By Staff | January 12, 2026

As they prepare to unveil their third studio album in early 2026, the Manila-based nu metal powerhouse Saydie is entering a new era of artistic maturity and global reach. Fronted by Kat, the band has spent the last several years touring internationally, bridging the gap between the raw energy of the Philippine metal scene and diverse audiences worldwide. Their recent creative output, epitomized by the single "Yawa," leans into a heavier and more visceral sound that uses cultural lore and horror as metaphors for the complexities of identity and survival. By prioritizing emotional honesty and trusting in the universal language of passion, Saydie is solidifying their place in the genre's worldwide resurgence while remaining fiercely authentic to their roots.

With your third album arriving soon, how does this body of work evolve your sound compared to your first two records?

For the third album, our musicality had become more mature. This is us being comfortable with it. It’s heavier in some places, groovier in others, and way more honest. Less “is this correct?” and more “does this feel right?” That shift alone changes everything.

You released the music video for “Yawa” last Halloween. The title carries a lot of weight in Philippine dialects. What were you trying to express with that track?

“Yawa” means the devil in Visayan Filipino dialect. According to the lore Yawa was a powerful goddess who was demonized by colonizers. In the music video, she doesn’t just represent anger but hunger. It’s that feeling of being chewed up by life: relationships, expectations and survival. The horror is a metaphor. The monster is basically you, finally looking back at yourself and saying, “Okay, this is what I am.” It’s dark, but it’s also weirdly freeing.

As one of the more established female-fronted metal bands in the Philippines, has your songwriting approach changed now that you’re also thinking globally?

We don’t really write with a map in mind. If it connects, it connects. Touring overseas showed us that emotion and passion translates, even if language doesn’t. So now we write what feels true to us and trust that people will meet us there.

You’ve been touring internationally since 2022. What’s been the most surprising reaction from foreign crowds hearing Pinoy nu metal for the first time?

The surprise is real. You can see it, like “Oh… this goes HARD.” Then by the second song, the pit opens and suddenly we’re all friends. After shows, people ask where we’re from, what the lyrics mean, what the scene’s like back home. That curiosity is amazing and we also learn so much from the local bands in different countries that we share stages with.

How does the Manila metal scene compare to international stages?

Both are special, just in different ways. Manila is chaos in the best way. Is raw and personal. International shows can be bigger and more polished, but Manila is home to us. People know the context, the struggle, the references.

Do you feel pressure to represent the Philippine metal scene when playing abroad?

Not pressure, responsibility maybe. But we don’t overthink it. We just show up as ourselves. No toning things down. If that opens doors for the scene, that’s a bonus.

Nu metal is having a big resurgence worldwide. Why does the genre still fit Saydie in 2026?

Because it lets you be messy. Heavy, emotional, groove-driven, uncomfortable in the most beautiful way. That still makes sense to us, and honestly, it still makes sense to the world right now.

Kat, as a frontwoman in a male-dominated genre, what changes have you noticed over the years?

There’s more space now, which is great. But you still have to claim it. The difference is that women in metal aren’t treated like a novelty as much anymore. We’re just musicians, which is exactly where we want to be.

Your music videos have a strong visual identity. How involved is the band in that process, especially for “Yawa”?

Very involved. We’re picky. “Yawa” needed to feel uncomfortable, not pretty. The visuals had to match the feeling of the song: rage, hunger, tension and release.

Can you tease the upcoming single? Is it new territory or familiar ground?

It’s familiar, but evolved. Same DNA, different mood. A little darker, a little more controlled. It doesn’t rush. It waits, then hits.

Any collaborations fans should be excited about on the new album?

There are some surprises, yeah. We’re keeping it quiet for now, but it pushed us in good ways.

After the album drops in early 2026, what’s next for Saydie?

More shows, more places, less sleep. Southeast Asia for sure, and hopefully further out. We want to play in rooms where people don’t know us yet.

Important question: Efren Reyes, greatest pool player ever?

Absolutely! And not just because he’s good, but because every Filipino Tito (uncle) will bring him up within five minutes of touching a pool table. It’s basically tradition at this point.

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