Thandii teams up with Filipino music legend Jun Regalado for “My Angel,” blending alt-soul with kulintang in a soulful celebration of love.
British alt-soul duo Thandii teams up with Filipino music legend Jun Regalado for “My Angel,” a sensual new single that blends modern soul with the traditional sound of the kulintang.
Released on August 7, the track serves as the second single from Thandii’s upcoming album, Coco Okayo, arriving September 11 via Sama Sama Records.
Through “My Angel,” Thandii continues its cross-cultural project between Margate’s art-pop scene and Manila’s rich musical heritage. The duo, made up of Jess Berry and Graham Godfrey, brings its modern alt-soul style to the song. At the same time, Regalado adds his signature drumming and the distinct tones of the kulintang.
A Celebration of Love and Connection
At its core, “My Angel” focuses on the feeling of meeting someone who quickly becomes an important part of your life. The track captures that connection through warm production, soulful melodies, and intimate vocals.
The kulintang also takes a central role in the song. Its traditional gong tones add depth and movement to the arrangement. More importantly, they give the track a strong connection to Filipino musical culture. The duo explains:
The kulintang have a special power to bring people together. These ancient gongs pull us toward them like a magnet. “My Angel” is about someone that magically arrived in your life, that you now can’t live without.
Meanwhile, Thandii layers the traditional sounds with ethereal vocals, modern production, and textured instrumentation. As a result, “My Angel” feels both intimate and expansive. Regalado’s drumming adds a steady groove as well. It also links the song’s modern sound to his long musical history.
Connecting Margate and Manila
The collaboration forms part of Coco Okayo, an album inspired by Graham Godfrey’s Filipino heritage. To bring the project together, Thandii traveled from Margate to Manila and worked with Regalado and other musicians.
Now in his late 70s, Regalado has spent almost six decades recording with some of the Philippines’ most celebrated artists. He has contributed to hundreds of albums throughout his career. His 1977 track “Pinoy Funk” also found a new audience after Soundway Records featured it on the 2024 compilation Ayo Ke Disco.
Beyond “My Angel,” Coco Okayo explores OPM, soul, and disco-funk. Thandii describes this mix as “MAR-NILA.” The term reflects the meeting point between Filipino diaspora music and Margate’s contemporary art-pop scene.
“My Angel” brings more than two musical styles together. Thandii and Regalado connect different generations, cultures, and traditions. Through the song, they celebrate love, connection, and music’s ability to bring people closer.
