{{short description|Filipino alternative and pop band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Vowels They Orbit | image = | caption = | origin = Metro Manila, Philippines | instrument = | genre = OPM / Pinoy rock<br>Indie pop<br>Pop rock | years_active = 2018–present | label = Soupstar Entertainment<br>Sony Music Philippines | website = | current_members = Nikka Melchor <br/> Hannah Dela Cruz <br/> Gene Santiago <br/> Patch Javier | past_members = Jeremy Sayas }}
'''The Vowels They Orbit,''' also known as The VTO, is a 5-piece indie pop/rock band from Metro Manila, Philippines. They consist of Nikka Melchor (vocals and guitar), Hannah Dela Cruz (keyboard and backup vocals), Jeremy Sayas (drums and backup vocals), Gene Santiago (guitar), and Patch Javier (bass). The band is represented by Soupstar Entertainment.
==History== The bandmates knew each other since 2013, when they were all in high school.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=del Rosario |first=Pauline |date=2023-03-13 |title=EXCLUSIVE: ‘The Vowels They Orbit’ bongga ang pasabog sa kanilang 5th anniversary |url=https://bandera.inquirer.net/342826/exclusive-the-vowels-they-orbit-bongga-ang-pasabog-sa-kanilang-5th-anniversary |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}</ref> The band was formed in 2018 while they were in college at the University of Santo Tomas.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" /> The band name came from when the five of them practiced together at night and would go stargazing after.<ref name=":3" /> After signing with Soupstar Music, they became openers for the Manila concert of American pop rock band Against the Current a few months later.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Vowels They Orbit |url=https://soupstar.ph/artist/the-vowels-they-orbit/ |publisher=Soupstar Music}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite news |date=9 July 2019 |title=The vowels they orbit: Songs That Revolve Around The Matters Of The Heart |url=https://wish1075.com/the-vowels-they-orbit-songs-that-revolve-around-the-matters-of-the-heart/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724142029/https://wish1075.com/the-vowels-they-orbit-songs-that-revolve-around-the-matters-of-the-heart/ |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |access-date=4 July 2022 |work=Wish 107.5}}</ref>
In 2019, the band officially signed to Sony Music Philippines, and were the first artists to be signed to the label, as Sony was making its return to the Philippine music scene at the time.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/28/sony-music-philippines-reveals-roster-of-filipino-music-artists/|title=Sony Music Philippines reveals roster of Filipino music artists|work=BusinessMirror|date=28 July 2019|accessdate=February 22, 2020|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Olivares |first=Rick |date=July 15, 2019 |title=Meet this charming band – The Vowels They Orbit |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/07/15/19/meet-this-charming-band-the-vowels-they-orbit |access-date=July 8, 2025 |website=ABS-CBN}}</ref> They also released their debut single "Selos" that year.<ref name="selos">{{cite news |title=The vowels they orbit launches 'Selos' music video |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/08/04/the-vowels-they-orbit-launches-selos-music-video/ |access-date=4 July 2022 |work=BusinessMirror |date=4 August 2019}}</ref> It became a hit on Spotify, with 350,000 streams soon after its release, and reached #2 on the Spotify Philippines Top 50 Viral Charts.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> In 2020, the band released their debut 5-track EP ''Ang Unang Ikot'', featuring previous releases like "Selos" and "Kiliti".<ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=the vowels they orbit Explores Emotional Intricacies On Debut EP |url=https://www.onemusic.ph/news/the-vowels-they-orbit-explores-emotional-intricacies-5879 |access-date=4 July 2022 |work=One Music PH |date=17 July 2020}}</ref>
On November 11, 2021, the band released their comeback single "Una", which was also the lead single for their second EP.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Abanes |first=Mariel |date=2021-11-15 |title=Listen to The Vowels They Orbit's emotional comeback single ‘Una’ |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-the-vowels-they-orbits-emotional-comeback-single-una-3093921 |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> They released their second EP, ''tuloy tuloy tuloy!,'' on March 10, 2023, which was also their fifth anniversary.<ref name=":3" />
== Artistry == Although the band is known as indie-pop, they combine different genres such as folk, mellow rock, alternative, soul, and jazz.<ref name=":4" /> Rick Olivares of ABS-CBN compared them to a young Up Dharma Down.<ref name=":0" /> The band has cited Moonstar88 and Swedish rock band The Cardigans as their influences.<ref name=":3" />
==Band members== ===Current Members=== * Nikka Melchor – lead vocals, guitar * Hannah Dela Cruz – keyboard, backup vocals * Gene Santiago – guitar * Patch Javier – bass ===Former Members=== * Jeremy Sayas – drums, backup vocals
== Accolades == {| class="wikitable sortable" !Award !Year !Nominees !Category !Result !<abbr>Ref.</abbr> |- | rowspan="2" |Wish 107.5 Music Awards | rowspan="2" |2021 |"Kiliti" |Wishclusive Contemporary R&B Performance of the Year |{{Nominated}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2021 |title=Julie Anne San Jose's 'Nobela', 'Better' win big |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/julie-anne-san-joses-nobela-better-win-big/73377/?amp |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=www.gmanetwork.com}}</ref> |- |The Vowels They Orbit |Wish Breakthrough Artist of the Year |{{Nominated}} |}
==Discography== ===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of extended plays with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:10em;" |Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" |EP Details |- ! scope="row" |''Ang Unang Ikot'' | * Released: July 17, 2021 <span style="font-size:85%;">(PH)</span> * Label: Sony Music Philippines * Format: Digital download, Streaming media |- ! scope="row" |''tuloy tuloy tuloy!'' | * Released: March 10, 2023 <span style="font-size:85%;">(PH)</span> * Label: Sony Music Philippines * Format: Digital download, Streaming media |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" |+ List of singles, showing year released and album name !Title !Year !Album !Ref(s) |- | "Selos" | rowspan="2"|2019 | rowspan="3"|''Ang Unang Ikot'' (EP) | <ref name="selos"/> |- | "Kiliti" | <ref name=":1" /> |- | "Pasa" | 2020 | |- | "Una" | 2021 | rowspan="4"|''tuloy tuloy tuloy!'' (EP) | <ref name=":2" /> |- | "Here In My Arms" | 2022 | |- | "If You Come Back To Me" | 2023 | |- | "Sandali" | 2023 | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vowels They Orbit}} Category:Filipino rock music groups Category:Filipino pop music groups Category:Musical groups from Metro Manila Category:Musical groups established in 2018 Category:2018 establishments in the Philippines Category:Sony Music Philippines artists