NOBITA On Exploring New Musical Territory And Joining Forces With Flow G For “PNYT”

Unbound from any expectations, NOBITA are consistently embracing artistic evolution with open arms.

While you may know them for heartfelt hits like “Ikaw Lang” or “Isang Sayaw,” the five-piece alternative pop/rock act lets it be known that they are not a band that’s meant to be boxed in by genres. Composed of vocalist Jae Felismino, lead guitarist Sam Aquino II, bassist Mark Quintero, keyboardist Richmond Bancolita, and drummer Jonathan Agbanlog Jr., the quintet are unlocking new musical territory as they enter 2025, as evidenced by their most recent single.

Joining forces with the Filipino rapstar himself, Flow G, the band has created the heavy-hitting heartbreak anthem “PNYT.” Alongside elements of rock and R&B, it primarily sees them tap into the hip-hop genre for the first time, expanding their creative horizons and introducing “new dynamics to [their] music” unlike anything they have ever experienced before. At the same time, while still retaining their distinguished identity as the chart-breaking NOBITA millions of listeners know and continue to love.

With this, Billboard Philippines caught up with the members of NOBITA to discuss how their genre-bending collaboration with Flow G came to be, taking risks when it comes to one’s art, other collaborations they want to do, and more.

Congratulations on the release of “PNYT” – your first single of 2025! It sees the band explore and experiment with a new range of sounds rooted in darker-sounding rock, alongside elements of R&B and hip-hop. Tell us, how does the band feel to have released this song for everyone else to listen to? 

Jae: Itong [“PNYT’], it took around half a year bago namin matapos. So, nung natapos namin, siyempre, happy. Happy ‘yung band and, at the same time, proud kami sa music video kasi mahirap siya i-shoot e. Hindi siya biro. Mahirap ‘yung naging process kaya sobrang proud kami na nailabas namin siya at ‘yung song itself.   

(“PNYT” took around half a year before we were able to finish it. So, when we did, of course, we were happy. The band was happy and, at the same time, we’re proud of the music video because it was difficult to shoot. It was no joke. The process was hard, so we’re very proud that we were able to release it and the song itself as well.)

As you just stated, this is your first time going in this sonic direction, where you incorporate hip-hop. In addition, the band also notably worked with rap star Flow G, whom, you mentioned before, you first met at a wedding and even “crossed paths” with “several times at music festivals.” Due to a “natural connection” you felt with him, one thing led to another, and later on, you teamed up to create “PNYT.”

Aside from that, tell us how the band and Flow G created the track. When did you start writing and recording and how long did it take to finish? What inspired its lyrics?

Sam: I think, second or third quarter ng 2024 namin sinimulan gumawa ng demos. 

(I think, we started making the demos around the second or third quarter of 2024).

Jae: Nung simula, ‘yung thought na maglalabas kami ng collab, wala pa sa amin ‘yun at that time. Flow G and NOBITA? Magkaibang mundo, so nakakagulat ‘yung collaboration na ‘to. Hindi namin naisip nung una na mag-collaborate, lalo na sa kanya [Flow G].

At the star, the thought of us releasing a collab, it wasn’t on our minds at that time. Flow G and NOBITA? Two different worlds, so this collaboration is surprising. We never thought to collaborate with someone, let alone with Flow G.)

Hindi kami magkakilala dati personally pero naging posible ‘yung collaboration kasi nagkakilala kami sa wedding nina Cong (a popular Filipino Youtuber and online streamer). Napanood ‘nya [Flow G] lang kami tapos nakita namin siya sa crowd na kumakanta nung song na ginawa namin for Cong. Sinabi namin, “Bagong song ‘to tapos si Flow G, kinakanta ‘nya? Angas!”

(We didn’t know each other personally before but the collaboration became possible because we met at the wedding of Cong. Flow G watched us and we saw him in the crowd singing along to the song we wrote for Cong. We said, “It’s a new song and Flow G’s singing it? Cool!”)

Pagkatapos, ayun, nag-try ‘yung banda lumapit kay kuya Archie (Flow G) at sobrang accomodating ‘nya. Nag-message kami tapos pumunta kami sa bahay ‘nya. May mga inayos na kanta tapos pinapili namin siya sa songs. Tapos itong “PNYT” – dati wala pa siyang title – ito ‘yung pinili ‘nya. 

(After that, we tried approaching kuya Archie and he was very accomodating. We messaged him then went to his house. We fixed up some song then we asked him to pick one. Then “PNYT” — it didn’t have a name yet at that time — was the one he picked.)

Sam: It just goes to show din na nung in-approach namin si kuya Archie, hindi namin inisip na “Hip-hop ‘to. Hindi natin genre ‘to.” Doon pa lang, naging proud na kami sa sarili namin na hindi namin kinukulong ang banda sa iisang genre. 

(It just goes to show as well that when we approached kuya Archie, we didn’t think that, “This is hip-hop. It’s not our genre.” With that, we were proud of ourselves that we didn’t limit the band to a single genre.)

Mark: Trivia pala! Nung pinasa namin sa kanya [Flow G] ‘yung tatlong demo, pinili ‘nya ‘yung “PNYT” tapos, sa loob ng tatlong oras, natapos ‘nya na agad ‘yung verses ‘nya. 

(By the way, here’s some trivia: when we passed the three demos to Flow G, he chose “PNYT,” and then, in the span of three hours, he was able to finish his verses.)

Jae: Kung ano ‘yung naririnig ‘nyo ngayon, ‘yun na ‘yung take na ‘yun!

(What you’re able to listen to now, that’s the take!)

The band has mentioned before that teaming up with Flow G for this single “introduced new dynamics to [your] music,” which helped you go beyond the band’s comfort zone and, ultimately, led you to “explore a completely different direction that is quite unusual from [your] repertoire.”

With this, in creating “PNYT,” was there any fear or hesitation on your part of what your fans’ reactions might be like to this new sound? Tell us how exactly did this major change in your musicality make you feel personally as a band.

Jae: Sa creative process pa lang nung song, united na kami. So, ‘yung isipin namin na matatakot ba kami na ma-judge kapag nilabas namin ‘to, wala na sa amin ‘yun. As long as kaming lima ay nagkakasundo, okay na.

(Even with just the creative process of the song, we were united.So, for us to think if we would be afraid to be judged when we release this, we didn’t do that. As long as us five are in agreement, we’re already okay with it.)

Kung meron mang takot, siguro nung nag-shoot kami nung music video (laughs) kasi nag-shave ako ng head ko. Pero marami akong natutunan doon. Mas tumapang ako. 

(If there was any fear, it was probably when we shot the music video because I shaved my head. But I learned a lot from that. I became braver.)

Sam: Maiisip siguro namin ‘yung fear if we cared about the numbers. Pero kung gusto mo lang talaga mag-express and you just want to go all out, then you won’t care. At the end of the day, we’re artists and i-e-express namin ‘yung gusto namin i-express. Luckily, hindi lang kami ‘yung masaya sa track na ‘to. Pati si Flow G.

(We might think of fear if we cared about the numbers. But if you just want to express yourself and you just want to go all out, then you won’t care. At the end of the day, we’re artists and we will express what we want to express. Luckily, we weren’t the only ones happy with this track. Flow G was as well.)

Ultimately, this change in sound helped contribute greatly to the evolution of NOBITA’s artistry as a band, seven years into your journey together. During this process of exploring new sounds, what were the lessons you learned that helped you become better artists overall?

Jae: Since ito nga ‘yung first collaboration namin [as a band], sanay kami na kaming lima lang ‘yung nag-uusap. Kapag approved na sa amin, wala nang problema. Hindi kami sanay working with other artists tapos kailangan ng approval nila, ng say nila sa ginawa namin. 

(Since this is our first collaboration as a band, we were used to just us five talking. Once it was approved by us, there weren’t problems anymore. We weren’t used to working with other artists and getting their approval, their say with what we made.)

Pero sobrang dali katrabaho ni kuya Archie. Sinasabi lang ‘nya, “Bro, it’s your song. Gawin ‘nyo lang ‘yung gusto ‘nyong gawin. Panindigan ‘nyo lang. Kung ano maganda sa inyo, ‘yun gawin ‘nyo.”

(But kuya Archie was so easy to work with. He would just say, “Bro, it’s your song. Just do what you want to do. Stick to it. Whatever’s good for you, do that.”)

For other artists, especially those who look up to you, who also want to change things up and take risks with their music but are held back by some form of hesitation or worry, what advice would you give them?

Sam: ‘Yung the fact pa lang nga na papasok ka sa gan’tong industry, it’s already a risk. ‘Yun pa kayang mag-experiment while doing your craft? Wala na lang ‘yun if i-ko-compare mo sa lahat ng ni-risk from the start. That should be the mindset. Always be happy to take the risk. 

(Just the fact that you’re entering this kind of industry, it’s already a risk. What more with you experimenting while doing your craft? That’s nothing if you compare it to everything you risked from the start. That should be the mindset. Always be happy to take the risk.)

Jae: Siguro, isipin na lang nila na kung sa tingin ‘nyo may kaya kayong gawin, panindigan ‘nyo lang. ‘Wag kayong matakot. Mas masaya kapag nagagawa ‘nyo ‘yung gusto ‘nyong gawin.  Walang masama maging masaya. So, kung sa tingin mo magiging masaya kayo maging “bagong” artist, ‘wag kayong matakot. Kung may approval kayo ng sarili ‘nyo, hindi ‘nyo na kailangan ng approval ng iba.

(Perhaps, they should just keep in mind that if they believe they can do something, just stick with it. Don’t be afraid. It’s more fun when you’re able to do what you want to do. There’s nothing wrong with being happy. So, if you think you’ll be happy becoming a “new” artist, don’t be scared. If you already have approval from your selves, you don’t need the approval of others.)

Where do you see the band taking this sound in your future work? Is it something you plan to explore more in your other songs? Are there any other genres you’d like to experiment with or other artists you want to collaborate with?

Jae: Speaking of collaborations, marami kaming gustong mangyari. Sa sound naman, open kami. Hindi kami nag-ko-close ng door. Maglalabas lang kami nang maglalabas ng music. 

(Speaking of collaborations, we have a lot that we want to happens. In terms of sound, we’re open. We aren’t closing the door. We will just keep releasing music.)

Sam: In addition, in terms of sa genre or pagkakakilanlan ng band, hindi namin masasabi na hindi pa kami nag-e-explore ng ibang genre. Kasi, before, sa mga dati naming kanta, nag-e-explore na kami ng ibang genre. Pero first time namin sa hip-hop and it’s our first collaboration, so we’re very excited!

(In addition, in terms of genre or the identity of the band, we can’t say that we haven’t explore other genres before. Because, before, with our old songs, we have explore other genres. But this is out first time with hip-hop and it’s our first collaboration, so we’re very excited!)

Jae: ‘Yung NOBITA kasi, hindi kami naniniwala sa iisang genre. Ginagawa lang naman din namin ‘to for fun. 

(It’s because NOBITA doesn’t believe in a singular genre. We’re also just doing this for fun.)

Sam: We’re just fortunate na makilala dahil sa certain genre. But at the end of the day, we’re artists and we don’t want to put ourselves in a box.

(We’re just fortunate to be known because of a certain genre. But at the end of the day, we’re artists and we don’t want to put ourselves in a box.)

Any dream collaborations at the moment?

Jae: Gusto namin magkaroon kami ng collaboration with sir Ebe Dancel!

(We want to have a collaboration with sir Ebe Dancel!)

Sam: Ako, dream ko rin maka-collab si ate Yeng [Constantino].

(For me, it’s also my dream to collaborate with ate Yeng Constantino.

Finally, speaking of future work, what else can we expect from NOBITA this 2025 in terms of music?

Jae: Sure na maglalabas kami ng another collab at ng singles. At saka, abangan ‘nyo ‘yung mga music videos na gagawin namin. Binibigyan namin ‘yun ng heart and soul! Excited kami para sa 2025!

(It’s sure that we’re going to release another collab and more singles. Also, watch out for the music videos we will be making. We give them our heart and soul! We’re excited for 2025!)

Listen to NOBITA and Flow G’s “PNYT” below: