Tothapi wants you to reimagine what a hit band looks like
Picture a group of friends sitting around a front yard. Someone brought guitars, and maybe a bottle of gin. One of them mellowly sings about finding home in the person they love.
That, in a nutshell, is how the world met Tothapi. The Bicol-based band garnered a loyal following on TikTok with their casual jamming sessions and uber-romantic original songs. A snippet of Celeste, a track about unconditional love, got 2.5 million views. Thousands asked for a full release in the comments, including celebrities and fellow artists.
@tothapimusic Unreleased song ? #acousticcovers #love ♬ original sound - Kob Dionela - Tothapi
That same song paved the way for their first TV appearance earlier this year, after Regine Velasquez discovered one of their videos online. Now, the band has been busy promoting their new single, Ulan, and playing gigs around Bicol and Manila.
Their early days, as the band described in an email interview with The Philippine STAR, were “a grind.” They added, “We would hold practice sessions at our front yard, until we had to find a studio to (practice) in since we were being reported by the neighbors.”
When their TikTok videos started getting more views, they saw it as an opportunity to offer a behind-the-scenes look into Tothapi. “(We wanted to) make it an outlet to showcase our authenticity and make people relate to the kind of friendship our band has.”
It would be fair to assume their tight-knit relationships are part of what draws their listeners in. Alongside song covers, among their most viral videos are short skits or clips of the members playing around. I’m reminded of the joke prevalent online that K-pop groups are either actual friends or just co-workers; with Tothapi, you’re not left to wonder. After all, their band name is a play on “happy thought.”
@tothapimusic rutoy na
♬ original sound - Tothapi
“The impact is much greater when we work with people we like and love, and who we are close with,” the band said.
While virality does come with pressure, which Tothapi said is “a given” in the industry, they see it as an opportunity to do more of what they love. I asked if they’ve ever had any “I made it” moments. “When the audience sings and vibes along with our music during concerts,” they replied. “We want to make more songs that will touch people’s lives.”
“We want to put out music that would be immortalized, that will be older than us,” they added. It appears they’re on the right track—they write about the kind of love that we choose to sustain, that endures beyond fleeting romantic feelings.
Fittingly, success, for Tothapi, is when they are able to feed and provide for their families through music. Success, like love, means nothing if not shared.
***
Tothapi’s new single Ulan is available on major music streaming platforms. Follow the band at @tothapimusic_official.
