History-making Philippines girl group BINI channels femininity and girl power on bold new album FLAMES, a seven-track collection laden with equal parts empowerment and playful charm.
Having quickly risen to fame with over one billion global audio/video streams for recent release, the eight-member band has carved out a space as pioneers of the rising P-pop genre with their blend of lush melodies, heartfelt lyricism and confident stage presence. On the cusp of making as the first Filipino group at the world-renowned Coachella Valley MusicArts Festival in 2026, BINI are undoubtedly cementing a reputation as the face of Filipino pop on a global stage
In conversation with Earmilk, BINI dives into their latest album and personal favourite tracks, their sonic evolution and future goals as well as their upcoming Coachella appearance and representing Filipino music and culture globally.
1.What is the message/inspiration behind ‘FLAMES’?
Jhoanna: FLAMES is actually inspired by the nostalgic Filipino game called “F.L.A.M.E.S.,” where each letter has a specific meaning (friendship, love, etc). It’s a fun game, usually done if you have a crush on someone and want to know what status you’d end up in. FLAMES, the album, explores that. Each letter has been given an updated meaning, corresponding to songs in the album.
We got Friendship (F) from “Infinity,” Longing (L) from “Katabi,” Affection (A) from “Sweet Tooth,” Motivation (M) from “Bikini,” Endearment (E) from “First Luv,” and Self-discovery (S) from “Paruparo.” It’s a wealth of emotions in one album that showcases our different musical styles. There is something for everybody!
2.What’s your personal favourite track off the EP and why?
Gwen: My personal favourite track has to be “Katabi,” which translates to “beside or by your side”. I really enjoyed the softness we deliver verbally, but it’s also rich at the same time. Our voices just blend so beautifully. Sometimes, I feel somewhat sentimental listening to it.
Colet: I really like “Sweet Tooth.” It’s laid back but the groove is definitely there. It has an R&B flavor so it’s a little bit different from what we usually do. This song has the magic that keeps me listening over and over again.
3.How has your sound evolved over time?
Mikha: I know that when we first debuted, we started with a very youthful, very cute, nostalgic concept like “Da Coconut Nut,” and people loved it. But when we continue to grow as a group, we also started to discover more about ourselves and our musicality. We experiment and we evolve but our songs now sound more like us. If you hear a track from us now, you will tell that it’s BINI. We’ve found the sound that balances fun, empowerment, and is still grounded in our being Filipinos.
4.You’ll be the first Filipino group to perform at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival next year? What are you most looking forward to?
Aiah: We’re excited to share Filipino talent on a global stage. I know it’s such a great opportunity and honor for us to express our music at a legendary stage. I’m looking forward to making our Blooms and hopefully, every Filipino back home, proud.
Stacey: I’m looking forward to the vibe of Coachella! I’ve watched a lot of Coachella performances in the past and it always blew my mind the way these stages are set up. We can’t wait to experience it first-hand! Looking forward to watching and meeting all the other artists participating next year, too!
5.Representing Filipino music on the global stage, what’s something you hope to achieve and how do you hope to influence how the world sees Filipino music/culture?
Jhoanna: I hope that by performing on a global stage, we want to introduce to the world the heart of Filipino music. Filipino artists bring out warmth and passion through music, like what we do, and we want the world to feel that. The message of our songs, while rooted in our personal experiences, is universal as well and we hope it will transcend across cultures and language. It’s already a huge achievement for us to perform at Coachella, so I want people to look at Filipino music and say, “This deserves to be here.”
6.What’s been the most rewarding part of your musical journey so far?
Maloi: We feel rewarded whenever we see listeners emotionally connect to our songs. This feels like we are making meaningful work that they are able to relate to our music. I love it when I read comments like “BINI’s songs saved me” or that they were able to go through their rough patches because they were inspired by our music.
Sheena: Aside from that, it’s great to be recognized by music leaders, our peers and our supporters. We are blessed to have received some recognition, both locally and internationally. In a way, this validates the work we put into our craft. Not only are we able to be recognized by the public for our songs, but I feel really happy that our storytelling music is meaningful to the community.
7.What’s a genre or concept you’d love to experiment with in the future?
Aiah: I’d LOVE to explore a more R&B or dream-pop sound in our future releases. Different from “First Luv,” I want to experience something that’s beyond emotional with “storytelling” to the max.
8.What three words best describe BINI’s artistry and why?
Jhoanna: I believe it would be “empowering,” “inspirational,” and "authentic”. Our songs hopefully can continue to be an inspiration for a lot of people to empower them to be the best versions of themselves. And authentic because whether we do a lot of experimenting with our sound by trying different genres and going beyond our norm, it remains authentic to the life that we’re in at the moment. Life is an exciting journey – and we are all on this journey together. I hope our supporters can come along for the ride!
Connect with BINI : Instagram
