SHNTI Is In A World Of Her Own With Debut Album ‘Melting PT.’

Working on a full-length project like an album is no walk in the park.

It can account for grueling periods of working on each song while also ensuring that the sequencing and curation make for a cohesive flow.

However, creating a world or lore for an album is a whole other ball game — one that SHNTI was ready to take on.

Having released singles, as well as her debut EP, ELMNT, in the realms of hip-hop, lo-fi, and electronic, she has constructed a fantasy of her own, while still remaining grounded in what she gravitates toward the most.

In May 2026, she released her first full-length project in the form of Melting PT. — a cohesive and solid body of work that reflects the world SHNTI currently resides in.

The record marks a shift from the laid-back sound of her earlier music, a sonic evolution inspired by what she describes as live performances by fellow artists in the scene, “I always evaluate myself every time I do a live performance, and I find myself wanting to be more energetic, and I don’t know, more like yung performer side ko, I wanted to improve on that,” she shares with Billboard Philippines.

She recalled a gig she performed at the club Apotheka where an international artist was showcased, and the crowd was all hyped. She performed her 2022 track, “Fuck It (I’m in Love Again),” a love song, and she felt how she kind of ruined the vibe because she performed a track that probably couldn’t pass as something to dance to at a club.

“Parang ‘yung influences ko rin kasi before, I’m letting it show na this time (I’m kind of letting my influences show this time). Kasi (Because) I have a lot of influences from pop, from electronic musicians din (also). Though I love hip-hop, pero kasi (but) I think I just want to enter this new era of my life where I continue to evolve,” she points out.

Listening to the record, there was immediately a feeling that songs from Melting PT. could pass as part of a soundtrack of a Fast & Furious film, perfectly soundtracking the high-intensity, full-throttle sequences, particularly the earlier, less fantastical ones like Tokyo Drift.

“The same year kasi as I started my album, I’ve had an interest in producing my own stuff. Mas nag-lean in ako to (I leaned more into) my queer influences like SOPHIE, Frost Children. At siguro super na-influence ako sa mga peers ko (And maybe I was really influenced by my peers) like split:heaven,” she says.

This also allowed her to let her geek side take over, as someone who loves RPGs, on top of applying the kind of music and vibes she loves listening to.

At the same time, she took an interest in scoring. “I always like those scenes na like montages. To be specific, I like heist movies when they do the heists,” she notes. “I could really say that it’s a summary of my early twenties, kasi I also started to drive. Siyempre, may fantasy din ako na nagra-race ako (Of course, I also have this fantasy of racing) or whatever.”

Moving through hip-hop, electronic, breakcore, and dance-pop sounds, Melting PT. is as diverse as it can get.

Compared to a mixtape or an EP, an album is one cohesive and connected unit that is meant to be played from start to finish. With Kashira Music Production by SHNTI’s side, working on the record ran smoothly. “[Kashira] helped me quality check it, lalo na sa (especially with) how I write,” she says.

Initially, the project was about feminine rage, with “Heartless” as the first track on the album, and also the first one to be written for the album. “But I’ve come to a conclusion na I don’t want it to be just full of anger or frustration. Though frustration is the emotion na parang nasa focus ng album na ‘to, kasi (that is somewhat the focus of this album, because) I’m frustrated by my capabilities, I guess,” she reflects.

SHNTI approached the album with a narrative in mind. Armed with her love for RPGs while making the album’s trailer, she created a lore for the record.

“At the same time, kakatapos lang dun kasi ng thesis ko when I started the album. So, yung pagka-organize ko sa thesis ko, medyo nagawa ko with my album. Like kunwari, nag-Google Docs ako, nag-Google Sheets ako. I put a very wordy description of my tracks, and parang tini-trim down ko na lang,” she recalls.

(“At the same time, I had just finished my thesis when I started the album. So, I kind of applied the way I organized my thesis to my album. For example, I used Google Docs and Google Sheets. I put very wordy descriptions of my tracks, and then I would just trim them down.”)

This, in itself, was a revelation, as she stated that she wasn’t really good at expressing herself, but writing songs was a creative avenue.

Diving into the production process, SHNTI shares that “Heartless” was a personal favorite track to come out of it. The idea for the song originated from GarageBand, where the demo, at first, sounded jarring, but it was eventually executed well with the help of Kashira.

“Favorite ko siya kasi I didn’t know na I could make that type of song, and one of my favorites kasi growing up na artist is Twenty One Pilots. So parang nag-geek out ako (I geeked out) to my own song,” she notes.

Another favorite track of hers is the album closer “melting point.” “I liked how I wrote that track, kasi medyo personal and ‘yung ending nun is like I haven’t even started, ‘yun ‘yung sinasabi ko (that’s what I was saying),” she adds. “Pinapakita ko lang dun na (I was just showing there that) whatever I am right now, it has the possibility to change, and you have to let me do that.

“timebomb” is another personal favorite, which she co-produced with Tavin Villanueva. She enjoyed making the track’s textures and other layers of the beat that eventually showcased what she said her anxiety sounds like.

Last but not least, “OMO” is another favorite for its vocal chops and effects in the final output.

Creating the songs for the album was mostly a fun experience, as she was able to get out of her comfort zone while still staying completely true to herself.

“Parang matagal ko na siyang hindi pinapansin, itong (It’s like I haven’t paid attention to it for a long time, this) side of me. Very young kasi ako nag-start sa music. Hip-hop was a good place, pero honestly, the audience itself — even though there’s a lot of love in hip-hop, there’s also a lot of problematic stuff in hip-hop,” she details.

The album features collaborations with other artists who SHNTI is a huge fan of. The track “DND” features rapper and DJ Pette.

“Thanks to [Pette], as an artist, parang nagkaroon ako ng (I kind of found the) courage to try this route. Because if you check her discography, kasi (because) it’s really like “I don’t give a fuck” if it’s masyadong mamura, masyadong controversial (too vulgar or too controversial). And her as a person din really helped me win against my people-pleasing tendencies.”

This exchange between artists eventually made its way onto the track, as SHNTI admits it was the most fun to make. The experience goes back to her thesis in college, which was about how Gen Z artists have a unique way of approaching the scene.

“Since Pette’s roots are techno and rave culture, you would think na since I’m also in this route, we would have a track na very house, very dance-y. Pero (But) it’s cool lang na ang na-decide namin na (that we decided that the) vibes is boom bap,” she explains.

Meanwhile, on the track “final fantasy,” U-Pistol and his expertise on international electronic music helped shape the direction of the track and how SHNTI moves artistically.

“He helped me gain access to the kind of sound that I want,” she says. “What he tells me kasi is, ‘if you want something, hindi kita gagalawin dyan so that you can say that it’s fully your own decision,'” she explains.

(“What he tells me is, ‘If you want something, I’m not going to interfere so that you can say that it’s fully your own decision.”)

On the track “My Girls,” FEIFEI, whom SHNTI looks up to, especially from her SoundCloud days, was a no-brainer choice for a collaboration.

In the spirit of video games or stories featuring Easter eggs, Melting PT. has a hidden feature on one of the tracks. It’s on “hot pursuit,” which features vocals from music producer and audio engineer Oz Kabuhat. “I saw him perform one time, and I was amazed by his vocals. And I wanted to do this track with the high vocals, pero lalaki (but a man),” she adds.

These collaborators were carefully handpicked by SHNTI, who says that when working on an album, there is a choice.

“‘Would you get the people that will give you more place, or would you collaborate with people that actually resonate with you in this album?” I took the second one kasi, these people in my album really affected me as an artist. So, that’s why I got them, and I’m really lucky na they also were down for this project,” she explains.

Of course, when it comes to creative projects and endeavors, there will always be a time to “kill your darlings,” or, put simply, cut things down. Leftovers from the album were her previously released tracks “lovers” and “BWYB.” The latter features “SUBOMOTO” hitmaker Zae and was nominated for the Billboard Philippines’ Women In Music 2026 Listener’s Choice Award. Narratively, these songs didn’t add much to the album.

With a debut album in the books, SHNTI admits that she can’t wait to take on the next challenge for another go-around: “It’s really hard din pala making an album. It’s not like an EP where you can just collect songs and then put it together. This time kasi, I really took it as a part of me.”

Having already introduced herself in a way through her past releases, this album reflects who she is as a person. “I think I have regained or like parang na-realize ko (I realized) how much artistically I can make an album. It’s so fun — the visuals, the lyrics, the sound, everything. You control everything kasi it’s your craft.

Working on Melting PT. was a healing and healthy experience, especially with how she was able to express herself in the way she wanted. Sonically, she has come far from her 2023 single “Tabi Sa Akin,” before plans for releasing an album were ever in the picture. This creative undertaking, on top of having enough freedom and belief from LIAB Studios, was a breath of fresh air.

Without the right people by her side, Melting PT. wouldn’t be what it is. Ending the conversation about the thesis-like journey of creating the record and finally being able to defend it, but now with her listeners to consume, she says, “I took it as an ode to myself.”

Listen to Melting PT. below:

Ralph Regis

Lifestyle and Culture Writer

Ralph Regis is a Lifestyle and Culture Writer at Billboard Philippines, where he bridges the worlds of film, television, fashion, art, food, and cultural trends with both the local and international music scene.

He has written extensively about artist collaborations, brand partnerships, and pop culture moments that connect back to music. He also brings stories to life through in-depth interviews with musicians and personalities, drawing on their diverse perspectives, opinions, and reflections on the human condition.

In addition, Ralph also writes about music releases across a wide range of genres, including pop, hip-hop, P-pop, and rock, highlighting both rising and established artists. With a passion for storytelling that goes beyond trends, he explores how music is part of our daily lives in one form or another, connecting culture, experiences, and everything in between.

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