Niko Batallones
@nikobatallones.bsky.social
Scatterbrained writer and accidental cat dad | nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
🎧 New playlist? Sure.
Playlist #35: More of your lore, please, I'm bored
How engaged should we be with the back story to appreciate an album? Featuring music from Not for Radio, Sam Fender and Hearts2Hearts.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:17 AM
🎧 New playlist? Sure.
After a string of typhoons and earthquakes, a battered Philippines needs your help.
A battered Philippines needs your help
As Filipinos recover from a series of typhoons and earthquakes, here's where to give help—and what else to keep in mind.
stacknatin.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:04 AM
After a string of typhoons and earthquakes, a battered Philippines needs your help.
🎧 A new playlist! This should be fun, especially since I was kind of stuck in a rut and needed to listen to some Scandinavian radio to dig me out of it.
Playlist #34: You are not sad. You just need cake.
When in doubt, seek the Scandinavians. Featuring music from Swan Lee, Jeon Somi and Olivia Dean.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:04 PM
🎧 A new playlist! This should be fun, especially since I was kind of stuck in a rut and needed to listen to some Scandinavian radio to dig me out of it.
This is a piece I've mapped out for a year—although I've been arguably writing it for the last 25 years. Let's talk about mental health, and the "neurodivergent", and why they're being shut out of all those conversations...
We're forgetting a whole group of people when we talk about mental health
Discussions of mental health tend to shut out folks with neurodevelopmental disorders. This should never be the case.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:46 AM
This is a piece I've mapped out for a year—although I've been arguably writing it for the last 25 years. Let's talk about mental health, and the "neurodivergent", and why they're being shut out of all those conversations...
🎧 I haven't thought this month's playlist on the Once Monthly that much through.
Playlist #33: Everybody is performative
And also, please don't call me a performative male. Featuring music from the Beths, CMAT and Broken Social Scene.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:25 AM
🎧 I haven't thought this month's playlist on the Once Monthly that much through.
The third entry in the Once Monthly's Song Trigger series is on Hajji Alejandro's "Panakip-Butas", apparently a Filipino cover of an English song... and somehow much more painful.
Song Trigger #3: "Panakip-Butas" by Hajji Alejandro
How can a Filipino cover be much more painful than the English original?
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The third entry in the Once Monthly's Song Trigger series is on Hajji Alejandro's "Panakip-Butas", apparently a Filipino cover of an English song... and somehow much more painful.
The Philippines is engulfed in yet another all-consuming corruption scandal. I don't think anything will change... at least not until we stop turning everything into a morality play.
Still waiting for the next Turning Point
Another corruption scandal captures the Filipino imagination. Another opportunity to squander, as always.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
September 2, 2025 at 12:18 AM
The Philippines is engulfed in yet another all-consuming corruption scandal. I don't think anything will change... at least not until we stop turning everything into a morality play.
My latest (read: from last Friday) Plaka Note is on the new album from Lola Amour, and why it might feel like Bini all over again.
Plaka Notes #19: Love on Loop by Lola Amour
In an attempt to go global, the "Raining in Manila" boys risk sounding too cool to be liked.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
August 25, 2025 at 12:30 AM
My latest (read: from last Friday) Plaka Note is on the new album from Lola Amour, and why it might feel like Bini all over again.
🎧 I've got a new playlist, which is mostly about a really rainy July. A tad ironic considering it's really sunny as I post this.
Playlist #32: Otherwise, it's been gloomy
A more downbeat playlist to reflect two weeks straight of rain, and then some. Featuring music from Tomoo, Project Yazz and Felivand.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
August 8, 2025 at 4:15 AM
🎧 I've got a new playlist, which is mostly about a really rainy July. A tad ironic considering it's really sunny as I post this.
My latest Plaka Note is on new singer-songwriter Earl Agustin, who's apparently gone viral (whatever that means) despite his songs being rooted in very old styles. You may not have noticed because it isn't flashy. But then again, does old fashioned have to be a bad thing?
Plaka Notes #18: Himig at Pag-ibig by Earl Agustin
The singer-songwriter dips into the past for his debut collection of timeless romantic sentiments.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
July 25, 2025 at 6:30 AM
My latest Plaka Note is on new singer-songwriter Earl Agustin, who's apparently gone viral (whatever that means) despite his songs being rooted in very old styles. You may not have noticed because it isn't flashy. But then again, does old fashioned have to be a bad thing?
But then, a technicality!
July 12, 2025 at 12:41 PM
But then, a technicality!
🎧 This month's playlist on the Once Monthly feels like a one-way thing. I know that doesn't sell it, but do I just say it's a mix of old pop and new pop, or should I still be mysterious about it?
Playlist #31: Big things, little things
Everything feels one-way in the end. Featuring music from Mariya Takeuchi, Baby Dont Cry and Yutori.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
July 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
🎧 This month's playlist on the Once Monthly feels like a one-way thing. I know that doesn't sell it, but do I just say it's a mix of old pop and new pop, or should I still be mysterious about it?
I do a tribute album for this month's Plaka Note, and then go on a bit about whether the tribute album still works as a tool for music discovery in this day and age. Oh, and it's Offshore Music's Cutterpillow tribute, by the way.
Plaka Notes #17: Cutterpillow: Tribute Album by Offshore Music
Ely Buendia's label covering the Eraserheads' biggest album is an interesting exercise. If only we were ready for it.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
June 27, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I do a tribute album for this month's Plaka Note, and then go on a bit about whether the tribute album still works as a tool for music discovery in this day and age. Oh, and it's Offshore Music's Cutterpillow tribute, by the way.
And now, kind of from out of nowhere, a new edition of my new-ish Song Trigger series, featuring Lee Hi's "Hold My Hand".
Song Trigger #2: "Hold My Hand" by Lee Hi
And now, once again, framed differently, my K-pop origin story.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
June 20, 2025 at 1:09 PM
And now, kind of from out of nowhere, a new edition of my new-ish Song Trigger series, featuring Lee Hi's "Hold My Hand".
🎧 Yep, I did forget to post my latest playlist on here. I've been busy. I've been yearning for cozy. What is cozy? (A smattering of K-pop for me, in this case.)
Playlist #30: Cozy is an illusion
Also, how dare I tell you what "cozy" should be. Featuring music from Oh My Girl Banhana, ablume and Ruby Ibarra.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
June 15, 2025 at 1:40 AM
🎧 Yep, I did forget to post my latest playlist on here. I've been busy. I've been yearning for cozy. What is cozy? (A smattering of K-pop for me, in this case.)
...and now, the kombucha of disappointment.
June 11, 2025 at 12:57 AM
...and now, the kombucha of disappointment.
It's not a new month if I'm not spiraling.
June 1, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It's not a new month if I'm not spiraling.
Oddly, for the second time in one month, I almost appeared on TV.
May 27, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Oddly, for the second time in one month, I almost appeared on TV.
My latest Plaka Note is on the new EP from P-pop veterans SB19, who climbed a pretty tall mountain to get where they are. And who else could've done it?
Plaka Notes #16: Simula at Wakas by SB19
The P-pop pioneers' sincerity carries their musically expansive new EP.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
May 23, 2025 at 4:13 AM
My latest Plaka Note is on the new EP from P-pop veterans SB19, who climbed a pretty tall mountain to get where they are. And who else could've done it?
As long as it’s a flight to Manila, fuck your row numbers and fuck your entry arrangements. We will fucking fall in line and we will take our seats first.
May 11, 2025 at 5:30 AM
As long as it’s a flight to Manila, fuck your row numbers and fuck your entry arrangements. We will fucking fall in line and we will take our seats first.
This must be my first foreign trip in a really long time where I don't go home with a newspaper.
Oh, wait, I transited from Hong Kong and I got a copy of the SCMP. That covers it, right?
Oh, wait, I transited from Hong Kong and I got a copy of the SCMP. That covers it, right?
May 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
This must be my first foreign trip in a really long time where I don't go home with a newspaper.
Oh, wait, I transited from Hong Kong and I got a copy of the SCMP. That covers it, right?
Oh, wait, I transited from Hong Kong and I got a copy of the SCMP. That covers it, right?
🎧 New playlist on the Once Monthly -- and this one's accidentally(!) about staying young, and growing old, and passing on, and all the regrets that come with it.
Playlist #29: On and on to the sea
The more time you have with someone, the less time you actually have. Featuring music from Oh My Girl, Nia Nadurata and the Beths.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
May 9, 2025 at 1:42 PM
🎧 New playlist on the Once Monthly -- and this one's accidentally(!) about staying young, and growing old, and passing on, and all the regrets that come with it.
I sure hope I can see a newspaper somewhere in Jeju today.
May 8, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I sure hope I can see a newspaper somewhere in Jeju today.
🎧 I launched a new feature on the Once Monthly! Say hello to Song Trigger -- one song, and one thought it's triggered. We begin with a classic in the Filipino folk oeuvre, Florante's "Handog".
Song Trigger #1: "Handog" by Florante
A new feature begins with this Filipino folk classic that's approved for funerals.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
April 28, 2025 at 5:06 AM
🎧 I launched a new feature on the Once Monthly! Say hello to Song Trigger -- one song, and one thought it's triggered. We begin with a classic in the Filipino folk oeuvre, Florante's "Handog".
🎧 My latest Plaka Note is on the latest album from Filipino indie band SOS, and how intimidated I was by them before, and how they seemingly hesitated to go all the way in this record.
Plaka Notes #15: It Was A Moment by SOS
It can be a good pop record. It is a good pop record. But, for better or worse, SOS can be surprisingly hesitant about it.
nicksyoncemonthly.substack.com
April 25, 2025 at 4:36 AM
🎧 My latest Plaka Note is on the latest album from Filipino indie band SOS, and how intimidated I was by them before, and how they seemingly hesitated to go all the way in this record.