Mt. Lewis goes full 90s rom-com mode in new single “Kung Ayaw Mo”
Last Updated on October 22, 2026 by Don Werner Salas
Pampanga band Mt. Lewis has a new single out, and it sounds like it came straight off an old VHS tape. “Kung Ayaw Mo” dropped on September 25 through Offshore Music. It trades some of the band’s usual punch for a lighter, playful pop sound built around acoustic guitar.
The track is the four-piece’s first new song since “Kidlat,” their synth-rock fusion single. It still carries some of that spark. This time, though, the mood is coy and a little goofy, closer to a 90s Pinoy comedy than a big rock moment.
If you grew up watching local films on a crowded sala couch, this one might hit close to home.
Quick details on the release
- Song: “Kung Ayaw Mo”
- Artist: Mt. Lewis
- Label: Offshore Music
- Release date: September 25, 2026
- Where to listen: All major digital streaming platforms
- Music video: Announced for an October 9 premiere on the Mt. Lewis YouTube channel
A song about the awkward early days of dating
“Kung Ayaw Mo” focuses on that stage of a new relationship when neither person knows where things stand. Mixed signals pop up. Small misunderstandings happen. Instead of turning that into drama, the song handles it with teasing and playful banter.
The band calls it a “suyuan” anthem. Suyuan is the sweet, sometimes clumsy back-and-forth of wooing someone or smoothing things over after a small fight. Both the lyrics and the instrumentation lean into that flirty, low-stakes mood.
Inspired by old Pinoy comedies and Gary V
Lead guitarist and vocalist Lewis Tiongco says the idea came from childhood memories. He remembers the band members as kids, packed into someone’s house and chatting while a classic Filipino comedy played in the background.
The goal was to give listeners that same warm, easygoing feeling, as if they were watching a 90s comedy themselves.
Tiongco also points to a specific musical reference. He names Gary Valenciano’s “Di Bale Na Lang” as a song that helped the band picture the fun, playful Filipino pop sound they had in mind. It’s a fitting nod to the singer long known as “Mr. Pure Energy.”
A lighter, acoustic-led sound
Fans who know Mt. Lewis for big hooks and guitar solos will notice a shift here. The band built the track around acoustic guitar, using it as the main body of the song to keep the texture airy and light.
“This release definitely reveals the band’s quirkier side, both musically and in terms of our personality,” Tiongco says.
That quirkiness suits the theme. A song about awkward flirting probably shouldn’t sound too serious, and this one doesn’t.
Who is Mt. Lewis
Mt. Lewis formed in 2017 in Angeles City, Pampanga. The current lineup features Lewis Tiongco on lead guitar and vocals, Gael Santos on drums, Brian Macapagal on bass and backing vocals, and Heinrich Bernabe on keyboards, synths and programming.
The band lists PREP, John Mayer, Phoenix and The 1975 among its influences. Its catalogue includes “Cold Misty Road,” “Bitin” and “Marry Go Round.” In February 2024, the group put out the Citrine EP, led by the single “Arsonista,” after signing with Offshore Music Philippines.
Where the band has played
Mt. Lewis plays regularly in Manila and Pampanga. Past stops include the Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan Festival, University Days at Holy Angel University, the Fête de la Musique Pampanga main stage and the Oddisee Music Festival in Clark City.
Those live shows helped the band build its following. According to the band, its listeners now reach beyond the Philippines too.
Where to listen and watch
“Kung Ayaw Mo” is out now on all major streaming platforms. The band also announced an October 9 premiere for the official music video on the Mt. Lewis YouTube channel. Head there for the visuals, then add the track to your next throwback playlist.
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