IV of Spades plays as one again
After nearly five years on hiatus, OPM rock band IV of Spades has reassembled its original lineup, including founding frontman Unique Salonga.
The group’s surprise comeback comes with two brand-new singles, “Aura” and “Nanaman,” which capture both its trademark sound and its growth as musicians.
The band, which first rose to stardom in 2018 with the viral hit “Mundo,” saw Unique’s departure not long after, as he struck out on a solo career. IV of Spades carried on as a trio, releasing its debut album ClapClapClap! in 2019, before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2020.
“Aura,” released on July 16, signaled its return, and with it, the restoration of the band’s original chemistry. The track eases in with soft synths and a laid-back groove, slowly unfolding into a rich, almost cinematic soundscape that feels personal yet free.
Just weeks later, the band kept the momentum going with “Nanaman” dropped on Aug. 13.
This time, guitarist Blaster Silonga takes the mic, steering the song toward a breezier, more playful vibe. Its bright, jangly guitars and bouncy rhythm capture the rush and uncertainty of falling for someone new.
The music video incorporates a few cheeky details, such as a nod to vintage pop clips and a quick gag about drummer Badjao De Castro’s “lost” bike. Offstage, the band seems to have found its rhythm with each other again.
In a recent TikTok post, they brought back a clip from a Boy Abunda interview years ago, when Zild Benitez was asked if they felt “tampo” after Unique’s exit. He answered with a half-smile, “Syempre po.”
At the time, it was an honest admission wrapped in humor, hinting at the mixed feelings they had back then. Revisiting it now and pairing it with new footage of them together, the band has shown that they can laugh about it—and that whatever hurt there was has been left in the past.
The band’s longtime mentor and founder-manager Allan “Daddy A” Silonga reflected on the moment in a heartfelt open letter, recalling its “humble beginnings” and the days when he was its “driver, tech, roadie, manager… even father figure.”
He admitted the journey was far from easy, but he always believed “one day, you would find your way back to each other.”
