BINI Gives P-Pop an Orchestral Twist in New Collab with Coke Studio
Coke Studio Philippines Season 9 made its grandest return yet last Friday as Coke Studio Live at the Big Dome brought together artists across genres, uniting fans in a celebration of music that keeps the charts alive and the vibes thriving.
This season, Coca-Cola Philippines curated a genre-defying lineup, featuring both rising acts with songs on constant replay and seasoned artists who continue to prove their talent through memorable releases and electrifying performances. Among the performers were current chart-toppers MRLD, Dionela, Over October, Ena Mori, and Alex Bruce, alongside Coke Studio alumni ALAMAT. Headlining the concert was global hitmaker, Lauv, known for tracks like “I Like Me Better” and “Chasing Fire,” as well as the P-Pop Queens BINI, who delighted fans with their fourth collaboration for the platform.
Pre-show, we got to sit down with the nation’s girl group as we talked about their latest song with the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY), and how Coke Studio continues to push the boundaries of musical creativity in the Philippines.
Uplifting Filipinos Through Music Collaborations
Classical meets pop in the genre-bending collaboration between BINI and the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, as they join forces in “Oxygen,” a song that celebrates youth, growth, and resilience. The song begins with the line “Thank God, didn’t think I’d make it this far,” conveying a message of hope and positivity as one perseveres towards reaching their goals.
OFY is a company of orchestra musicians and is the main performing arm of Ang Misyon, a non-profit organization that supports musically talented, less privileged youth. One of the organization’s main objectives is to provide the youth with music programs that aim to develop music skills, teaching the values of commitment, discipline, and community, which are all a part of orchestral training.
“I think it’s very inspirational that they are representing the youth. They’re hardworking, and they bring a different flavor to our song. It was such a blessing for us to work with them,” BINI Mika told The Beat Asia.
Although this isn’t the first time BINI and OFY performed on the same stage, having worked together at their previous concerts, this collaboration marks a significant milestone for both artists. "Oxygen" pushes the boundaries of P-Pop, marrying it with the refined sounds of classical music.
“It’s a full circle moment for all of us,” added BINI Jhoanna.
On the other hand, when asked what the experience was like working with the P-Pop stars, Kaya Mendoza, OFY’s Concertmaster, expressed her genuine happiness, pointing out that more than an exciting opportunity, it was a learning experience.
“It was very fun collaborating with them. Sobrang nakakakilig po (It was heart-fluttering) and very eye-opening since from classical to pop, we were able to adjust. I also really liked the professionalism they showed as a group and their passion for music.”
Violinist Keith Buendia also added how they hope to do more collaborations in the future, and experiment how to blend with other genres. “I like to have the opportunity to play ballad or R&B music with other local or even international artists. I think the magical sound of the orchestra would be very fitting for it.”
Similarly, BINI Stacey also shared how they were eager to learn from the OFY members, often asking about their instruments and being curious about their process. She revealed that BINI had always dreamed of forming a band and hopes to play instruments on stage someday, too.
Coca-Cola Trademark Category Marketing Head, ASEAN & South Pacific, Teejae Sonza, shared how “Oxygen” is more than just your regular pop song, but a product backed by data, further exemplifying that Coke Studio is all about pushing the boundaries of creativity through thoughtful collaborations.
“The beginnings of ‘Oxygen’ were created through the study of 30,000 hit songs over the last few years, and trying to understand what makes a song uplifting in terms of melody, beats, and lyrics,” she explained. “We worked with Grammy-award-winning producer-songwriter Styalz Fuego, who created the initial peg for the song, which was then given to the artist to add in their own flavor and style. So you see, it’s not only transcending genres but also geographies, as we have people from the Philippines working with people from all over the world.”
The song may sound like your regular pop BINI track, but the layers of strings woven through the beats and lyrics give it an undeniable depth and a unique flavor, sonically. Metaphorically, it’s more than just a song with inspirational lyrics, but a reflection of both artists’ journeys — of youth who have worked hard to achieve their dreams and have kept their passions for music thriving by continuously producing music and performing.
“Being part of such a big platform, I hope this serves as an inspiration to other youth like us,” Kaya said. “We get to do what we love, which is music, performing, and connecting with people. We hope this reaches them and inspires them.”
When asked about the group’s next boundary to push, BINI Jhoanna’s answer encapsulated what Coke Studio hopes to achieve with this music platform and its hope for the local music industry.
“We’ve always believed that OPM has no limits. After this orchestral stage, perhaps the next boundary we want to push is to create more music and collaborations; to combine OPM with other global genres so we can create something new and show the world what Filipino music can do. It definitely deserves to be celebrated.”
Discover refreshing new music and experiences by following Coca-Cola Philippines on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.
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