After two years of refinement, countless revisions, and a journey that tested her patience and artistry, Pink Trash Project is finally ready to release “U,” a fan-favorite love song that has been years in the making. Set for release on July 10, 2026, the single marks a meaningful return for the artist following a quieter creative period, and serves as a testament to her evolution as both a musician and a person.
For those who have followed Pink Trash Project since her 2023 release “Narcissism,” this new chapter feels distinctly different. Where “Narcissism” was about finding her voice, “U” is about learning how to use it.
From Live Favorite to Recorded Reality
“U” first came to life in 2024, performed live to test the waters with audiences. The response was immediate and overwhelming. But unlike her earlier work, where songs were written and released almost immediately, Pink took a different approach this time.
“In 2024, I was at a point where I was reassessing my plans for Pink Trash Project. Before that, I was the type of songwriter who would write something and release it almost immediately. Whether people liked it or not didn’t really matter to me. But as I was releasing more music, I realized that putting out a good record takes a lot of energy, time, and resources. Sometimes, songs need a ‘testing phase.’ They need room to breathe, grow, and marinate before becoming something bigger than what I originally imagined.”
That testing phase proved invaluable. When she first performed “U” live, teaching the audience the sing-along parts, they picked them up instantly.
“Hearing an entire room sing the song back – that was a crazy moment for me as in. I already believed in ‘U’ the day I wrote it, but that first live performance gave me proof.”
What followed was nearly two years of refinement, a process that tested her resolve and pushed her artistic boundaries. The biggest challenge Translating the magic of the live performance into a recorded version that did it justice.
“One of the most common feedback I get is that my recordings don’t always give my live performances justice. So when we started working on ‘U,’ our first instinct was to record it the way I would perform it onstage. Ang problema lang ayyy – what worked live didn’t work on record. Ang gulo pakinggan! HAHA.”
For almost two years, Pink chased the perfect balance. She wanted it to sound like a good record while still preserving the Pink Trash Project identity that fans knew from gigs. Enter producer Dedek Mongalo of sundayspecial, whom she approached for feedback in 2025.
“We explored different directions for the song, and honestly, there was a point where I got so frustrated that I told him, ‘ayoko na, start from scratch tayo.’ We had versions that sounded completely different from the original. Some of them were fun, some of them were interesting, but none of them felt like U.”
After going around in circles, they ended up right back where they started with the original version. But this time, it was transformed.
“We kept the original version but slowed it down, made it moodier, a little sexier, and gave it a sound that felt more intentional.”
At its heart, “U” explores the theme of unexpectedly discovering a new kind of love.
“It started with someone I wasn’t really interested in at first. Then I thought, ‘Wait… what if I actually end up falling for this guy?’ U was born from that question. It’s not necessarily a real story, but more of an exploration of an unexpected kind of love, the kind that catches you off guard and makes you rethink what you thought you wanted.”
The road to “U” was deeply personal. After pouring everything into Pink Trash Project in 2024 without getting the results she expected, Pink found herself burned out by 2025.
“The funny thing is, I actually released a lot of songs during that period. I knew I gave my all, but I stopped expecting anything in return. Instead, I focused on being patient with myself, my music, and the process. I spent more time with fellow artists, grounded myself, and reminded myself why I started doing this in the first place. The answer was simple: because I love singing and this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
She gave herself permission to explore, releasing two pop songs and a rock record in 2025 alone. Instead of chasing results, she focused on enjoying the act of creating again.
“That mindset ended up shaping ‘U’ a lot. I stopped forcing the song to become something it wasn’t and allowed it to find its own identity.”
This release, she explains, is more than just another single.
“It’s a reminder that I still love doing this, and that I’m excited about making music again. And because I apparently never learn, we’re already working on an EP for some of my unreleased songs because honestly, ayoko silang ma-stuck sa archives forever. Also… SURPRISE!!! MAY EP PAPARATING!! HEHEHE.”
When “Narcissism” dropped in 2023, it was a breakthrough moment. The song gave Pink Trash Project its identity and connected with audiences in a way that felt definitive.
“Pressured? Malala. HAHA. I think ‘Narcissism’ was the first time I really felt like people understood what Pink Trash Project was. It was the song that gave me my ‘Pink’ identity, so after that, there was this little voice in my head going, ‘Okay… now what?'”
That pressure drove her in 2024, but looking back, she recognizes the toll it took.
“I was so focused on chasing the next big moment that I forgot to enjoy making music. I think ‘U’ differs from that era because it’s coming from a much more grounded version of me. Not just as an artist, but as a person. I’m more patient now. More intentional. Mas pinag-iisipan ko na yung mga decisions ko instead of just running with the first idea that comes to mind. ‘Narcissism’ felt like me finding my voice. ‘U’ feels like me learning how to use it. Both songs are very Pink Trash Project, but they come from two very different chapters of my life.”
The FILSCAP Selection
A turning point came when “U” was selected for FILSCAP’s Songwriter’s Select 2025, chosen from over 250 submissions nationwide.
“To be chosen as one of the 15 songs from over 250+ entries from all over the Philippines was already such an honor.”
Pink performed the song at the program with just guitar accompaniment, not expecting anything from it. The track was already mostly done at that point, the arrangement was there, the direction was set, but she couldn’t find the drive to finish recording the final vocals. Then FILSCAP happened.
“Pinkies already loved the song, and that meant a lot to me. But having a songwriting organization recognize it was a different kind of validation. It reminded me that beyond the sing-along moments and the live performances, there was actual songwriting in there that people connected with.”
The experience gave her the final push she needed.
“Literal na pagkauwi ko, nag-schedule agad ako ng recording session. Parang sabi ko, ‘Okay, this song is something. Tapusin na natin ‘to.'”
For the Pinkies, Herself, and the Love of Music
One of the most endearing aspects of “U” is how it invites audience participation. During live performances, Pink introduces the song with the line: “This song is for all the people who are experiencing a new kind of love, and this song is for U,” with the Pinkies shouting the final word.
“I dunno, Pinkies just… shouted ‘U’ and it became a ritual every gig afterwards. HAHAHA.”
While sing-along moments are often omitted from recordings to keep tracks radio-friendly, Pink insisted on preserving that interactive spirit.
“I wanted the last part to feel like you can still sing along with me, kahit naka-earphones ka lang mag-isa.”
The demand for a studio version of “U” has been persistent. Fans have been asking for years. But it wasn’t just the Pinkies, even colleagues and strangers who caught her performances in Iloilo, Bacolod, and at FILSCAP kept asking the same question.
“I openly say that this release is for the Pinkies and everyone who’s been waiting for it, and that’s true. But in reality, I think releasing this song was also for myself.”
She admits she held herself back from finishing it multiple times.
“I already believed in the song when I wrote it, but somehow I kept finding reasons to delay it. So finally releasing it feels like me being kinder to myself and finally letting go. More than anything, it feels like closing a chapter. Not just for ‘U,’ but for all the songs I wrote during that same era, which is yun ngang nasa EP na I was talking about. So while I’m excited that people finally get a studio version, I’m also excited that these songs finally get out of the box and live the sound they deserve.”
“U” features an impressive roster of collaborators. Produced by Dedek Mongalo (sundayspecial), mixed by YNISH Dichoso, and mastered by Sam Marquez (ONE CLICK STRAIGHT), the track benefits from a team that understood exactly what Pink needed.
“Dedek Mongalo (sundayspecial), as I mentioned earlier, was someone I approached for feedback because I knew his style was the perfect example of the balance I was looking for. He kept the heart of my original version, but as the producer, he helped shape it into something that would suit me better as an artist. He recommended slowing it down, changed some of the chord progressions, and arranged that crazy instrumental section in the middle. He was the other half of the song, both figuratively and realistically.”
“YNISH is someone I’ve worked with on tracks like PAG-IBIG NA BA? (which she wrote, produced, and generously gave to me hehe) and FOREVER WITH (Super Junior), which I wrote then she produced the music and mixed. She has always been one of my most trusted ears. She helped make sure the track felt current while still keeping the essence of the song intact.”
“Sam Marquez (ONE CLICK STRAIGHT) has always been my go-to when it comes to mastering. He mastered Ako’y Nag-alangan, and as both a friend and an engineer, I knew this track was supposed to be his. You can spend so much time writing, producing, and mixing a song, but if the final master doesn’t sound right, none of that matters. Thankfully, Sam was the perfect person to bring it across the finish line.”
A Fangirl at Heart: The K-Pop Connection
The July 10 release date holds a special significance becayse it’s Super Junior Kim Heechul’s birthday. And yes, Pink is well aware.
“OH!!! This was actually just a true fangirl moment. HAHA. I always, and I mean always, make sure that a release date means something. I don’t like releasing songs on random dates. I always try to find a connection, kahit gaano pa ka-random ‘yan. For example, when we were in the mixing stage of ‘U,’ I jokingly said, ‘Okay, let’s release it on June 12 para Araw ng Kalayaan at makalaya na rin ako sa kantang ‘to.’ HAHAHA. But when we started pushing the release date back for proper pitching and planning, I realized July was the most feasible month. Then I saw that July 10 fell on a Friday and thought, ‘Okay, birthday na lang ni Heechul.'”
The connection goes deeper than a coincidental date. As a longtime Super Junior fan, Pink initially didn’t have a bias in the group, but over time, Heechul became her favorite.
“Funny enough, if we’re following the logic of ‘U,’ hindi rin naman ako interesado kay Heechul nung una. I became a Super Junior fan without having a bias, and somehow, over time, siya pala yung naging bias ko. So is there a deeper connection between ‘Forever With (Super Junior)’ and ‘U’? Probably not. Is this just me finding excuses to connect my releases to Super Junior’s Kim Heechul? Absolutely. HAHAHA.”
K-pop has shaped not just Pink’s musical taste, but her entire approach to artistry.
“I’ve always heard, both in the K-pop industry and in OPM, that when you change your sound too much, people get confused. Parang dapat branded ka sa isang genre, isang image, isang tunog lang. But I’ve always wondered, what if that’s not the sound I want for this particular song? What if iba talaga yung bagay?”
Groups like Super Junior taught her that artists can jump between genres while maintaining a core identity.
“What I learned from K-pop, and especially from groups like Super Junior, is that artists can jump from genre to genre and still feel like themselves. They can release a ballad, then a dance track, then something completely unexpected, but there’s always a core identity that stays intact. The branding remains even when the genres flip. That’s something I’m still learning and trying to apply to Pink Trash Project today. I don’t want to be limited by genre because I genuinely enjoy so many kinds of music. Some days I want to write a rock song, some days a pop song, some days a soul-pop song like ‘U.’ K-pop made me realize that exploring different sounds doesn’t automatically mean losing your identity as an artist.”
K-pop gave her the courage to be curious, to experiment, and to not fear sounding different from one release to the next.
“K-pop gave me the courage to be curious. To try things, experiment, and not be afraid of sounding different from one release to the next. Honestly, all of the things I do now started because I was a fan first. I wanted to become a singer-songwriter who dances because of Michael Jackson. I became more open to different genres because of K-pop. I became a better performer because I kept watching artists I admired and learning from them. So if there’s one thing that connects all of that, it’s that I’ve always been a fan first. And honestly, I’m proud of that.”
With “U” finally set for release and an EP already in the works, Pink Trash Project is entering an exciting new chapter. The song represents not just a return, but a reclamation: of patience, of purpose, and of the joy that first inspired her to make music.
As she puts it: “This song is for all the people who are experiencing a new kind of love, and this song is for U.”
“U” releases on July 10, 2026, available on all major streaming platforms.
NeP-C Ledesma is a millennial writer and entrepreneur full of curiosity about our abstract world. She devours Psychology, food, Philosophy, and prefer cats as her all-time company. Pop Culture is her kryptonite.