New Lore
New Lore | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | No Lore (2021–2024) |
| Origin | Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Past members |
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New Lore (stylized in all caps) is a Filipino pop band from Metro Manila. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Tita Halaman, bassist Kim Escalona, and drummer Carole Lantican. Before adopting its current name, they performed as No Lore, a sibling duo composed of Tita Halaman and Jerald Angelo Juatco. The band was reformed and renamed following a lineup change in late 2024.
The band is known for blending synth-pop with visual art and poetry. The band has described their music as being inspired by paintings, personal writing, and everyday experiences.[1][2] Their debut studio album grief cake (2025) received favorable coverage from Philippine music publications and was featured on Spotify editorial playlists in several Asian countries.[3][4] In 2026, the band was selected as part of the Spotify Radar Philippines project and their second studio album good good juju.[5]
History
[edit]2021–2024: As No Lore and Outlines
[edit]The band originated in 2021 as No Lore, an alternative pop duo formed by siblings Tita Halaman and Jerald Angelo Juatco. The name was derived from the phrase "No Folklore", reflecting the pair's belief of creating stories through action rather than simply imagining them.[6]
They were inspired by Tita Halaman's paintings and poems; thus, they came up with the genre of electronic pop art.[6] Their songs prior to their first extended play Outlines, released in 2022 include "Lou", "Paumanhin", "Papatungo", and "A Leo".[7] The duo appeared on Rappler Live Jam in 2023.[8] Their song "Paumanhin" surpassed 100,000 streams on Spotify,[9] and featured in the soundtrack of the iWantTFC series Sleep with Me.[3]
In 2024, bassist Kim Escalona and drummer Carole Lantican joined the project as permanent members. Later that year, Jerald Juatco departed, ending No Lore as a sibling duo.[10][1]
2025–present: Rebranding as New Lore, grief cake and good good juju
[edit]Following the lineup change, the group adopted the name New Lore. The band's final release under the No Lore name was issued in December 2024, before they debuted as New Lore with the single "Ambitious" in January 2025.[11] Later that year, New Lore released they debut studio album grief cake, which they described as a "coming-of-age spiral disguised as a pop record with layers of pain, tenderness, and transformation baked into something strangely sweet."[3] The album was also featured on Spotify editorial playlists in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.[4]
In early 2026, the band began releasing singles for they second studio album, including "Substack Girl", "i know u by heart", "girlhood", and "nariyan".[12] During the promotional campaign, they described the record as moving away from the "trauma pop" of grief cake toward a more hopeful and optimistic sound.[13] The band's second studio album good good juju was released in 2026, and features a collaboration with singer Barbie Almalbis on the song "your playlist is a lie".[5]
Artistry
[edit]Musical style and themes
[edit]During the duo's time as No Lore, they described their sound as alternative and dream pop,[14] and wrote songs about love, heartbreak, loss, and hope, while their music had a lot of storytelling through poetry and art.[6][15] In 2025, the project was reintroduced as New Lore, a synth-pop trio with a new lineup.[1][5]
New Lore's music has been described as alternative pop,[3][12][1] synth-pop,[16][17][1] indie pop,[5] electropop.[16] The band's writing draws from personal experiences and explores subjects including friendship, grief, and art.[5] Their songs are rooted in Halaman's paintings, poetry, and personal experiences, with the band describing its work as "music from art and poetry".[2][1] Their debut album grief cake (2025) was described by the band as "trauma pop". While developing their second album good good juju (2026), the members described their newer material as "healing pop" or "therapy pop", emphasizing optimism and recovery while retaining the introspective nature of their earlier work.[13]
Influences
[edit]The members have cited The Marías and Hayley Williams.[2] Several songs by New Lore have been compared to or drawn inspiration from other artists, including Imogen Heap,[1] The Flaming Lips, The Internet, The Cardigans, Japanese Breakfast, Barbie's Cradle, and Up Dharma Down.[5] The band has also said that it intentionally avoids imitating other artists or limiting its music to a single genre.[2]
Band members
[edit]Current members
- Tita Halaman – vocals, guitar (2021–present)
- Kim Escalona – bass (2024–present)
- Carole Lantican – drums (2024–present)
Former members
- Jerald Angelo Juatco – vocals, guitar, keyboards (2021–2024)
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| grief cake | 2025 | [3] |
| good good juju | 2026 | [5] |
Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Year | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlines | 2022 | Released under No Lore | [7] |
Singles
[edit]As No Lore
[edit]| Title | Year | Album/EPs | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "A Leo" | 2021 | Outlines | [18] |
| "Lou" | [7] | ||
| "Paumanhin" | 2022 | [19] | |
| "Simula Ngayon" | 2023 | Non-album single | [15] |
| "Tahimik" | 2024 | [20] | |
| "Magbalik"[a] | [21] |
As New Lore
[edit]| Title | Year | Album/EPs | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ambitious" | 2025 | grief cake | [11] |
| "grief cake" | [22] | ||
| "Who Hurt U" | [23] | ||
| "Loving, Hurting" | [24] | ||
| "Dirty" | [25] | ||
| "Oh Maturity" | [26] | ||
| "nariyan" | 2026 | good good juju | [27] |
| "Substack Girl" | [28] | ||
| "i know u by heart" | [29] | ||
| "girlhood" | [12] | ||
| "your playlist is a lie" (with Barbie Almalbis) | [30] | ||
| "gud ppl" | [31] | ||
| "my crush and i will crush the system baby" | [32] | ||
| "june" | [33] |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Punch, Liwanag (March 23, 2026). "AUDIOJUNKIE: The lore of Pinoy synth-pop". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Panaligan, Andrea (April 24, 2026). "Never feel alone with Spotify Radar artists New Lore and Fitterkarma". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "A SLICE OF 'GRIEF CAKE' | Three-piece, alt-pop girl band NEW LORE release spunky debut album". BusinessMirror. August 24, 2025. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 "NEW LORE Releases Track on the Identities We Attach on Love with 'substack girl'". Rank Magazine. February 11, 2026. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "New Lore finds hope in 'good good juju'". Manila Bulletin. June 22, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Godinez, Bong (December 9, 2021). "Get ready for a sensory journey with alt-pop duo No Lore on GMA Playlist". GMA Network. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Rising sibling alt-pop duo No Lore illustrates their music journey through their EP 'Outlines'". Manila Bulletin. November 25, 2022. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ↑ Lago, Amanda (April 13, 2023). "Rappler Live Jam: No Lore". Rappler. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ↑ "'Paumanhin' becomes the fastest song by No Lore to reach 100,000 streams on Spotify". Manila Bulletin. May 22, 2022. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ↑ Farhan, Nash (January 7, 2025). "NEW LORE's 'AMBITIOUS' single signals bold new beginning – listen". Bandwagon Asia. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- 1 2 "NEW LORE: Rising with 'AMBITIOUS'". When In Manila. January 25, 2025. Archived from the original on August 19, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Manuel, Andrea (May 8, 2026). "NEW LORE Lean Into Softcore Love On Single "girlhood"". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 "NEW LORE on 'Substack Girl' and upcoming album 'Good Good Juju'". Manila Bulletin. April 23, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ↑ Liwanag, Punch (August 28, 2021). "AUDIO JUNKIE: Brave and bold alternative of Rienne, Over October and No Lore". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
- 1 2 "No Lore returns with a new song that celebrates the persevering hope and grief of a post-heartbreak ache". Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 4, 2023. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 Bagahansol, Gabriel (June 23, 2026). "ALBUM REVIEW: NEW LORE – grief cake – TFL". The Flying Lugaw. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ↑ Farhan, Nash (May 14, 2025). "NEW LORE embrace soft rage and glittery heartbreak on new single 'LOVING, HURTING' — listen". Bandwagon Asia. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ↑ "A Leo – Single by No Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- ↑ Junaini, Hidzir (December 5, 2025). "NEW LORE drop a haunting reimagining of 'paumanhin' — listen". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Tahimik – Single by No Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- ↑ Junaini, Hidzir (December 20, 2024). "Trailblazing OPM alt-pop band No Lore release final song, a reimagining of Callalily's classic 'Magbalik'". Bandwagon Asia. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "grief cake – Single by New Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ Farhan, Nash (March 19, 2025). "NEW LORE wants to know 'WHO HURT U' in their latest single — watch". Bandwagon Asia. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Loving, Hurting – Single by New Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Dirty – Single by New Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Oh Maturity – Single by New Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "nariyan – Single by New Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ Mohan, Sharvamaya (February 10, 2026). "NEW LORE capture the simplicity of love on new single 'substack girl' — listen". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "i know u by heart – Single by New Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "your playlist is a lie – Single by New Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "gud ppl – Single by New Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "my crush and i will crush the system baby – Single by New Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "june – Single by New Lore". Apple Music. Retrieved August 23, 2026.