art.
Kim: (Our music is a) call for art lovers. We're manifesting people we want to be with. We're looking for our soulmates; not in the romantic sense, but same-minded people.
Carole: At the same time, I'm doing it with my two best friends. It's such a dream come true, all of those combined. Is this real? It's such a privilege. We're very grateful.
Fitterkarma comforts the disturbed
Members: Joao de Leon (vocals), Sophia Miranda (bass, vocals), Lory Mendoza (lead guitar, backup vocals), and Ders Bayas (drums)
Song you may know: Pag-Ibig ay Kanibalismo II
Song we recommend: Their latest single with Novocrane, Aswang sa Maynila.
What are the personal histories, experiences, or musical influences that shape your sound at the moment?
Joao De Leon: Ako siguro, isolation. Dami ko kasing naiisip ‘pag mag-isa ako, tapos ‘yon din ‘yung time ko para makinig ng music.
Lory Mendoza: Everyday life lang. (Noong) minsan, nagkaroon ako ng production idea no’ng narinig ko ‘yung sumisigaw sa LRT. ‘Yung guard na naka-megaphone? “Pambabaeng tren lang ‘yan, sir!” Do’n ko nakuha ‘yung idea na maglagay ng sample sa (unreleased song na) Purgatoryo.
I know that you all studied music in college, but was there a specific moment recently where you realized, “Okay, maybe this music thing is something I can do professionally?”
Joao: Parang wala akong choice, eh. “Do or die” siya sa akin. Growing up, ‘yon na ‘yung gusto kong gawin; wala nang iba.
Ders Bayas: Lumaki ako sa family na puro musicians. So naisip ko rin na at a very young age na, what if ako rin, tumugtog sa mga stage? ‘Di ko (pa masabing) umabot na ‘ko sa gano’ng point, pero step by step, dadating din ako. It's not that I need to prove myself sa family ko, but it's about little me and proving myself sa sarili ko.
Sophia Miranda: Sa akin naman, ako ‘yung one of the first sa family to pursue music. And now, ’yung mga little pamangkin (ko), they embrace what they want. Nakakatuwa lang din makita na ‘yung next generation is learning to love themselves.
Lory: I think similar kami ni Jo, in that aspect na “do or die.” Hindi siya something I can do; I have to do it.
You’ve had a whirlwind year with Pag-Ibig ay Kanibalismo II going viral practically overnight. Was there a specific challenge you’ve had to face, specifically as indie artists?
Joao: Traffic. Lagi nale-late eh. Many times, wala kaming oras kumain, walang oras matulog. Gym membership—kumikita na ‘yung gym dahil sa amin, kasi minsan na lang kami makapasok, pero monthly kaming sinisingil. Nakakaiyak.
Ang hirap na ring maghanap ng oras magsulat. Minsan, wala na akong pinipiling oras para magsulat, basta may idea, kahit nasa’n man ako, sa tren or anything, gagawin ko basta mamaximize ko ‘yung time.
Ders: Maliban sa tour, kami ni Lory, we’re still in college. Challenging for us na i-juggle.
Mahirap din magsulat ng songs and ideas.
Do you ever have a tough time balancing what you want to do creatively versus ‘yung alam niyong mas bebenta to more listeners?
Joao: Ako kasi, hindi ko iniisip ‘yung tao. Isa ‘yon sa mga rason ba’t ko nasulat ‘yung Kanibalismo II. I just wanna be myself. I'm not saying na kumakain ako ng tao (laughs). For context, ‘yung family ko on the mother side, sobrang devout Christian, tapos puro gano’n ‘yung pinagsusulat ko. Hindi ko na kinwestyon kung magagalit ba ‘yung pastor namin or what. Just be creative.
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Head to the Radar Philippines playlist on Spotify to listen to the 2026 class. Follow the artists at @newloreworld and @fitterkarma.
