Thandii And Jun Regalado Join Forces For New Single “Coco Okayo” — Listen
The collaboration marks the first time the Philippines’ most recorded drummer, Jun Regalado, has collaborated with a new generation of diaspora artists.
Courtesy of Thandii
Courtesy of Thandii
British alt-soul and art-pop duo Thandii (Jess Berry and Graham Godfrey) team up with Jun Regalado, the Philippines’ most recorded drummer, for the collaboration single “Coco Okayo,” released via the UK’s Sama Sama Records.
Godfrey looks into his Filipino heritage with a trip to Manila for the duo’s forthcoming album, which launches on September 11, featuring Regalado.
Regalado, who has a nearly six-decade career and over 400 album appearances under his belt, including collaborations with VST & Co., Celeste Legaspi, and Pilita Corrales, is now in his late seventies and has recently gained international recognition following the reissue of his track “Pinoy Funk” on Soundway’s 2024 compilation Ayo Ke Disco.
The collaboration marks a new chapter in Regalado’s journey, connecting him with younger generations through projects such as this. The disco-funk and alt-soul track marks the first time Regalado has collaborated with a new generation of diaspora artists.
Taking a new approach to ’70s Manila Sound and the duo’s alt-soul flair, the song captures ethereal vocals, piano riffs, and a driving bassline. The track was recorded in Manila at a local studio, with the album capturing an authentic yet grounded recreation of the iconic sound of the era in OPM.
“Combined with Sir Jun’s magical sound and touch — it created an authenticity so completely right for the moment,” Thandii notes. The album is deep into influences of OPM, soul, disco-funk, and trip-hop.
“It’s a new genre coming from Filipino diaspora artists paying tribute to the Manila Sound of the ’70s, but combining it with modern-day post-punk-disco, beat-driven art-pop music coming from the small seaside town of Margate,” the duo adds.
They operate from their home studio, HaloHalo, and provided the vocals, percussion, flutes, and production for the song. “I felt like the melodies and flurries of flute poured out of me during this whole process — it was quite freeing and explorative and unlike any album we’d made previously,” Berry explains.
Listen to “Coco Okayo” below:
Pronounced tan-dee, Thandii started making noise with their 2023 debut album, A Beat to Make It Better. A year later, they released the bold double feature Dream With You and Come As You, followed by Halo and FREE UP in 2025.
Regalado began his music journey at Villar Records and quickly gained recognition by performing on Corrales’ weekly television show in the mid-’60s and recording for film and television. His 1977 track “Pinoy Funk,” with jazz musician Eddie Munji III, was reissued by Soundway Records in 2024, allowing his music to reach international shores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thandii is a British alt-soul and art-pop duo composed of Jess Berry and Graham Godfrey. Jun Regalado is a veteran Filipino drummer with nearly six decades of session work. Together they released “Coco Okayo,” a disco-funk and alt-soul single via Sama Sama Records.
“Coco Okayo” blends ’70s Manila Sound with Thandii’s alt-soul and art-pop style, drawing on disco-funk, soul, and trip-hop influences. The track features ethereal vocals, piano riffs, and a driving bassline, recorded at a local studio in Manila.
Jun Regalado is widely regarded as the Philippines’ most recorded drummer, with over 400 album appearances across nearly six decades, including work with VST & Co., Celeste Legaspi, and Pilita Corrales. His 1977 track “Pinoy Funk” was reissued internationally by Soundway Records in 2024.
Thandii and Jun Regalado’s forthcoming collaborative album launches on September 11. It follows Graham Godfrey’s trip to Manila to explore his Filipino heritage, with “Coco Okayo” serving as the lead single introducing the project’s Manila Sound-influenced direction.
“Coco Okayo” is available to stream on Spotify. The single marks Jun Regalado’s first collaboration with a new generation of Filipino diaspora artists, connecting his decades-long OPM session career with Thandii’s contemporary alt-soul sound.
