The 2000s indie rock revival just got its most important addition. Narda, the Filipino band that helped define underground music in the Philippines two decades ago, has returned with their first new material in three years—and they’re not just testing the waters.
Narda’s History in Brief
The band has enjoyed an industry-transcending history. They rose to fame in the early 2000s, winning the “In the Raw” Award at the NU 107 Rock Awards. They turned “Kusina” into a Love Radio staple and scored a chart-topper with “Molotov,” which became an RC Cola jingle. That’s the kind of cultural crossover that doesn’t happen by accident.
But as people grow, so did the band and their multitude of personal and shared experiences. They’ve taken a break, and have returned refreshed. This is Narda now.
“Antipolo”: A New Direction
The new single signals a significant shift for Narda. Gone are the politically charged punk anthems, replaced by what vocalist Katwo Puertollano calls their “sexiest song yet.”
“We’re no longer angry. We’ve mellowed out, and our sense of humor is back,” says the New York-based Puertollano. Bassist Wincy Ong describes “Antipolo” as fulfilling a long-time goal: “I’ve always wanted to write a road trip song for Narda. ‘Antipolo’ is about the freedom of the open road and how exciting young love can be.”
Lead guitarist Nico Africa took unexpected inspiration: “I took some cues from songs like Player’s ‘Baby Come Back’. I was hearing something yacht rock-ish.” Guitarist JV Javier adds: “I’d say this is our funkiest song yet, and it’s funny because OPM right now is riding a funk wave, thanks to bands like Lola Amour.”
The Road to Coming Back
The three-year gap wasn’t just creative; it was deeply personal. Drummer Ryan Villena explains: “Some of us have lost a parent, Katwo had a life-saving surgery, and Wincy lost his wife last year. For us, music has always been a lifeline when things get rough.”
This context makes Narda’s return feel less like a comeback and more like necessary creative therapy.
Four More Singles Coming: Rap, Ska, and 80s Ballads
Narda has four more singles scheduled for 2025, and they’re not playing it safe. “High (Balat Hanggang Kalansay)” and “Together Aswang” will feature Puertollano rapping in Tagalog for the first time. “Ganyan Ang Buhay” will showcase ska influences, while “Magsabi Ka Lang” promises to be an 80s-style ballad featuring newest member Camyl Besinga of Techy Romantics, who happens to be Villena’s wife and Puertollano’s best friend since high school.
Perfect Timing for Nostalgia
Universal Music Philippines’ Enzo Valdez sees the timing as crucial: “The kids nowadays are into early 2000s nostalgia, and Narda was really part of that sound back in 2003. The timing is right for them to release new songs again.”
A Y2K band riding the 2000s wave sounds like a “stars aligned” moment, but Narda is taking it and running with it.
Studio-Based Freedom
Today’s Narda operates with members spread across Manila, New York, California, and Canada as a studio-based project. US-based guitarist Ed Ibarra sees this as liberation: “We’ve become like Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys, or The Beatles when they quit touring. There’s something liberating about not needing to play these songs live. We can experiment. We’re finally free.”
Narda isn’t just back—they’re positioned to influence a new generation while offering longtime fans their most interesting creative period yet.
Stream Narda’s “Antipolo” now on Spotify and other streaming platforms. Follow the link.
JD Pablo Editor-in-Chief
JD Pablo is the current Editor-in-Chief of twenty8two. Enjoys video games, pizza, banana bread, and tea. Takes coffee black.
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