Yeng Constantino And I Belong to the Zoo Launch Collab Single In An Intimate Show — Review

Last July 9, 2026, Yeng Constantino and I Belong to the Zoo launched their new collaborative single “Kalimutan Mo Na Lang” in a Backyard Live production at the Backyard Warehouse Studio in Quezon City. But before the single was debuted live, a succession of fellow Cornerstone Music artists consisting of IÙNO, FRANCE, MC Eintstein, and Kyla came to the fray.

If there was one takeaway from the event, it is that music thrives best live and in the most personal settings.

As OPM continues to make waves in the global market, especially through streaming and live recordings, Backyard Live has persisted in creating organic spaces where artists and audiences dialogue with each other.

The concert space was tucked in back of the warehouse. Upon entering, the audience is ushered into a dark room whose center is a curious, futuristic-inspired sight. Serving as the stage, a large Persian rug on the floor gives a homey feeling, but above it are neon lights arranged in a square that gives off a Blade Runner-esque atmosphere.

It was a 360-degree setup, so the audience surrounded the rug in a circle before the first act, IÚNO (pronounced “‘Yun O”), walked to the center. The alt-rock group performed tracks from their 2026 album Ang Kwento na Walang Nangyari, like “Malas,” “Nababaliw,” and “Gumamela,” as well as their latest single “Bulag.” During their time on stage, frontman Carlos De Guia showed how live performances were not only about the music but also about bonding with the audience, as the singer made frequent playful banter with his listeners and frequently invited them to sing along.

Next in the lineup was FRANCE, who came to the center playing solo. His was a more personal sound, being just his voice and his guitar serenading the audience. Among the tracks he played was his 2025 song “Pintig,” with triplets on the guitar that gave the track a waltz-like feel to it.

The audience cheered as MC Einstein approached the center. The singer-songwriter announced that he prepared a lineup of love songs for the night, singing “Agape,” “Kilig,” and “Wala Na.” After this last track, he introduced no less than the country’s R&B queen, Kyla, to share the stage as they sang their 2024 collaboration “Lambalak.”

With all Cornerstone Music support acts having performed, the audience knew that the main event was next. The crowd cheered its loudest as I Belong to the Zoo stepped into the center. Frontman Argee Guerrero expressed his thanks and even called out someone in the audience — a friend he’d met in Australia who flew all the way to the Manila just to watch the band. The beloved indie quintet then began to play their songs “Courage,” “Kailan Nga Ba,” “Sana,” and “AYOS.”

Finally, the seasoned pop hitmaker Constantino joined the band onstage, during which Guerrero jokingly addressed her with “Ma’am” and “po.” As a demonstration of their chemistry as artists, the two proceeded to perform their new single, capping off what was both a memorable show and a milestone event for everyone present.

In a way, the event was a love letter to both Cornerstone Music, which gave these artists a platform, and Backyard Live, which provided a venue where these artists could share this experience with their beloved listeners.

Listen to “Kalimutan Mo Na Lang” here: