Tyla, Doja Cat, and Rich Brian heat up December’s concert scene
Come December, Jose Mari Chan will be at the peak of his powers, Mariah Carey officially defrosted, and together, their music will have a stranglehold on malls’ speakers and party playlists across the country.
But you don’t have to subject your ears to the same two songs while braving the frantic holiday rush or on your way to grab a coffee. For a bit of respite from the onslaught of Christmas songs, the year-end concert calendar might have you trading sleigh bells for bass drops and head-bobbing beats, as Live Nation Philippines brings three major international acts to Manila.
A concert with Tyla, Doja Cat, or Rich Brian—or perhaps all three—could very well be the gift you deserve (if you don’t end up blowing your holiday budget yet, that is), or simply the perfect excuse to sing and dance before the festivities kick in.
Tyla, “We Wanna Party” Asia tour
Dec. 3, SM Mall of Asia Arena
The crisp Amihan breeze might be in full swing by then, but with lyrics like “Make me sweat, make me hotter,” the South African pop star’s breakthrough song “Water” is more likely to leave Filipino fans feeling flushed than refreshed in her first trip to Manila.
Known for her infectious blend of Amapiano, Afrobeats, and pop, Tyla is also expected to perform her other viral hits, like the sensuous midtempos “Push 2 Start,” “Truth or Dare,” and “Jump.” She’s also bringing fresh tracks like “Is It”—one of her favorite songs to perform as of late—from her second and latest EP, “WWP.”
The 23-year-old singer’s career is on a rapid rise. She’s the highest-charting African female soloist on the Billboard 200 and Hot 100, with multiple platinum certifications and a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance.
Save for bar gigs, with her best friend DJ-ing, she admits that she hadn’t had much experience with big concerts until “Water” blew up in 2023. But while she had “to get everything right straight” away, she’s having lots of fun.
“It’s insane. It feels like a dream. I’m having the most fun experimenting, playing around with fashion and music. I’m at a point where I truly love what I’m doing,” she tells MTV UK.
Doja Cat, “Ma Vie” world tour
Dec. 7, SM Mall of Asia Arena
“What’s the point of life without love?” Doja Cat poses this question as she reflects on her upcoming fifth studio album, “Vie.” She describes the record as “very pointed toward love, romance, sex, and discourse in relationships”—whether those relationships are with others or even with yourself.
The album marks a more introspective turn for the “Say So” hitmaker. “I want pop music… this album is very much about love in a way that reflects what I want it to be in the future—my hopefulness,” she tells V Magazine.
And this shift in sound will be the heartbeat of her world tour, which will bring the American artist to Manila for the first time. Known for her genre-blurring pop-rap hits and her quirky, rambunctious presence, Doja Cat’s set will likely include the sweet-sounding but deceptively cutting “Paint the Town Red,” and her latest single, the disco-pop anthem “Jealous Type.”
Rich Brian, “Where is My Head?” Asia tour
Dec. 8, New Frontier Theater
Rich Brian first performed in Manila in 2017 as part of the 88rising showcase and returned in 2022 for the Head in the Clouds Festival. Now, the Indonesian rapper is set to headline his very first solo concert in the city.
The show comes on the heels of his latest album, “Where Is My Head?,” his first full-length project since 2019. Largely self-produced, the album explores themes of heartbreak, healing, identity, and self-reinvention. Standout tracks like “Little Ray of Light,” “Butterfly,” and “Jumpy” highlight his evolving sound, while the lead single “She” melds heartfelt lyrics with moody production.
Conceptually, “Where Is My Head?” tells a surreal story with two versions of Brian. There’s Maestro, a conductor who creates music behind the scenes, and then there’s Movie Brian, who lives inside that dream-like world without even knowing it.
“It’s the most raw and personal yet polished project I’ve ever done,” he says of the album in an interview with Lifted Asia. “It’s an emotional roller coaster. It’s cinematic. It’s a coming of age story with a beautiful soundtrack and perspectives written from different ages of my life.”
