New Lore Releases I Ruin, I Love, Featuring Bassist Kim Escalona on Lead Vocals
New Lore, the Filipino alt‑pop trio, released the single “I Ruin, I Love” on September 11 2026 through Off The Record and Sony Music Entertainment Philippines. The track is the third single from the band’s forthcoming third studio album and marks bassist Kim Escalona’s first solo vocal performance for the group.
The song explores the dual nature of love, describing how it can both bruise and heal. According to the band’s social‑media announcement, Escalona wrote the track and it is the first of three songs she has contributed to the upcoming album. The single follows “Kingdom” and “Blue,” both issued in August 2026, which approach love from a more surreal perspective.
New Lore consists of vocalist‑guitarist Tita Halaman, bassist‑vocalist Kim Escalona, and drummer Carole Lantican. The trio’s debut studio album, grief cake, was released in 2025 and received positive coverage in Philippine publications. Their second album, GOOD GOOD JUJU, followed in 2026. In the same year, the band was selected for Spotify’s Radar Philippines Class of 2026 and later appeared on a digital billboard in Times Square, New York City.
The band describes the forthcoming album as their most intentional project yet. In a feature for Billboard Philippines, they said the record will address “tenderness, protection, and the quiet forms of violence that often go unseen.” They added that the album asks how a world can be built where women no longer have to survive.
Releasing the single under Sony Music Philippines gives New Lore a major‑label distribution channel, while Off The Record’s involvement highlights the band’s independent roots. Escalona’s move to lead vocals on a single is notable in the Philippine music scene, where female musicians increasingly take on multiple roles beyond performance.
The release of “I Ruin, I Love” comes as the band continues to promote the single on streaming platforms and social media. No official release date for the full album has been announced, but the single’s launch is positioned to build momentum ahead of the album’s debut.
In summary, New Lore’s September 11 single expands the band’s discography, showcases bassist Kim Escalona’s vocal abilities, and sets the stage for an album that tackles themes of love, protection, and gender‑based violence. The track’s release under Sony Music Philippines and the band’s inclusion in Spotify Radar signal continued industry support as the group prepares to launch its third studio album.
