Recommended Video
HEY JUNE! have released a reimagined version of legendary Filipino music group Smokey Mountain‘s OPM favorite, “Ai Shite Ruyo.”
Originally featured on Smokey Mountain’s critically acclaimed 1994 album, Death Penalty, “Ai Shite Ruyo” remains one of the group’s standout songs. More than three decades later, HEY JUNE! reintroduce the OPM classic to younger listeners while paying tribute to one of the genre’s defining acts.
Released on June 24, 2026, the track marks the first special collaboration between EMI Records Philippines and Island Records Philippines. It also serves as the indie rock band’s second officially released cover song, following their rendition of Tears for Fears‘ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”
Composed of Jim Mase on vocals and guitars, Coey Ballesteros on bass, and Aci Fodra on drums, HEY JUNE! blend their signature indie rock sound with the nostalgic spirit of the original track, creating a version that feels both familiar and refreshingly modern. The release also marks a milestone moment for the band, as Ballesteros takes on a vocal role in an official release for the first time alongside Mase and Fodra.
Courtesy of UMG Philippines.
Further honoring Smokey Mountain’s legacy, the single artwork recreates the Death Penalty album cover, with Mase, Ballesteros, and Fodra mirroring the poses of the iconic group’s original members. The release is also accompanied by an official lyric visualizer.
In relevant news, HEY JUNE! recently celebrated their fifth anniversary with a special show, “HEY JUNE! FIVE,” held at the JB Music EDSA Flagship Showroom Activity Area on June 20, 2026. They also released the single, “Kung May Problema Ka,” as part of their forthcoming sophomore record, the follow-up to their debut album, Curiosity Killed The Cat.
Listen to HEY JUNE!’s rendition of “Ai Shite Ruyo” below:
Frequently Asked Questions
HEY JUNE! released their cover of Smokey Mountain’s “Ai Shite Ruyo” on June 24, 2026. The track is the first co-release between EMI Records Philippines and Island Records Philippines, and the indie rock trio’s second officially released cover song.
“Ai Shite Ruyo” was originally recorded by Smokey Mountain, the legendary Filipino music group, and featured on their critically acclaimed 1994 album Death Penalty. The song has remained one of the group’s most recognized tracks in the OPM catalog.
HEY JUNE! is composed of Jim Mase on vocals and guitars, Coey Ballesteros on bass, and Aci Fodra on drums. Their “Ai Shite Ruyo” cover also marks Ballesteros’ first vocal appearance on an officially released HEY JUNE! recording.
The single artwork for “Ai Shite Ruyo” recreates the cover of Smokey Mountain’s Death Penalty album, with HEY JUNE! members Mase, Ballesteros, and Fodra mirroring the poses of Smokey Mountain’s original members as a visual tribute.
HEY JUNE!’s only other official cover is Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” Their “Ai Shite Ruyo” cover is their second, following that release and preceding their forthcoming sophomore album, the follow-up to Curiosity Killed The Cat.