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College, for most, is that oasis between being young and gaining that autonomous freedom and being a full-fledged adult with a 9-to-5 job and responsibilities. It's only natural, then, for artists to come together and take full advantage of that time — to form bands, put on plays, write poetry, and wear their hearts on their sleeves for all the world to see.

It also happens to coincide with that point in our lives when love seems to overwhelm our senses and occupy our thoughts. The time when love feels powerful enough to shape what could be the beginning of a great love story, or someone's villain origin arc. It's when we feel the extremes of said emotion: the lightness that could carry on throughout our lives, or the darkness that we once thought was fiction when we were too young to know any better.

It goes beyond the cuteness of high school love, but just on the cusp of adulthood, where life's realities have yet to hit with full force.

That middle ground — that murky, gray area — is where fitterkarma shines best.

Composed of De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde (CSB) students Joao de Leon (vocals/guitar, songwriter), Sophia Miranda (bass/vocals), Sanders "Ders" Bayas (drums/back up vocals), and Mikee "Lory" Mendoza (guitar/back up vocals), fitterkarma was the result of Music Production program students coming together to share their art and skills to the public.

But like most stories born in college classrooms and art programs, their story started much smaller. Before fitterkarma became a band, it was just Joao in 2019 — writing and creating songs for what would eventually become the group audiences know today.

One of their recent hits, "Pag-Ibig ay Kanibalismo II," has reached No. 1 on both Billboard Philippines Hot 100 and Spotify Philippines Top 50. As of writing, the song has earned over 186 million streams on Spotify. Another one of their songs, "Kalapastangan," has earned over 173 million streams and also earned a spot in Billboard Philippines Hot 100 top 10.

In this Up-and-Coming exclusive, The Beat Asia sat down with fitterkarma to talk about their origin, inspiration, challenges, and the dark side of love.

fitterkarma started as a solo project for you Joao. Personally, when did music start feeling like something you wanted to do as a career?

Joao: I think towards the end of high school. First, I wanted to do I.T. stuff, [work on] computers. But I've been playing guitar and writing songs for a long time. Might as well do music, so I [decided to take up] Music Production in college.

What changed between 2019 and 2023 that made you decide to form a band?

Joao: The reason I was solo was because I had a band before high school, and back then, I was with people who didn't want to pursue music. But I wanted to continue making personal music. During college, I met people who wanted to pursue music too, and we thought, 'Why not [form] a band?' We figured it sounded like fun. And who wouldn't want to work with their friends?

[Initially,] the band was named Joao. But it's hard because there's a lot of Joao. It's literally 'John' in Portugal and Brazil. So we eventually came up with fitterkarma.

For the rest of the members, what drew you into joining Joao? Where did it start for you?

Ders: Way back in 2019, there was a 'Battle of the Bands." My churchmate knew Joao and so we joined the competition. After that, Joao invited me to play with him at gigs, when he was still performing as Joao, his solo project. Since I was still a minor then, I wasn't allowed to perform in bars. It was post-pandemic when Joao invited me again to perform with him. We were watching a 'This Band' gig. I said yes, so that's when it started.

Sophia: It was August 2023 when it all started for me. We were all in Benilde and they were looking for a bassist. For background [vocals], I was already joining sessions with other artists. One time, there was a gig in a bar in Taft and I think Joao scouted me there. We had common friends who connected us. First practice, I think, we already clicked. It wasn't just me, right? (laughs)

Joao, Ders, Lory: (laughs and nods)

Sophia: They're easy to work with and I can see my future with them. So I committed to joining the band.

Lory: I was the last to join. We're all in Benilde, and Ders is my batchmate. And before I joined, I was already playing in gigs. Eventually, they started looking for a guitarist and Ders invited me. Then it just didn't end there. Same with [Sophia], I think we just clicked instantly.

The name 'fitterkarma' comes from Radiohead songs. Other than your namesake, do you have any other influences in your music?

Joao: Yes, very. I think the concept of never having a constant sound. If you listen to their discography, every album sounds different. They started as a 90s, grungy band. But their latest album is so far from that now. I guess just the idea of being open to different styles of music. Also, I guess the sad lyrics. Radiohead has influenced us a lot in that sense.

What's your favorite Radiohead songs?

Joao: I listen by album, so I can't single out a song. But my favorite album is 'A Moon Shaped Pool' (2016). For me, it's their saddest album and I like how they used the orchestra.

Lory: My favorite is 'The Bends' (1995). For me, it's the best of all worlds of Radioheads. And also, 'In Rainbows' (2007).

Ders: Mine is also 'In Rainbows' because it's drum-heavy and that's the way I like it, as a drummer.

Sophia: I'm a huge Radiohead fan. But whenever I listen to Radiohead, I [gravitate towards] 'OK Computer' (1997) and that's where we got our band name, with [the songs] 'Fitter Happier' and 'Karma Police.' But my personal favorite is 'Let Down,' it's like an emotional hug for me.

Speaking of your music, it has been described as 'dark' and 'macabre.' Was this a conscious decision from the start or just something that emerged organically?

Joao: Not from the start cause 'Aurora Skies' is so vanilla (laughs). It probably started to become dark around the 'Pakinggan Mo...' EP (2022).

I wasn't doing it consciously. Just wanted to apply my influences as much as possible. And I guess, it also came from the metal bands I'm listening to. Not that I wanted us to have a metal sound, but just the dark lyrics. And when I wrote dark lyrics in Tagalog, they just sounded better. I'm not a naturally dark person, although I'm a horror [film] and metal [music] fan. I just appreciated the darkness in those forms of art and applied it to our music.

I was going to ask because 'Aurora Skies' has a whole different vibe. And it's in English. Then you switched to Tagalog, is that because some Tagalog words just don't sound accurate in English?

Joao: That's true. Aside from it sounding more natural in Tagalog, it also just sounds more raw. After I wrote 'Aurora Skies,' I wrote six or seven more English songs and just threw them in the bin. Then I started writing in Tagalog. 'Pambihira' was my first Tagalog song, which is why it's a bit simpler lyrically compared to the others. It was like a dry run for me, writing in Tagalog. That's when I realized, I'm more connected [to the song] emotionally when it's in Tagalog.

During that time, a lot of OPM artists were also writing in English. I figured if I'm going to continue writing in English, then our songs might just sound like everyone else's. So, might as well write in Tagalog.

I'm curious about your creative process. Do you usually start with lyrics, melody, or something else you can incorporate?

Joao: As far as I can remember, when I started writing songs for real, not just as practice, I always thought of lyrics and melody at the same time. It's an unhealthy practice because it almost takes a miracle for that to happen. Your [brain is] squeezed for creative juices. So, from then, it could start with anything: a word, a guitar riff, the movie I watched, anything random. Now, anything that inspires me, I try to write a song out of it.

Ders: I noticed whenever we're together in a car ride (me, Joao, and Mikee), we play something random, and thoughts come up. We find inspiration there, and then suddenly, we just get shocked because Joao would just send a demo out of nowhere. From that demo, our creative process involves going to Mikee's house or the production studio and building the song from there until the final recording session.

Sophie: Since I'm not with them during their car rides (laughs), I only hear the demo, and that's when I insert my personal touch with the basslines. Also, when we're recording, a lot tends to change. There's some magic that happens when we come together to record. We'd consult people, and it works out really well when we're together.

Lory: Ders mostly explained it. But something that happens, at least more recently, is we get the demo and we come together in the house with our parts and the song comes together pretty quickly.

I've heard some artists' creative process involve treating it like a full-time job wherein they would sit down and focus on writing or creating the music. Is that something you do or do you prefer to wait for inspiration to happen?

Joao: I guess our approach is to try to be inspired as much as possible. Not that we're waiting for inspiration to come, but rather, we seek it out. We try to be productive and creative at the same time. We're open to inspiration, not gatekeeping or letting our ego get in the way of anything that can possibly inspire us.

Lory: And I think with four brains constantly thinking, it's kind of hard to get a creative block. At least one of us will have an idea. I think we'd be unlucky if we all get a creative block on that particular day or week.

Your song, 'Pag-Ibig Ay Kannibalismo II' has earned over 186 million streams on Spotify so far. When did you realize that the song is becoming bigger than anticipated??

Joao: When it [went viral], I was in the U.S., spending time there for my residency. And I was planning to come home around November. The song blew up around April or May. It became a meme, then it grew. By November, I was ready to fly back home, and I got excited because of how the song became famous. It was perfect timing.

It didn't sink in right away, though. I didn't think that this was finally our big break. More of just wondering what to do now. Not in a pessimistic way. But I focused on the reality of the work instead of daydreaming, just kept myself grounded more instead of being swept away.

Ders: I guess it really sunk in when I looked at my calendar, and it's full of gigs. That's when I really realized, 'Hold on, this is actually tiring.' (laughs) That's when it hit me that the song is already that big. There was a month when Mikee and I would barely get any rest since we are still students.

Sophia: I noticed it when it was a meme. Then people in niche or indie Facebook groups would tag us in posts. Slowly, as we rose in the charts, we got invited to play gigs, and it really hit me then. Whenever we would be given opportunities on big stages. Sometimes, I still can't believe it, and there's still that nervous feeling. We've sung the song plenty of times, but it still always feels like we're playing it for the first time. It's surreal, living the dream in a way. And I'm very happy that this gets to be our job.

Lory: For me, it's different. I wasn't a part of the band yet when they made the song. I joined when the song was already on the rise. I thought about what we can do next. Not in a pessimistic way, but thinking about what else we could achieve as a band from here.

Looking at the lyrics, the song has such a dark, vivid imagery. Why do you think people relate to it so much?

Joao: At first, I was actually wondering why people can relate to it so much. Is there a disturbing side to our culture that I don't know? But I think it's because the lyrics are unique and Filipinos are always on the lookout for something different. If you look at OPM's history, those who are unique will always stand out. Like Eraserheads with their storytelling, something new at that time.

Sophia: Fans message us that the song really moved them in a lot of ways, to the point that they say the song has become their lifeline in their darkest days. It has a huge impact on their lives. So, it's become an inspiration for us to continue pushing forward, knowing our songs can get them through challenges in their lives.

A lot of your songs seem to deal with the darker, messier, almost obsessive side of love. Do you think your band has become this safe space where people can express those feelings, allowing them to feel them without judgment?

Joao: I think disturbing stuff and love go well together. Even with movies. In music, I also get my inspiration from emo and metal songs. Sleep Token, new songs by Bring Me the Horizon. And on the subject of love, you never want to run out of ways to describe your feelings for someone. So even if you're going to explore a dark world, just to explain your love, I think it's only natural for you to go there. It's human nature.

Ders: We're all human. And yearning is natural. For us and for fans, I guess we're all yearners.

Lory: Whether intentional or not, inevitably, we're creating this community, and everyone who feels similarly is brought together by our songs and the lyrics. And yearning is popular on TikTok right now, so perfect timing to have songs with lyrics that touch on love that isn't as straightforward. Rather, metaphorical.

Sophia: Maybe what connects us all is the language, also. Using Tagalog makes [the songs] cut deeper. Especially since we don't have gendered pronouns in Tagalog, our songs don't have to be specific whether it's for a girl or a guy. It's for all. Also, some words can only be expressed in Tagalog, and that makes it special for us Filipinos. It makes our 'yearning' more tailored for the Filipino audience.

In the past, you mentioned that 'Personal experience is the biggest influence.' Every artist goes through this, I believe. But where do you draw the line between honesty and self-exposure? Do you ever think if it's too much, or is bearing your heart out to the audience part of the experience?

Joao: Like how Phoebe Bridgers writes lyrics, that's self-exposure, but I don't see it as a bad thing. Her lyrics almost feel like she's the only one who could possibly relate to them; they're very personal. But the imagery still makes you feel things.

Almost all of us cried watching Titanic, but not all of us have experienced being on a sinking ship where your lover froze to death. It's just like watching a movie; you don't have to relate to a song to feel it. And I'm not scared of writing something personal in the lyrics. 'Sumpa' is personal to me, but people can relate to it. Maybe our experiences aren't exactly the same. But as long as they feel something with the song, then that's what's important.

Is it a healing experience, almost like shared therapy, when you play for an audience and they sing your songs back to you?

Joao: It's very fulfilling. We feel honored whenever that happens. Because that's the point, to connect with people. And when plenty of people connect with our music, that's the best reward ever. When they sing the songs with us, it's fun.

Is there a specific gig that is memorable to you?

Lory: Our recent gig in Iloilo. It was the first time we took a flight [to a gig]. We were super shocked by the number of people and the enthusiasm of the crowd. It was surreal to think that we had to fly to get there, and yet, people knew who we were and our songs. Surreal.

Sophia: For me, it's also Iloilo. It was so much fun, but too short. We were so shocked that the venue was full, even up to the 2nd floor, and I even saw some people watching from the parking lot. It was fun seeing people singing along to our songs. I remember one specific fan who kept shouting along to our songs, even 'Sumpa,' which is a relatively quiet song. I felt a mix of happiness and wanting to laugh.

Lory: By the end of that, [that fan] was already crying.

Ders: Same, Iloilo. We're still not over that trip. I freaking love Iloilo. That's all that I have to say. Second, maybe our gig somewhere in Tarlac. It smelled like carabao dung, and [Lory] almost caught on fire.

Everyone: (laughs)

Lory: There was some pyro effect, but nobody told us anything. No warning at all. And there were suddenly sparks next to me. Nobody briefed us about the pyro effects.

You mentioned the challenges of balancing student life with being part of a band. But aside from that, what is the most shocking challenge so far that you didn't expect?

Joao: Guestings.

Ders: We didn't expect that one guesting would take so many hours to shoot. At least for me, I thought it would take maybe two to three hours, but we experienced shoots taking about four to six hours, and that's something I didn't expect.

Joao: Two things. One, when celebrities follow us on social media. Another is whenever we're somewhere far for a gig, and the crowd would go wild even when we're not onstage yet. There were a few times when it felt like the crowd would swarm us. I didn't expect it to feel scary in reality. Not that I'm scared of the fans, just worried that people would get hurt. Of course, we're grateful for their energy.

Lory: It's just surprising whenever we get recognized outside of gigs or performances. Like when we're just hanging out in malls, not something you expect in your everyday life. Of course, we're grateful and happy to meet our supporters. It's just shocking, especially since we're still students.

Sophia: One of the challenges is staying healthy despite the busy gig schedule. In one day, sometimes, we would have up to three gigs. One in the province, two in Metro Manila. It takes a physical toll, but you have to give them 100% every time, in every gig. It's fulfilling, in a way, that we're not getting sick. And I agree, getting recognized outside of gigs. It still hasn't sunk in, honestly. I still feel like an ordinary citizen, not someone worth recognizing.

At this point in your careers, who would you say are your biggest support systems?

Joao: Friends, new friends, friends that we didn't expect to make. They keep us grounded. And they make us feel like humans. It's ironic because the ball game is now on social media. But I've actually found myself connecting to the real world more, [generating] less screen time. Just use social media to send messages, most of them for work. Nothing's changed between our friends and us. Same as when it was in college, just with work now. Family as well. There are those relatives who you're surprised are proud of you.

Lory: The biggest support system for me is also each other, in the band. Cause we're all experiencing the same things; nobody would understand us more than each other. Outside of the band, everyone who is involved in fitterkarma. Those who are more experienced in our circle, like Ms. Pat, our manager, and Sir Monong, our recording engineer and teacher at DLSU. Their insights are always really helpful, ground us, and keep us from getting too paranoid.

Ders: For me, I agree with Mikee. Each other. Secondly, my family. I grew up in a family of musicians, and their experiences help guide me in my career. They've become my mentors, too, in a way.

Sophia: Unlike Ders, I'm the only musician in the family. So, they supported me from the very start, allowing me to enroll in music production. It was a leap of faith, being the first to pursue music as a college degree and then [subsequently] as a profession. I'm so lucky that they've been supportive since the start, and they're proud that we've made it this far. Friends, I agree, and partners who know everything we're going through. And the encouragement we get from everyone is the best.

Was there a particular piece of advice that has stuck with you since you started?

Ders: Attitude over skill. They said, 'Yes, even if you have the skill, but if you have [a bad] attitude, people will find it difficult to [book and] work with you.' But if you have a great attitude, even if you're not the best in terms of skill, you'll still get opportunities and make friends in the industry. Both friends and family have told me that.

Joao: Just be kind. Most [artists] around us don't even say it; they just show us. Even when we were in college, studying Music Production, we would meet plenty of people in the [music] industry. And I noticed that those who get a lot of opportunities are those who are also the nicest. They're the easiest to work with and have a great work ethic. There are a lot of musicians out there, but not all of them are nice to work with.

Lory: Jumping off what Joao said, a lot have also said, in general, not just in music: Choose your circle. Choose the people you surround yourself with. Whoever you surround yourself with, they will also serve as an example for you.

Sophia: For me, even before I got into music, my parents always taught me: Learn how to respect each other's time. I always do my best to arrive before the call time. Especially if you're facing a client. Always be presentable so they can tell you're professional, and they can trust you.

Do you have a dream venue or concert?

Joao: I want us to play in Houston, Texas. It's my hometown also. So, I want to bring [fitterkarma] there, meet my family, tour them around, and eat barbecue. My favorite is Pappas Bar-B-Q; I'll bring the band there.

Lory: Maybe Coachella. They don't think of the budget there; all of the budget goes into the performance. The set and the production are full-on. Extra. So that's my dream: unlimited budget, unlimited concepts.

Ders: All of the arenas here in the Philippines. We would like to play solo concerts in all of them. I guess that would have to be fulfilled first, and then we can dream bigger after. But if a blessing comes to play in a bigger arena, why not? Coconut, choc nut (laughs).

Sophia: For me, it's a band's dream to play live in Siquijor. It's a small-scale gig, but I want to fulfill those vibes. Motorbiking around Siquijor. And also, the Philippine Arena. I guess cause it's 'suntok sa buwan (almost impossible).'

Do you have a message you'd like to share with your fans?

Joao: We thank them so much, and we're so honored to receive their support. We wouldn't be here without them. They're the reason why we're doing this, and we appreciate our fans who encourage more people to listen to us. They always recommend our music and help us grow. We're always excited to see them!

Lory: We'd like to thank each and every one of them in person, so I hope we get to see them live. If it's even possible to shake their hands, we'd do that.

Ders: Their support means so much. We wouldn't be at this stage in our careers without our fans. Since our target audience is mostly teens, I'd like to say: listen to your parents, study well, and finish your studies. It's still important to have a diploma. That's it.

Sophia: Thank you to our 'Kanibals.' For all your support and for believing in us. Without your love, we wouldn't be here. And as cliché as it is, our fans really are one of the biggest reasons why we're here. If our songs have an impact, please share them with others. Share the joy. And also, we'd like to thank our parents. From the very first few gigs, they have been very supportive. They didn't know we'd end up here, but they always had faith and were our top supporters. Shout out, mga Titos and Titas. We love you.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

For more updates on their gigs and music, follow fitterkarma on Instagram and listen to them on Spotify.

Enjoyed this article? Check out our previous Up-and-Coming profiles here.