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. Their reunion isn’t about nostalgia, but rediscovery: the realization that the sound they were searching for alone still lived within the chemistry they built together.
“Why not now?”
The band’s reunion announcement was met with an outpouring of emotion — nostalgia, disbelief, and joy all at once. For Blaster, it was something both fated and practical.
“Why not now? Kasi OK naman na kami (We’re all OK). Actually, dapat later pa (it should’ve been much later). Mas tatagalan pa namin, kasi nga may mga solo [projects] pa (We were supposed to delay it because of our solo projects). Parang [we did a] vibe check muna (first). Pero parang… tinawag na ng universe (But it’s as if the universe called for it),” he says.
Zild agrees. “Nagki-click kami (We all click) musically. Friendship-wise, kaya na namin maging open sa isa’t isa (we could be more open with each other). Kaya namin i-slaughter ‘yung (We could slaughter the) elephant in the room. At saka (And) from a business standpoint, free agents naman kaming lahat (we’re all free agents). So feeling namin ‘yun na ‘yung perfect timing (we felt the timing was perfect).”
What started as a whisper of possibility — a hangout here, a cameo there — gradually became something tangible. “Paubos na ‘yung (We were running out of) creative juices, eh. Kailangan na ng ka-share (We needed to share what we had),” jokes Blaster.
Their chemistry, it seems, never really left. It just needed time.
Photographed by Shaira Luna. Creative & Fashion Direction by Daryl Chang. Art Direction by Nicole Almero & Gelo Quijencio.
Rediscovering collaboration
All four members admit that going solo taught them invaluable lessons — lessons that now define how they work together again.
“Sa akin, kung gaano kahalaga ‘yung (For me, it’s the value of) collaboration,” reflects Unique. “‘Yan talaga ‘yung natutunan ko nung nag-solo ako, na hinanap ko (That’s what I learned when I went solo, and sought it).”
Blaster adds, “In theory, oo, mag-isa ka, pero kahit anong solo endeavors, hindi naman tatakbo ‘yan kung wala ‘yung ibang tao (you may be alone, but any solo endeavor won’t run without other people). Napaka-importante pala lahat ng kasama mo sa vision mo (Every collaborator is important to your vision), musically or career-wise.”
Even in their time apart, their admiration for each other never waned. “Nung nag-separate ways kami, ang nilu-look up ko pa ring music is ‘yung sa kanila (Even when we went our separate ways, I still looked their music up),” Zild admits. “Kunyari, lagi akong tinatanong sa interviews, ‘Sino ang gusto mong ka-collab?’ Syempre hindi ko naman masabing sila, pero realistically, sila talaga. Kasi nire-respect ko ‘yung craft nila. Pag sila ‘yung nag-critique sa akin, OK lang. Pag ibang tao, hindi ko matanggap. (I used to get asked in interviews who I want to collaborate with, and I couldn’t mention them as an answer. But realistically, I wanted to work with them again, because I respect their craft. If they’re the ones who critique me, it’s OK. If it’s someone else, I won’t accept it.)”
Blaster even speculates that every time one of them released something new, the other members would be the first ones to listen: “Baka ‘yung first three [streams], kami ‘yon. ‘Tingnan nga natin kung maganda ‘to.’ (We might account for the first three streams. ‘Let’s see if this is good.’)”
“‘Maganda ba talaga ‘to? Shit, ang ganda nga’ (‘Is this really good? Shit, it is’),” continues Zild.
Badjao’s realization came during a low point. “Una, nung nag-break up, parang ni-resent ko ‘yung music (After the breakup, I felt as if I resented music). Tapos pina-realize nila — mga kasama ko nung pandemic — na gusto ko pala talaga magbanda (And then the people I was with during the pandemic made me realize that I wanted to keep playing in a band).”
Those realizations turned into the emotional glue that made the reunion possible.
A chance encounter
The road to reconciliation wasn’t planned; it was organic, full of chance meetings and unspoken forgiveness.
“Nauna kami ni Unique. Kami ‘yung unang nag-connect (Unique and I were the first to connect),” Badjao recalls, as he and Unique were asked to become godfathers of a mutual friend’s newborn offspring. The pair even snapped a photo together, which circulated online. “Feeling ko sa sobrang petty nilang dalawa (Zild and Blaster), nag-picture din sila together (I’m guessing that Zild and Blaster also took a photo together out of pettiness).”
Zild laughs, “May ganun bang ganap (Did that really happen)?”
Blaster can only shrug. “Baka (Maybe) subconsciously. ‘Di ko maalala (I don’t remember).”
Eventually, the four found themselves in the same place again — a Radioactive Sago Project reunion gig. At that time, Blaster and Badjao weren’t in good terms. “In-invite niya (Zild) kami pareho na hindi namin alam na magkikita pala kami (Zild invited the both of us and we didn’t know that we would see each other) that day after three years,” narrates Blaster. “Pagdating doon (When I got there) — ‘Hoy!’ Eh may alak naman at may (There was beer and there was) music, [so] game!”
From there, things moved quietly but steadily. Ghost collaborations, session work, behind-the-scenes jams — “Para siyang (It was like a) test drive,” says Blaster.
“Pinag-drums mo ako sa isa mong kanta (You made me play drums on one of your songs),” Badjao reminds him.
“Ah, oo. Meron din (Oh yes, there’s that).”
Piece by piece, IV OF SPADES began to rebuild themselves.
Photographed by Shaira Luna. Creative & Fashion Direction by Daryl Chang. Art Direction by Nicole Almero & Gelo Quijencio.
Back in the groove
When they finally reconvened to write and record new material, the energy was different — freer, more grounded, and devoid of ego.
“Mas naging (It felt more) loose, kasi na-experience na namin ‘yung (because each of us already got to experience) full creative control,” Blaster says. “Ngayon, mas ‘yung original goal na [do what’s best] for the song (Now, we prioritized the original goal to do what’s best for the song). Wala na ‘yung (There’s no more) hidden agenda.”
Unique agrees, “Dumating na sa point na parang wala na kaming kailangang i-prove sa isa’t isa (We’ve reached the point that we had nothing to prove to each other).”
Their comeback single, “Aura,” captured that renewed ease. “‘Yung ‘Aura,’ isa ‘yun sa mga (‘Aura’ was one of the more) band-driven songs. Kaya rin siguro siya ang unang na-release — very fitting na introduction ng banda (I think that’s why it was the first single released — it’s a fitting introduction to the band),” says Badjao.
Zild calls it “anti-stardom.” He explains, “Pag may magka-comeback after seven years, [usually} parang, ‘Wow!’ (When someone makes a comeback after seven years, it’s usually like, ‘Wow!’) Pero kami, binaba lang namin (But us, we kept it subtle).”
The song charted two days after its release — proof that the connection between IV OF SPADES and their audience was still alive.
A home called Andalucia
Their upcoming album, Andalucia, takes its name from Zild’s apartment, where the band wrote and recorded much of it. “Doon kami nag-record, eh. ‘Yun ‘yung pangalan ng apartment ni Zild (It’s the name of Zild’s apartment where we recorded),” Blaster shares. “Middle ground kasi taga-BGC si Unique. Marikina ako, tapos [si Zild sa] Pasig (Unique is from BGC, I’m from Marikina, and Zild is from Pasig).”
If their first album captured youthful exuberance and stylistic flair, Andalucia reflects maturity and freedom. “Mas nawala ‘yung (There’s less) rigidness,” says Blaster. “Hinayaan na lang namin ipanganak ‘yung kanta kung paano siya ipanganak. Mas tunog malaya. (We allowed the songs to be born naturally. It sounds freer.)”
Zild adds, “Ang bago ngayon, maraming mga (Now, there’s more) vocals exchange. Kahit may isang (Even if someone sings) lead, may moments pa rin na papasok ‘yung ibang singers (there are moments when the other singers come in). Inspiration namin diyan (One of our inspirations) is [The Beatles’] Rubber Soul — kung paano sila mag-exchange ng (how they exchange their) vocals. Kumbaga (In other words), we’re a boy band.”
Blaster laughs: “Boy band na may (with) distortion.”
Photographed by Shaira Luna. Creative & Fashion Direction by Daryl Chang. Art Direction by Nicole Almero & Gelo Quijencio.
Making it feel new again
In the studio, the process was surprisingly relaxed. “Pag nagre-record na ‘yung isa, nap time naman ‘yung iba (When one records, the others take a nap),” Badjao jokes.
Blaster recalls, “Bago mag-start ‘yung process, nararamdaman namin ‘yung pressure (We felt some pressure before we started recording). Pero nagkaroon kami ng usapan na, ‘Gawin natin ‘to nang walang outside noise. Literal na kung ano lang ‘yung gusto nating gawing music.’ (But we agreed that we would do this without outside, to make music that we literally wanted to make.)”
“Para wala ‘yung halong tunog na hindi tunog kami, na merong ginawa kasi sabi ni ganito, sabi ni ganyan (So that the end product sounds like us, that we didn’t do anything because someone else said so),” he continues. “Parang ‘yung pressure na lang [was], ‘Sana magustuhan ni Zild’ (The only pressure was, ‘I hope Zild likes this’).”
Zild found the experience humbling. “Nung nagre-record na nang isa-isa, doon ko nalaman ang gagaling pa rin [nila]. Pag nag-take si Blaster, kailangan mong i-capture ‘yung first hour niya bago siya antukin. (When each person took turns recording, I realized how good they were. You had to capture Blaster’s first hour of takes before he got sleepy.)”
Brian Lotho co-produced the record with them. “Kasi pag kami lang, masyadong strong ‘yung creative force (The creative force among just the four of us is too strong),” says Zild. “Maganda na nandoon siya, parang taga-balanse (It’s good that Brian was there to balance things out).”
The result, they all agree, feels authentic and joyful — the sound of a band no longer chasing expectations, just chasing the thrill of making music together again.
Ready for the road
Now, with the album’s release on November 5 and a tour on the horizon at the time of this interview, IV OF SPADES are ready to return to the road.
“Kating-kati na ako tumugtog (I’m itching to play),” affirms Unique.
“Feeling ko once tumugtog kami, may ibang energy ulit kaming ma-a-absorb na pwede mag-result to another type of IV OF SPADES (I feel that once we perform again, we’ll get to absorb a different energy that could result in another type of IV OF SPADES),” adds Zild.
For Badjao, it’s simple: “Excited ako tumugtog ulit (I’m excited to play again). Ibang halimaw din sila sa live, eh. Pag pinapanood ko silang solo, parang, ‘Yeah, that’s my boy!’ (These guys are a different animal live. Whenever I would watch them solo, I’d be like, ‘Yeah, that’s my boy!’)”
Blaster smiles. “Nakaka-excite magkaumayan nang konti (I’m excited to get along with these guys again). ‘Yun ang nami-miss ko (That’s what I miss the most). It feels like a new band.”
After years of silence, IV OF SPADES have come full circle — older, wiser, and still full of that spark that made them impossible to ignore in the first place. More than a reunion album, Andalucia is a homecoming.
As Blaster puts it, “Sana marinig ‘yung album ng as many people as possible, para ma-judge nila (I hope the album gets heard by as many people as possible, so they can judge it). Hindi kailangan magustuhan ng lahat, pero sana marinig siya ng lahat ng dapat makarinig sa kanya (Not everyone has to like it, but I hope it gets heard by the people who need to hear it).”
And this time, it feels like everyone’s listening.
Photographed by Shaira Luna. Creative & Fashion Direction by Daryl Chang. Art Direction by Nicole Almero & Gelo Quijencio. Styling by Bettina Bañez assisted by Mel Estillore & Arn Dela Cruz. Glam team by Nix Institute of Beauty. Makeup by Nix Soriano, Hair by WanWan Amarillo (Unique & Zild). Make up by Jean Anganangan & Hair by WanWan Podadera Amarillo (Blaster & Badjao). Production Design by Migs Alcid assisted by Jael Faelnar, Saryn Magallano, & John Lorwen Honor. Photography assisted by Emelito Lansangan & Crisaldo Soco. Production by Mika Cruz. Story by Jason Caballa.
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