MANILA, Philippines — Nadine Lustre is giving fans another reason to hit play.
The actress-singer has teamed up with Filipino-American music star Apl.de.ap for her latest single, “Donuts,” an unexpected collaboration that combines Lustre’s melodic style with the Black Eyed Peas member’s rap-driven sound.
Lustre announced the release on social media on September 5, describing the experience of working with Apl.de.ap as “a little surreal” and calling him a legend. The track is now available on major streaming platforms.
The collaboration immediately caught attention among fans, particularly because of the pairing of two artists coming from different corners of the music scene.
A different side of Nadine
“Donuts” arrives at an important point in Lustre’s music career.
The release follows “Personal,” which she dropped in July after a three-year gap between solo music releases. Her previous single was “Overgrown,” released in 2023.
Her return to music has therefore developed into more than a one-off comeback.
With “Personal” establishing her latest musical chapter, “Donuts” gives listeners another glimpse of the direction Lustre is taking as an artist.
According to recent coverage, the new track features both singing and rap, with Taglish lyrics centered on confidence and owning one’s narrative.
Who worked behind the song?
“Donuts” was produced by Isagani Palabyab.
The song was composed by Kahlil Atienza, Elijah Wudz B. Bitacura, Isagani Palabyab and Lustre, while Lustre also contributed to the lyrics alongside Ivo Impreso.
That creative involvement is significant because Lustre has increasingly taken an active role in shaping her music and visual identity rather than simply performing material handed to her.
Her recent single “Personal,” for example, was part of a broader creative comeback following her three-year musical break.
Apl.de.ap brings international weight
For Apl.de.ap, the collaboration adds another Filipino connection to a career that has already made an international impact.
The artist, best known as a member of the Black Eyed Peas, has maintained strong ties to his Filipino heritage throughout his career.
His appearance on “Donuts” also gives Lustre’s latest musical era an international dimension, making the release particularly notable for Filipino music fans.
The timing is also interesting: Apl.de.ap is scheduled to headline the 9RACE music festival in Manila in October, adding another major Philippine appearance to his current schedule.
From comeback to a new music chapter
Lustre’s return to music has been one of the notable developments in her career this year.
Before “Donuts,” she ended her three-year recording hiatus with “Personal,” following her 2023 release “Overgrown.” Her earlier musical work includes the 2020 visual album “Wildest Dreams.”
The back-to-back releases suggest that Lustre’s music career is once again becoming an active part of her creative identity.
For fans who have followed her evolution from actress and performer to a more hands-on multidisciplinary artist, “Donuts” represents another step in that direction.
And with Apl.de.ap joining her for the ride, the question now becomes: what else does Nadine Lustre have in store for this new musical era?
For now, “Donuts” is already giving listeners a fresh reason to press replay.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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