Ylona Garcia is marking a decade in music with two homecoming performances in the Philippines this September, revisiting the songs and experiences that have shaped her journey while giving fans a preview of what comes next.
The two-part celebration begins with Backyard Live: Ylona Garcia Spotlight on September 4 at Backyard Warehouse Studio in Baesa, Quezon City. The invitation-only event will offer a limited audience an intimate look at Ylona's 10th anniversary project.
On September 5, the celebration opens to the public with 10 Years of Ylona Garcia: Live at Venice Grand Canal Mall in McKinley Hill, starting at 7 p.m.
What will Ylona Garcia's 10th anniversary shows feature?
The anniversary performances will revisit songs from Ylona's decade-long career, but the material will be presented through her current perspective as an artist.
Rather than simply looking back, the project reflects how her experiences over the past 10 years have influenced the way she approaches music today.
Ylona described her first five years in the industry as a period of learning, particularly as she navigated Filipino culture and the entertainment business. She said the following five years brought more difficult personal experiences, including loss, emotional challenges and periods of being alone abroad.
Those experiences, she explained, helped her understand the distinction between being a singer and becoming an artist.
That evolution will be reflected in the anniversary performances.
From Philippine pop star to international artist
Ylona first gained recognition in the Philippines before expanding her musical career internationally.
Her journey eventually brought her to Paradise Rising, the Filipino-focused label under 88rising, and to Los Angeles, where she continued developing her music career.
Her international work has included a performance at 88rising's Head in the Clouds festival and the release of "Entertain Me," a collaboration connected to Riot Games' VALORANT.
Her growing profile has also brought attention from international publications, including V Magazine.
The path has not always been straightforward, but the different stages of her career have helped shape the artist she is today.
A new live album is also coming
The two Philippine performances will eventually form part of Ylona Garcia's 10th Anniversary Live Album, a nine-track collection featuring her interpretations of songs from the past decade.
The album will also connect her previous work with her next musical chapter.
Elements of the sounds and influences being developed for her long-awaited second EP will be incorporated into the anniversary performances, giving the project a forward-looking component.
For fans, that means the homecoming is not simply a retrospective. It is also a glimpse into the direction Ylona wants to take next.
Ylona Garcia begins a new chapter with Sony Music
Ylona is working with Sony Music Entertainment to reimagine her catalog for the anniversary project.
For the singer, the collaboration has also become part of her personal and artistic growth.
She described learning how to bring her own vision into a creative room, consider other perspectives and build something collectively without losing the message she wants to communicate.
That process appears to be central to the next stage of her career: maintaining her identity while becoming more intentional about the music she creates.
Two shows, one decade of music
Ylona Garcia's 10th anniversary homecoming brings together different parts of her journey, from her beginnings in Philippine showbiz to her international ambitions and the personal experiences that have influenced her songwriting and artistry.
The September 4 show at Backyard Warehouse Studio offers an intimate start to the celebration, while the September 5 performance at Venice Grand Canal Mall brings the anniversary to a broader audience.
After a decade of change, Ylona is returning to the Philippines not only to revisit where she started, but also to introduce audiences to the artist she has become.
The anniversary performances mark a significant milestone for Ylona Garcia, but the bigger story may be what follows. With a live album and second EP in the works, her 10th year in music looks less like an ending and more like the beginning of another chapter.
