Ligaya Escueta Releases “Penelope,” a Shoegaze Single About Body Image
Last Updated on November 13, 2026 by Don Werner Salas
Manila indie-rock act Ligaya Escueta released “Penelope” on November 13, 2026, through Offshore Music Philippines. The new single mixes distorted guitars and low-set synth textures with a candid look at body image.
Its Friday the 13th arrival suits the uneasy mood. Beneath the fuzzy sound, though, the subject is personal: the cycle of feeling comfortable in your skin, then suddenly losing that confidence.
“Penelope” also marks the first release from Ligaya Escueta as an official four-piece band. It follows the group’s earlier 2026 single “June” and brings its collaborative direction into sharper focus.
Ligaya Escueta’s “Penelope”: Quick Details
- Release date: Friday, November 13, 2026
- Artist: Ligaya Escueta, now an official four-piece band
- Label: Offshore Music Philippines
- Style: Shoegaze, indie rock and dream pop
- Theme: Body image, insecurity and feeling disconnected from your body
- Availability: Digital music streaming platforms worldwide
What “Penelope” Sounds Like
According to the release, “Penelope” brings together fuzz-heavy guitars, grounded synths and a hazy atmosphere. The arrangement draws from shoegaze while keeping the band’s rock roots close.
That mix gives the song two sides. The guitars suggest tension and weight, while the dream-pop elements leave space for a more inward-looking story. Together, those textures support a theme that can be difficult to put into words.
The release-date choice adds another layer. Friday the 13th usually points to horror, but “Penelope” is concerned with a quieter kind of unease. Its darker mood comes from how the singer describes seeing herself.
The Personal Story Behind “Penelope”
Escueta has linked the song to her long-running struggles with body image. “Body image is something I’ve been struggling with for years,” she says in the release.
She describes a frustrating pattern: finding peace with her appearance, only to feel her confidence slip again. The song approaches that feeling through the idea of being disconnected from your own body.
It is a more specific subject than a general song about self-doubt. Escueta gives listeners a glimpse of the recurring uncertainty behind the track, without presenting a neat solution to it.
That restraint matters. The music carries a tense atmosphere, but the message does not need a dramatic ending to register. It starts with a feeling many people recognize but may struggle to describe.
Meet the Four-Piece Band Behind the New Single
The name Ligaya Escueta began as a solo musical project. In 2026, it formally became a four-piece group under Offshore Music.
Escueta handles bass and vocals. Diego Cerrudo and Kristo Mercado play guitars, and Ninja Nicolas is on drums. The group had already been working together before it formalized the lineup.
For “Penelope,” the writing and production process took on a more shared approach. The press materials say each member contributed ideas and remained open to input from the others.
That changes more than the number of musicians onstage. It gives the songs room to grow through the decisions of a permanent band, rather than through one artist’s perspective alone.
How “Penelope” Follows “June” and Dollweb
“Penelope” follows “June,” the dream-pop single released in March 2026. Both songs draw from shoegaze, but the new track puts distorted guitars and an unsettled emotional theme further forward.
Escueta has been releasing music since 2020. She issued her debut album, Laughing In Milk, in 2022, then signed with Offshore Music in 2023. Singles such as “Novelty,” “12 Steps” and “Blue General, Come Home” followed.
Her second album, Dollweb, arrived in January 2025. That year, she also performed at SXSW Sydney with fellow Filipino musicians, extending her reach beyond the local indie circuit.
Her cited influences include Mitski, Radiohead and Weezer. Across those reference points, there is room for both direct songwriting and rough-edged guitar music. “Penelope” brings those interests into the band’s present-day lineup.
A Manila Live Date Is Coming Up
There is another date on the calendar for listeners in the Philippines. Ligaya Escueta appears on the announced lineup for Offshore Music’s tenth-anniversary show on November 21, 2026.
The event takes place at 123 Block in Mandaluyong City, alongside label acts and collaborators including ena mori, ALYSON and The Itchyworms. Check the event organiser’s channels for the latest set times and ticket information.
Where to Stream “Penelope” and Watch the Band
“Penelope” is available now on major digital music platforms. Listeners can stream the track on Spotify and revisit the band’s earlier songs to hear how the sound has shifted.
The official music video for “June” is also available on YouTube. For new video announcements and live updates, follow Ligaya Escueta on Instagram.
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