IV OF SPADES And The Art Of Coming Home
Years after their breakup, Zild, Blaster, Unique, and Badjao reunite — not to chase nostalgia, but to rediscover the sound they’ve been searching for all along.
For years, IV OF SPADES existed as a memory — a flash of color in OPM’s kaleidoscope that faded too soon. After their sudden hiatus in 2020, each member followed their own orbit: Zild Benitez explored sonic introspection with four acclaimed solo albums that traced his coming-of-age in real time; Blaster Silonga channeled his flair for experimentation into two ambitious, psychedelic albums that bent pop and rock into playful new shapes, and Unique Salonga, whose early departure might have signaled the group’s fragmentation, carved out his own path with three introspective full-length releases that reaffirmed his singular voice. Meanwhile, Badjao De Castro — the rhythmic pulse of the band — kept his momentum as the drummer for Party Pace, another beloved act known for their tight musicianship and dynamic shows. Now, after years of individual reinvention, the four return to each other — older, freer, and once again in sync...
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Jason Caballa
Currently the Managing Editor at Billboard Philippines, Jason Caballa's career in music journalism has spanned decades, having most notably served as Music Editor of PULP Magazine and then Associate Editor for the now-defunct Pinoytuner.com.
He has also contributed music articles for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rogue Magazine, Mabuhay Magazine, and other print publications from as early as his college years. After shifting to advertising as a copywriter in several agencies, he has returned to documenting local and international music with the establishment of Billboard Philippines in 2023.
Having been a musician himself in Manila's rock and indie scenes since the late '90s, Jason is often inclined towards featuring bands and recording artists who come from that world, as his firsthand experiences allow him to come up with insightful angles and questions for his subjects, resulting in unique and in-depth stories.