Straight out of Monochrome: The New Hue Video Music Awards 2025

Manila, Philippines — Not just any ordinary award show. On July 27th, XYLO transformed into a monochrome dreamscape for The New Hue Video Music Awards 2025, and it was everything but muted. Celebrating OPM the way we know it—as we are—in black and white, the awards embraced raw artistry, unfiltered emotion, and the brilliant contrast that defines today’s sonic storytellers.

A Stage Lit by Stars

From the jump, the performances set the tone. Alex Bruce came in swinging with her bars that hit hard and real, while Amiel Sol eased the crowd into a dreamier headspace. Nameless Kids and DWTA made sure we felt every note, every lyric, like they were telling our own stories.

Then came the sonic rollercoaster—and wow, what a line up: One Click Straight’s rad waves, Jolianne’s velvet-smooth vocals with her acoustic performance, GABBA’s insane rifts, and PLAYERTWO’s punchy, genre-defying set. When G22 hit the stage? The room exploded; female power at the very core. And Philia? Chaos—in the best possible way.

Each act brought something different, but together they captured what makes OPM so alive right now: it's fearless, it's fluid, and it's finding new ways to speak the truth.

And The cube goes to...

The awards segment was more than just shiny trophies (in our case, cubes), it was a love letter to the artists shaping the sound of now. Here’s a toast (and a few cheers) to this year’s standout winners:

Female Artist of the Year: Illest Morena — redefining feminine fire with every verse

DJ of the Year: Dara Carmina — spinning stories between every drop

Guitarist of the Year: Gabba — no doubt and we are not surprised

Collaboration of the Year: “Sining” by Dionela and Jay-R — definitely not a skip (Received by Belle Certeza)

Concert of the Year: Grand BINIverse — a galaxy of girl power (Received by Naomi Enriquez)

Vocalists of the Year: Gian and Rapha (Cup of Joe) — harmony goals you want at the karaoke

New Artist of the Year: DWTA — raw, real, and rising fast

Keyboardist of the Year: Choi Padilla (Adie) — the quiet architect of atmosphere (Received by James Banaag)

Hiphop Artist of the Year: Hev Abi — bars with bite

EP of the Year: “Apat na Buwan” by Janine Teñoso — honest, beautifully built

Bassist of the Year: Agnes Reoma (Ben&Ben) — heartbeat of the band, no question

Male Artist of the Year: Maki — no questions asked, well-deserved

Group Artist of the Year: BINI — pop precision (Received by Naomi Enriquez)

Drummer of the Year: Tim Marquez (One Click Straight) — a true rhythm machine, driving every beat with precision and soul.

Album of the Year: “Method Adaptor” by Ely Buendia — a masterclass in reinvention (Received by Dani Altavano)

Song of the Year: “Dilaw” by Maki — it's everywhere and in your head

Indie Artist of the Year: Over October — staying true, sounding fresh

Music Video of the Year: “Lia” by Zild — visual poetry with an edge (Received by Armo Armovit of Sponge Cola and Rocket)

These artists didn’t just win—they moved us.

Voices That Gave the Awards Meaning

Rocket, Sam YG with Armo Armovit, Gosh Dilay & Ted Cruz of Sponge Cola

Ryannah J

Karen Velasco & Princess Velasco

August Wahh with Dilaw Obero & Via Dela Rosa of Dilaw

Agnes Reoma & Pat Lasaten

Toni Muñoz & Jam Villanueva of Ben&Ben

Illest Morena & Angela Ken

Ebe Dancel & Albert Nicolas

MRLD & Sachzna Laparan

Zel Bautista of December Avenue & Mona Muñoz of Philia

And let's talk about the presenters—an all-star cast in their own right—who brought credibility, charisma, and a deep love for the music they were honoring. Legends like Ebe Dancel, Zel Bautista, and Sponge Cola shared the stage with boundary-pushers and rising icons such as Dilaw, Angela Ken, August Wahh, and MRLD. Representing Ben&Ben, core members like Agnes Reoma, Pat Lasaten, Toni Muñoz, and Jam Villanueva lent their presence to the night, not just as performers but as proud torchbearers of modern OPM.

We also saw the elegance of Princess Velasco, the cultural edge of Karen Velasco of Astbury, and the fearless energy of Illest Morena and Rocket. From Sachzna Laparan’s magnetic charm to Albert Nicolas’ light presence, each voice added a layer to the night’s narrative. Distinct voices like Ryannah J, Mona Muñoz, and Rob Deniel stood shoulder to shoulder with radio mainstay Sam YG, creating a full spectrum of Filipino musical energy on one stage.

OPM is evolving—but in every name, every face, and every mic passed that night, it’s still unmistakably ours.

More Than Just a Show—A Movement

This wasn’t just another awards night. This was a moment. A statement. A celebration of identity through artistry. And it wouldn't have been possible without the powerhouse lineup of partners and collaborators who helped build it from the ground up.

Major props to Honor Philippines, KFC, SASkin, and Condition Philippines for backing the movement. Shoutout to creative collaborators like UIC, JB Music, JC Media, The Archives Booth, Sound Solutions, KNYA Collective, and Stream It Media—each of them playing a part in the sonic and visual story.

Spotify showed up strong as the official music partner, marrying style and sound with merch collabs from Astbury and New Era that turned heads and turned up the vibe.

And of course, the spotlight wouldn’t have shone as bright without the unwavering support of media allies: PH Klasik, Midnight Rebels, One Music PH, Manila Concert Scene, DBTV, and Magic 89.9. Thanks for keeping OPM front and center where it belongs.

This is how you know OPM has a strong community.

When the Lights Went Off, the Party Was Just Getting Started

After the last trophy found its owner and the final note faded at XYLO, the night continued to pulse at Versus Barcade, where artists unwound and vibed until the early hours with that post-show glow.

At The Core of It All: The New Hue

More than a stage, more than a show—The New Hue is a growing space where music, art, and culture meet without filters. It’s for the ones who care about the lyrics and the visuals, the beats and the message. It’s for people who want to be part of something that feels local, raw, and honest.

And after last night? One thing’s for sure: OPM is not just alive, it's loud, it's thriving in every shade of truth, and The New Hue is where it’s echoing loudest.

See you at the next one.