If there is one Filipino band that has managed to blur the lines between retro funk, indie rock, and soulful pop with effortless flair, it is IV of Spades. Since emerging from the Philippine indie scene in the mid-2010s, this Manila-based group has carved a unique space in Original Pilipino Music with their genre-blending sound, sharp musicianship, and lyrics that cut right to the heart. Whether you are a longtime follower of their journey or just getting started, this list of the best songs of IV of Spades covers everything from their earliest singles to their freshest 2025 releases. Put on a good pair of headphones, settle in, and let the music take over.
IV of Spades was formed around 2014 and rose to national prominence with their infectiously retro sound rooted in funk, R&B, and classic rock influences. The band has gone through lineup changes over the years but has continued to evolve musically, maintaining a devoted fanbase across streaming platforms. Their catalog spans multiple albums including the celebrated CLAPCLAPCLAP! (2019) and the more recent Andalucia (2025), showing a band that refuses to stay still. For more great Filipino music recommendations, visit GlobalMusicVibe’s songs section where OPM and world music are covered in depth.
Mundo (2018) – The Song That Changed Everything
There is no better place to start than Mundo, arguably the most well-known track in the entire IV of Spades catalog. Released in 2018, this deeply emotional ballad became a massive crossover hit, topping local charts and racking up hundreds of millions of streams across platforms like Spotify and YouTube. The song’s arrangement is deceptively simple — a gentle guitar-driven melody that builds into a soaring, anthemic chorus that hits you square in the chest. Vocalist Zild Benitez delivers one of his most vulnerable performances here, his voice cracking in all the right places as the song navigates themes of longing, heartbreak, and the weight of loving someone who feels out of reach. Mundo is the kind of track that sounds just as powerful on cheap earbuds as it does through a full speaker system, which says a lot about the quality of its production and songwriting.
Hey Barbara (2017) – Funky, Fierce, and Totally Addictive
If Mundo showed the band’s softer emotional range, Hey Barbara is the track that put the world on notice for their groove-heavy, funky side. Released in 2017, this single is packed with tight guitar riffs, punchy bass lines, and a rhythm section that simply does not let up. The song blends influences from late 70s and 80s funk-rock in a way that feels both reverent and completely fresh, sitting comfortably alongside artists like Prince or early INXS without sounding like a cheap imitation. The call-and-response vocal structure in the chorus gives the track an almost live-performance energy, and indeed, Hey Barbara absolutely explodes in a concert setting. It remains one of the strongest arguments for IV of Spades as one of the most technically gifted bands in the OPM scene.
Where Have You Been, My Disco? (2017) – A Disco Revival Done Right
Released the same year as Hey Barbara, Where Have You Been, My Disco? leans even harder into the vintage disco and funk aesthetic that defines so much of the band’s early identity. The production on this track is shimmering and warm, featuring sparkling guitar tones, syncopated drum patterns, and layered vocals that give the whole thing an almost cinematic quality. Listening to it in the car with the volume cranked up feels like driving through a neon-lit city at midnight — it is pure sonic escapism. The song’s playful title and retro swagger make it one of the most purely fun entries in their catalog, demonstrating that IV of Spades could capture joy and movement just as powerfully as they captured melancholy and longing.
Ilaw Sa Daan (2016) – Where It All Began
Going back to where the journey truly started, Ilaw Sa Daan is one of the band’s earliest notable recordings from 2016 and still holds up remarkably well. The track showcases the raw, unpolished energy that made IV of Spades so exciting when they first appeared on the Philippine indie circuit. There is a scrappiness to the production that feels intentional — a band finding its voice and not bothering to sand off the rough edges. Lyrically, the song deals with themes of direction, purpose, and searching, which feels entirely appropriate as an early statement from a group still figuring out their artistic identity. Revisiting Ilaw Sa Daan after hearing their later work gives it an added layer of meaning, like reading the first chapter of a novel knowing how the story unfolds.
Come Inside of My Heart (2019/2023) – Emotional Depth at Its Peak
Originally recorded for the CLAPCLAPCLAP! album in 2019 and later re-released in 2023, Come Inside of My Heart stands as one of the band’s most emotionally resonant compositions. The song operates in a slower, more deliberate tempo than much of their catalog, giving every word space to breathe and land with maximum impact. The melodic phrasing throughout the verses is remarkably sophisticated, with the vocal melody weaving between the chord changes in a way that keeps the listener slightly off-balance in the best possible sense. It is the kind of song that rewards close listening on headphones, where the subtle guitar harmonics and careful dynamic shifts become much more apparent. Whether you are hearing it for the first time or the fiftieth, Come Inside of My Heart delivers an emotional punch that few OPM songs can match.
Sariling Multo (Sa Panaginip) (2020) – Ghost Stories in Musical Form
Released in 2020, Sariling Multo (Sa Panaginip) — which roughly translates to “Your Own Ghost (In a Dream)” — is one of the most evocative and atmospherically rich songs in the band’s discography. The production takes on a slightly dreamlike quality, with reverb-soaked guitars and a vocal performance that floats just above the instrumentation rather than cutting through it. Thematically, the song deals with the idea of being haunted by your own past selves and the choices that define who you become, a concept that resonates deeply in Filipino cultural storytelling traditions. The bridge, in particular, is a moment of startling beauty — the arrangement briefly strips back before exploding into a final chorus that feels genuinely cathartic. This is a song that benefits enormously from a quality listening setup; check out GlobalMusicVibe’s headphone comparison guide to find the right pair for immersive listening sessions like this one.
Sweet Shadow (2019) – Hidden Gem from CLAPCLAPCLAP!
Tucked inside the CLAPCLAPCLAP! album, Sweet Shadow is often overlooked in favor of the project’s more celebrated singles, but it deserves far more attention than it typically receives. The track showcases a quieter, more introspective side of the band, with finger-picked guitar patterns and a hushed vocal delivery that creates an intimacy rarely found in their more uptempo work. The chord progressions move through unexpected harmonic territory, landing on resolutions that feel surprising yet completely inevitable — a hallmark of genuinely skilled songwriting. Sweet Shadow is the kind of track that appears on late-night playlists and slowly becomes someone’s unexpected favorite, the song they recommend to friends who ask where to start with the band’s deeper catalog.
Ang Pinagmulan (2020) – Roots, Identity, and Belonging
Ang Pinagmulan, released in 2020, translates roughly to “Where We Come From” and carries that thematic weight throughout its entire runtime. The song is one of the band’s most culturally grounded compositions, engaging with questions of Filipino identity, heritage, and the complex relationship between the present self and ancestral roots. Musically, it draws from a broader palette than their purely funk-driven material, incorporating acoustic textures and a gentler melodic sensibility that gives the lyrics room to communicate their full emotional range. The production is clean and uncluttered, making it one of the most accessible entry points in their catalog for listeners who might be unfamiliar with the band. Ang Pinagmulan demonstrates that IV of Spades can carry cultural and emotional depth without sacrificing musical craftsmanship.
Kabisado (from Andalucia, 2025) – Fresh and Fully Realized
From their 2025 album Andalucia, Kabisado signals a mature and confident next chapter for IV of Spades. The track demonstrates how the band has refined their sonic identity without abandoning what made them compelling in the first place — the groove is still there, the sharp guitar work is still there, but everything feels more intentional and precisely executed. The production on Kabisado has a cleaner, more polished quality than earlier releases, reflecting both the band’s growth as recording artists and the higher-end production values brought to the Andalucia sessions. Lyrically, the song deals with the feeling of knowing someone so deeply that their presence becomes almost habitual — a theme rendered with the kind of quiet specificity that elevates a good lyric to a great one. If this track is any indication, the Andalucia era is one of the most creatively exciting periods in the band’s career. For those who want to experience every sonic detail, pairing this track with quality earbuds makes a real difference — GlobalMusicVibe’s earbud comparison page is a great resource for finding the right option.
Feeling Low (2016) – Raw Emotion from the Early Days
Rounding out this list is Feeling Low, another early entry from 2016 that captures the band in their rawest, most unguarded form. The song is exactly what the title suggests — a meditation on emotional exhaustion, numbness, and the strange comfort that can sometimes be found in sitting with sadness rather than running from it. The arrangement is sparse and direct, with a vocal performance from Zild that communicates weariness in every inflection. There is an honesty to Feeling Low that is difficult to manufacture — it sounds like a song written because it had to be, not because anyone calculated its commercial potential. That authenticity is what has kept it resonating with listeners almost a decade after its release, and it remains a powerful reminder of where IV of Spades began and how much heart has always driven their music.
Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is IV of Spades?
IV of Spades is primarily classified as a Filipino indie rock and funk band, though their sound draws from a wide range of influences including disco, R&B, classic rock, and pop. Their catalog ranges from groove-heavy funk tracks to emotionally intimate ballads, making them difficult to pin down to a single genre — which is a big part of their appeal.
What is the most popular IV of Spades song?
Mundo (2018) is widely considered their most popular and commercially successful song, having accumulated hundreds of millions of streams and becoming one of the most recognizable OPM tracks of the late 2010s. It is frequently cited as the song that introduced the band to mainstream Filipino audiences.
When did IV of Spades release their album Andalucia?
Andalucia was released in 2025 and represents one of the most recent chapters in the band’s discography. The album includes new tracks such as Kabisado, Konsensya, Tangerine Boulevard, Suliranin, Nanaman, Tamis Ng Pagkakamali, and Paru-paro, showcasing continued musical evolution and strong songwriting.
What album is Come Inside of My Heart from?
Come Inside of My Heart originally appeared on the CLAPCLAPCLAP! album released in 2019. The song was later re-released in 2023, introducing it to a newer generation of listeners and reaffirming its status as one of the band’s most beloved compositions.
Are IV of Spades still active?
Yes, IV of Spades remains active as of 2025, with the release of their Andalucia album confirming ongoing creative output. The band continues to be one of the most respected acts in the OPM scene, maintaining a strong following both in the Philippines and among Filipino music fans internationally.
What makes IV of Spades stand out from other OPM bands?
Several factors set IV of Spades apart: their deep command of retro funk and disco sonics in a contemporary context, their bilingual approach to songwriting that blends Filipino and English lyrics naturally, and their consistent emphasis on live performance quality and musicianship. Few bands in the OPM space blend genuine musical craft with broad commercial appeal as effectively as they do.