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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Music and Concerts devider Fil-Am hitmaker Steve Lacy set to headline LALALA Music Festival

Fil-Am hitmaker Steve Lacy set to headline LALALA Music Festival

Published Jul 28, 2026 06:37 am

Filipino-American singer-songwriter Steve Lacy is to headline this year's LALALA Music Festival in Manila.

His return carries added significance for Filipino fans.

Born to an African-American mother and a Filipino father, Lacy has occasionally spoken about his Filipino heritage, making his first major festival appearance at the World Trade Center Metro Manila alongside local acts like Ben&Ben, Maki, Over October, Dilaw and fitterkarma, as well as Two Door Cinema Club, Dermot Kennedy, FLO, Isyana Sarasvati, Matthew Ifield and more.

Known for the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit "Bad Habit," his work with alternative R&B band The Internet and collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Tyler, the Creator, and Solange, Steve Lacy is also droppinng "Oh Yeah?," his third studio album and first full-length release since the Grammy-winning "Gemini Rights."

Rather than attempting to recreate the commercial success of "Bad Habit," "Oh Yeah?" pushes further into the unpredictable territory that has become Lacy's trademark. The album moves effortlessly between psychedelic rock, alternative R&B, soul, breakbeats, and indie pop, often shifting direction within a single song without losing its identity.

The record's greatest strength is its emotional candor. On the title track, Lacy wrestles with uncertainty and self-doubt, while "is it cool?" finds him trading vulnerable reflections with SZA. "pure color," featuring the legendary Erykah Badu, slows the pace with hazy production and understated performances that rank among the album's highlights.

Comparisons to Frank Ocean's "Blonde" are inevitable, but Lacy's songwriting feels more impulsive than meticulously crafted. His songs embrace awkward transitions, unfinished thoughts, and emotional contradictions, capturing the feeling of someone working through life in real time instead of presenting polished conclusions.

Not every experiment is equally successful, but "Oh Yeah?" is most compelling when it allows its imperfections to remain intact. In an era where streaming algorithms often reward predictability, Steve Lacy continues to trust songwriter instincts over a formula.

Tickets are available through LALALA Music Festival's official ticketing channels.

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