MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Manila shoegaze band LARA just dropped the music video for their latest single, “Bonsai“, a hauntingly beautiful track that showcases the band’s ability to craft emotive and introspective soundscapes.
LARA‘s music is a reflection of their experiences and emotions, and “Bonsai”, which was previously released to streaming platforms on June 17, is no exception. LARA’s debut album Disambiguate, released in early 2025, introduced the band to Manila’s thriving shoegaze and alternative music community. The album was warmly received by fans and earned the band performances in many notable shows, including an opening spot for Japanese band Mass of the Fermenting Dregs.
With their latest album campaign, the band sets its eyes on reaching a wider audience in the rest of the Philippines and overseas. With their signature blend of heavy distortion and dreamy shoegaze textures channeling love, existentialism, and pain, the band’s lofty goals are not at all out of reach.
“‘Bonsai’ is a song about pain, attempting to let go, enduring, and yearning,” the band shares in an official statement. “The title is a representation of the perspective of the writer growing in the same way a bonsai tree does.”
While a conscious effort was made to veer slightly from the sound that introduced the band in Disambiguate, the songwriting remains firmly rooted in the fundamental approach that endeared the band to their audience. With guitarist & vocalist Kurt Garcia taking the helm as producer, the band also enlisted other producers to help craft the new recordings including Rico Leonardo, who coproduced “Bonsai” alongside the band’s frontman, Jed Tabago. Engineer Inigo Mortel likewise played a pivotal role in how the final track sounds.
“[It was] quite an effort, but we truly believe we were able to give ‘Bonsai’ its distinct personality and taste,” the band adds. “After more than a year since our debut album, we truly are proud to present our latest song.”
The music video directed by Max Santos is a visually stunning companion to the song that complements the track’s atmospheric soundscapes. “The shots were deliberately arranged to make the audience feel isolation and emptiness, while also providing space to breathe,” Santos shared. “From beginning to end, I wanted to provide a visual shift from dullness to color, portraying the journey of hurting and moving on as told in the song.”
The visual treatments for the music video pulled inspiration from music videos of various genres, ranging from Loathe’s “Two-Way Mirror” to Grent Perez’s “Sailing”.
“We were definitely impressed and beyond surprised with how the whole video turned out,” said LARA’s Paul Caronan. “We’re very happy that we got to work with Max on the creation of this music video.” As this is the band’s first official music video release, they consider this project very special to them.
LARA is currently in the early stages of writing their sophomore record, their first effort to be released after recently signing with independent label Melt Records, and “Bonsai” is a tantalizing glimpse into what’s to come.
Watch the music video for “Bonsai”, now streaming on Lara’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Stream the track on your favorite streaming platforms.