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We're neutral to it na: Orange and Lemons talk about 'Pinoy Ako' and the 'bad side of showbiz'
Entertainment
Music and Concerts
We're neutral to it na: Orange and Lemons talk about 'Pinoy Ako' and the 'bad side of showbiz'
We're neutral to it na: Orange and Lemons talk about 'Pinoy Ako' and the 'bad side of showbiz'
Published Apr 22, 2026 05:23 pm
At A Glance
- Orange & Lemons is hitting new heights with a new single and a European tour.
Orange & Lemons have a new single out titled, “Too Young to Be Old.”
It comes along with a European tour set for May to June 2026, marking a new chapter for the Filipino indie pop mainstays.
The track is a preview of their upcoming album "Visions Of Amber," hinting at a more refined, outward-looking direction.
As vocalist and guitarist Clem Castro puts it, “Too Young to Be Old” captures “that strange middle space where you’re no longer reckless, but not quite settled either." Rather than lean into nostalgia, the track plays out as something more introspective.
“Lyrically, it plays like a quiet conversation with your younger self,” Castro explains. “The verses reflect doubt and self-awareness, while the chorus opens up into something more universal… It’s not a sad song, but it carries a gentle ache.”
That “gentle ache” comes from a heightened awareness of time; how differently it can be experienced, even within the same moment. “The song came from a relationship that made me more aware of time. I was trying to understand that space and find something beautiful in it,” Castro adds.
Sonically, the band continues to find balance between retro influence and modern precision.
Produced by Castro at Lilypod Audio, the track leans into analog warmth while staying controlled and restrained. It also marks their first release mixed in Dolby Atmos, adding a more immersive layer to the listening experience.
“This track sits right at the heart of where we’re headed,” Castro says. “There’s still that 60s/70s melodic sensibility we gravitate toward, but it’s more refined now. Less about imitation, more about interpretation.”
In a press conference with the band, Castro extended further, explaining that his approach to songwriting has shifted in recent years, becoming more collaborative and less confined to the band’s traditional framework.
“I’ve been collaborating with other artists, which I rarely used to do,” he says, referencing recent soundtrack work with Alessandra de Rossi.
There’s also a growing openness to writing for others. “I could start writing for other artists if the songs don’t fit our sound,” he adds.
If the new single reflects a more introspective phase, the band’s upcoming tour will bring that evolution to a wider audience.
Orange & Lemons are set to perform across Europe, playing to a mix of longtime Filipino listeners and new international audiences.
Looking back on the band’s earlier experiences including their highly visible rise during the "Pinoy Big Brother" era have shaped their current perspective.
“We’re neutral about it now,” Castro says. “We were kids from Bulacan who rose from nowhere, and we couldn’t handle the fame and money. That’s what showbiz did to us. We don’t regret it because it was a very expensive lesson in life. It made me realize that music is a business.”
That awareness has translated into long-term control over their work. “We learned how to preserve our legacy and now we own all our masters,” Castro says, noting that the band reclaimed their recordings and re-recorded their first album and have plans for the rest of their early discography. “Down the line, we’ll ‘Taylor Swift’ that.”
As Orange &; Lemons enter this next phase, “Too Young To Be Old” functions as both astandalone release and a preview of what’s ahead; an album that promises a more cohesive, all-English body of work aimed at reaching audiences beyond borders while staying rooted in the band’s signature sound. (Ian Ureta)
Make sure to catch Orange and Lemons on their Europe tour, set on the dates below:
• May 14 – Dublin, Ireland – The Academy
• May 16 – London, England – Dingwalls
• May 17 – Birmingham, England – Hare & Hounds
• May 18 – Liverpool, England – Cavern Club
• May 22 – Geneva, Switzerland – Esther House
• May 23 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
• May 24 – Madrid, Spain – Mon Madrid
• May 30 – Frankfurt, Germany – Zoom Frankfurt
• May 31 – Stavanger, Norway – Fiskepiren
• June 5 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Toekomstmuziek
• June 6 – Marseille, France – Le Molotov
• June 7 – Paris, France – Les Disquaires