How fitterkarma turned weirdness into viral gold
There are two ways a band can become famous in the modern internet era. One is through years of careful touring, networking, and industry politics. The other is by accidentally releasing a song so emotionally intense, slightly unsettling, and algorithmically unstoppable that it hijacks everyone’s TikTok feed. fitterkarma took the second route very much.
If you’ve spent any serious time scrolling online, there’s a good chance you’ve heard Pag-Ibig ay Kanibalismo II. One moment you’re watching someone make iced coffee. Next, you’re emotionally invested in a haunting ballad about love, obsession, and metaphorical cannibalism.
Currently composed of Sophia Miranda, Joao de Leon, Lory Mendoza, and Sanders Bayas, fitterkarma began in 2023 as a passion project. It wasn’t designed to be a viral machine. It was just four people trying to turn their “hugot” into something meaningful.
“Pag-ibig ay Kanibalismo II” traveled from underground gig bars to major playlists, earning millions of streams and landing on multiple year-end lists. Which is impressive.
And also slightly absurd, considering how strange and poetic the song is. Instead of sanding down that weirdness, the band embraced it, such as on their newest song, “Aswang sa Manila”.
To celebrate the launch of “Aswang sa Manila” and as a Valentine’s Day celebration, fitterkarma, Gabi Na Naman Productions, and ONErpm helmed a single launch party for the band, joined by other talented musicians such as Shirebound, Lions, and Acrobats, Bita and The Botflies, Halina and Novocrane. The event was also sponsored by Jack Daniels.
In an exclusive interview with Manila Bulletin, lead songwriter Joao explains that songs like “Aswang sa Manila” come from the feeling na “parang ikaw yung odd one sa puso ng isang tao. "Ayun, kumbaga, hindi niya tanggap kung ano ka bilang isang tao.” [of being like the odd one out in how a person feels about you. Basically, they don't exactly accept you for who you really are]. He connects this to folklore, noting how weird it wouldbe to imagine an “aswang” in the middle of Manila. “Parang weird, ’di ba?” [Weird, right?]" he says. And that strange image becomes the heart of the song.
This seems to be fitterkarma’s secret weapon: turning emotional confusion into stories. Their creative process reflects that same openness. Recording sessions are collaborative, moreso as of now with “Aswang sa Manila” featuring Kai Sevillano of Novocrane is another up-and-coming band in the local scene.
It’s sometimes chaotic, but deeply communal. The band describes their recent work as “ang pinaka-collaborative” so far, wherein “lahat nakakabigay ng inputs” and “walang nagle-left behind.” It’s not about one person dominating the sound. It’s about shared ownership.
Visually and sonically, the band leans into dark, slow-burning aesthetics and not cheap jump scares. “Mahilig ako sa movies na disturbing,” as Joao puts it. For them, the macabre is a tool; a way to express emotions that are too heavy, too awkward, or too complicated to say plainly. Through eerie visuals and moody arrangements, they make those feelings easier to face.
Their identity is also shaped by their love for Radiohead, whose songs “Fitter Happier’ and “Karma Police” inspired the band’s name. They borrowed the naming method out of necessity, a la how Radiohead themselves got their name from Talking Heads and turned it into part of their mythology.
Members cite favorites like “True Love Waits”, “My Iron Lung”, “Exit Music (For a Film) and “Let Down” as their favorite Radiohead songs and The Bends, A Moon Shaped Pool, Kid A, and OK Computer as their favorite albums, reflecting their shared love for emotionally heavy music.
Looking ahead, fitterkarma is focused on expanding through collaboration. The band hasn expressed interest in working with fellow OPM artists such as Cup of Joe, Shirebound, Janine Berdin and even the full Novocrane band. “Madami,” the band says when asked about future partners. “The more brains, the better.”
fitterkarma isn’t trying to be polished pop stars. They’re not chasing trends. They’re building something slow, strange, and emotionally honest. In an industry that often rewards perfection, their willingness to be “medyo weird” might be their greatest strength. And judging by their astronomical rise so far, people are more than ready to listen. (Ian Ureta)