Aura (IV of Spades song)

"Aura"
Single by IV of Spades
LanguageFilipino
ReleasedJuly 16, 2025 (2025-07-16)
Genre
Length5:18
LabelSony Music Philippines
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Daniel Zildjian Benitez
  • Unique Salonga
Producer(s)
  • Brian Lotho
  • IV of Spades
IV of Spades singles chronology
"Sariling Multo (Sa Panaginip)"
(2020) 		"Aura"
(2025) 		"Nanaman"
(2025)
Music video
"Aura" on YouTube

"Aura" is a single by Filipino band IV of Spades, surprise-released on July 16, 2025, through Sony Music Philippines. It is the band's first release in five years, following their 2020 single "Sariling Multo (Sa Panaginip)" (transl. Own Ghost (In Dreams)), and their return from an indefinite hiatus. Band members Zild Benitez and Unique Salonga wrote the track and composed it with the rest of the band. Produced by IV of Spades and Brian Lotho, "Aura" is a slow-paced indie pop song about unconditional love, longing, and seeking meaning and home within communities.

The release of "Aura" as well as the band's reunion received mass reactions, including from Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artists and fans, as well as certain individuals. It entered on record charts of Billboard Philippines following its release, debuting at number 28 and peaked at number four on the Philippines Hot 100. It also debuted at number 14 and peaked at number three on the Top Philippine Songs chart.

Background and release

In 2018, Unique Salonga left the band to pursue a solo career,[1] and the group went on indefinite hiatus in 2020.

In 2025, their song "Mundo" (lit. 'World'), in which Unique's last song before he left the band, charted on the Philippines Hot 100, peaking at number 96. On July 16, the band officially returned with the new surprise-released single titled "Aura" under Sony Music Philippines, marking their first release in five years, and also with their new management, Balcony Music Entertainment. The song also marked Salonga's return as the band's lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist.[2][3]

Composition

"Aura" is a slow-paced indie pop song with a length of five minutes.[4][5] Band members Zild Benitez and Salonga wrote "Aura" and composed it with the other members, Blaster Silonga and Badjao De Castro.[6] The band produced the track with Brian Lotho,[6] who has credits on a number of their songs.[7] Lotho is also the recording engineer alongside Daniel Monong and Emil Dela Rosa, who is the mastering engineer.[6] The track has indie pop instrumentation that Mayks Go of Billboard Philippines described as "laidback".[3] It is driven by synthesizers with textures from folk and electronica music, and includes clear acoustic and electric guitar tones, and drums.[5][8] Silonga, Salonga, and Benitez sing with harmonies,[5] and the latter two do call and response vocals with one another.[8] Lyrically, "Aura" is about unconditional love, longing,[9] and trying to find meaning and home within communities.[3]

Reception

The release of "Aura" as well as the group's reunion was met with mass reactions. Philippine publications reported that fans of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) expressed delight, disbelief, and excitement regarding the reunion on social media.[a] A multitude of OPM artists and bands posted their reaction of the reunion or reposted the group's announcement of the song.[10][9] One such artist was Toneejay, whose post on Facebook about his reaction went viral for the reflection of his experiences with their music.[14] Roslyn Pineda, the General Magager of Sony Music Philippines, said in a press statement that the song's release was an "unprecedented moment in Filipino music" and that she felt "surreal" that the band reunited.[3] The founder and original manager of the group, Allan "Daddy A" Silonga, was exceedingly proud of their reunion based on his post about it on Facebook.[15]

The song received instantaneous commercial reception upon release. According to Billboard Philippines, "Aura" was an immediate success on streaming services and social media platforms. The track debuted on the magazine's record charts with two days of chart-tracking data, entering at number 28 on the Philippines Hot 100 and number 14 on the Top Philippine Songs.[11] The track peaked at number four on the Philippines Hot 100 and number three on the Top Philippine Songs [16]

Critical response

Carl Martin Agustin of Philippine Daily Inquirer believed that it was a new one for the band and that it was emblematic of the "individual paths they took as independent artists."[4] In Rolling Stone Philippines, Elijah Pareño said that the song could be a sign of the group straying away from their previous formulas and focusing on building on the sounds of their solo works.[8] Pareño also described the vocals of Salonga and Benitez as having "a calm but precise energy, leaning less into flash and more into restraint."[8] Jv Ordoñez of Esquire Philippines regarded it as "a more lush and understated" track for the band and a deviation from their sonic influences.[5] He additionally said that the vocals and songwriting conjures "a steady emotional reflection of a yearning and dealing with emotional turmoil".[5]

Music video

Directed and edited by Raliug, and produced by LunchBox Productions, the music video was released together with the song on July 16, 2025. The music video features the band enjoying each other's company on a grassy hilltop, watching sights and running.[9]

Within 24 hours of its music video release, it garnered 1.1 million views and was trending at number two on YouTube.[17]

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from Apple Music.[6]

Charts

Chart performance for "Aura"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Philippines (IFPI)[18] 4
Philippines (Philippines Hot 100)[19] 4
Philippines (Top Philippine Songs)[20] 3

Note

  1. ^ As reported by ABS-CBN News' Push Team,[10] Billboard Philippines,[11] and GMA Network's news divisions.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ Villanueva, Angelica (October 30, 2024). "Unique, IV of Spade Bandmates Keep It Casual". Manila Standard. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  2. ^ Reyes, Juno (July 16, 2025). "IV of Spades Makes Surprise Comeback with New Single 'Aura'". Rappler. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Go, Mayks (July 16, 2025). "IV Of Spades Make Long-Awaited Return With New Single "Aura"". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Agustin, Carl Martin (July 16, 2025). "IV of Spades is Back". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e Ordoñez, Jv (July 17, 2025). "IV of Spades Make Their Long-Awaited Fabled, Mystical Return with 'Aura'". Esquire Philippines. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d "Aura - Single by IV of Spades". Sony Music Philippines. July 16, 2025. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025 – via Apple Music (PH).
  7. ^ Ramos Jr., Cris O. (July 16, 2025). "IV of Spades Springs New Single 'Aura' on Unsuspecting Public". One Music PH. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via News.ABS-CBN.com.
  8. ^ a b c d Pareño, Elijah (July 16, 2025). "IV of Spades Make a Comeback After Five Years with New Single 'Aura'". Rolling Stone Philippines. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Mallorca, Hannah (July 16, 2025). "IV of Spades reflects on unconditional love with surprise single 'Aura'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Sabio, Nikka Avegail (July 16, 2025). "OPM Artists, Fans React As IV of Spades Drops New Single 'Aura'". Push Team. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via News.ABS-CBN.com.
  11. ^ a b Saulog, Gabriel (July 23, 2025). "IV Of Spades Make A Triumphant Return On Billboard Philippines' Charts With "Aura"". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  12. ^ "IV of Spades Makes Comeback with Single 'Aura' After 5 Years". GMA Integrated News. July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  13. ^ Crucillo, Karen Juliane (July 17, 2025). "IV of Spades Returns with New Single 'Aura' After 5-Year Hiatus". GMA Network. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  14. ^ "Toneejay Reflects on IV of Spades' Comeback with Viral Facebook Post". ABS-CBN News. July 18, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via News.ABS-CBN.com.
  15. ^ "Daddy a Pens Emotional Letter to IV of Spades After Reunion: 'Best Is Yet to Come'". ABS-CBN News. July 18, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  16. ^ Saenz, rome (July 30, 2025). "IV Of Spades Rise To No. 4 On The Philippines Hot 100". Billboard Philippines. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  17. ^ Agpalo, Jaja (July 17, 2025). "IV of Spades comeback: Aura music video racks up over 1.1 million views within 24 hours of surprise release". Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  18. ^ "The Official Southeast Asia Charts – This Week's Official Philippines Chart Top 20 from 07/18/2025 to 07/24/2025". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 29, 2025. [Select 2025 Week 30]
  19. ^ "Philippines Hot 100 (Week of August 2, 2025)". Billboard Philippines. July 23, 2025. Archived from the original on July 30, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  20. ^ "Top Philippine Songs (Week of August 2, 2025)". Billboard Philippines. July 30, 2025. Archived from the original on July 30, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
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