We’re yet to reach a month into this new year, and we’ve already seen some of the most exciting single drops in music within these past two weeks. With album announcements from international heavyweights like Bruno Mars and A$AP Rocky to surprise single releases by HEY JUNE! and KATSEYE, the industry has been churning out hit after hit – giving the phrase “new year, new music” meaning of its own.
If anything, these past two weeks have signalled that the music industry will certainly be an exciting time for new releases, from single drops to full-blown albums. With that in mind, let’s look at some of Billboard Philippines’ favorite drops, by local and international acts alike, from 2026 (so far).
Robyn – “Talk To Me”
Upbeat, electric, and undeniably horny, Robyn’s latest single, “Talk To Me,” is an 80s nostalgia pop piece that’s bright and bursting with energy and cheeky innuendos. Co-written with Max Martin and released on January 7, the new song was released along with the title track of her upcoming album Sexistential, which is set for release on March 27.
A$AP Rocky – “Punk Rocky”
If there’s anything A$AP Rocky showed us through his first pre-release single before his upcoming album Don’t Be Dumb, it’s that we can anticipate some of his most genre-diverse and exciting work yet. Released on January 5, “Punk Rocky” is less of Rocky’s trap sound we’ve grown accustomed to, and lives in the same category as some of his biggest hits like “Sundress” and “Fashion Killa.” It’s dreamy, fuzzy, and certainly punky, with a solid verse of Rocky giving us bars over this coming-of-age-esque beat that just beckons its listeners to hit up the skate park.
HEY JUNE! – “Sabihin Mo Lang”
HEY JUNE! are gearing up to release their sophomore album, and “Sabihin Mo Lang” is the first taste we’ve got of this exciting new album so far. Brimming with an early 2000s alt/rock nostalgia, the song takes on the perspective where you’re asking a partner for reassurance that the love is still alive.
Chuu – “XO, My Cyberlove”
As one of the most exciting vocalists to witness in modern-day K-pop, CHUU’s XO, My Cyberlove is one of the fullest and most sonically rich full-length albums to come out of the genre in recent history. On that same note, the album’s title track is the perfect introduction to the album, as it pairs a dreamy beat with the artist’s sweet and clear vocal tone.
gins&melodies – “MR. CRASHOUTT”
Having churned out some of the biggest hits in the Filipino hip-hop scene within the past few years, rising local rapper gins&melodies has finally come out with his debut album, and “MR. CRASHOUTT” is certainly a favorite from the full-length release. With a Playboi Carti-esque beat that’s pumped with energy, gins&melodies
Over October, Fly By Midnight – “The Weather”
If you’ve thought Over October’s sound would be perfect for that early 2000s alt-rock sound, you’re definitely not alone – we’d take it a step further to say you’re completely right. In their latest single drop, the band collaborates with American indie pop band Fly By Midnight and adds a Tagalog verse on the track “The Weather,” a track that speaks about a long-lasting love.
Ari Lennox – “Twin Flame”
Ari Lennox’s “Twin Flame” is simply a track that’s easy to love, even upon the first listen. With a buttery smooth R&B beat and a simple yet relatable theme of falling deeply in love and hoping they feel the same way, “Twin Flame” is the latest (and possibly the last) pre-release single leading up to Lennox’s upcoming album Vacancy, set for release on January 23, 2026.
KATSEYE – “Internet Girl”
Over their tour, KATSEYE have debuted their latest single “Internet Girl” – and if there’s anything we can say for sure, it’s made its impact on the global soundscape. With outlandish and eccentric lyricism that speaks about the pressure they experience under the spotlight, the girl group challenges the norms and faces the criticism they’ve received head-on.
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Bright, upbeat, and certainly wedding reception-friendly, Bruno Mars’ latest single “I Just Might” has brought back the optimism of 2012 ukulele pop that we’ve surely missed. The track has all the elements you’d want out of a Bruno Mars track: it’s danceable, it’s catchy, and it’s tooth-achingly sweet.
Maymay Entrata – “Masunog Man”
Maymay Entrata has once again proved that she can master the various sounds of pop, as for “Masunog Man,” she has challenged the genre of pop/rock. With a powerful vocal performance and emotionally-charged lyrics, “Masunog Man” is a compelling piece that burns as brightly as the love it’s written about.