Thandii and Jun Regalado Drop Collaborative Single ‘Coco Okayo’

The fusion bridges Manila's disco-funk golden era with Margate art-pop.

Margate based alt-soul duo Thandii have teamed up with Filipino drummer Jun Regalado for their new single ‘Coco Okayo’, the title track from a forthcoming collaborative album due 11 September via Sama Sama Records.

Released today, the track brings together the 70s Manila Sound with Thandii’s modern art-pop and alt-soul sensibilities. Ethereal vocals, twinkling piano and a rolling bassline drive the disco-funk cut, which the duo describe as being about ‘dancing as self-soothing’ in an increasingly uncertain world.

The collaboration began when Thandii’s Graham Godfrey, whose heritage is Filipino, travelled to Manila with bandmate Jess Berry to work with Regalado. Now in his late 70s, Regalado is widely regarded as the Philippines’ most recorded drummer, with a career spanning nearly six decades and more than 400 album appearances. His work was recently brought to a new international audience through the reissue of his 1977 track ‘Pinoy Funk’ on Soundway Records’ 2024 compilation 'Ayo Ke Disco'.

Recorded in Manila using period-correct equipment, the resulting album explores OPM, soul, disco-funk and trip-hop while connecting Regalado’s musical legacy with Thandii’s own Margate-based sound. The duo have dubbed the meeting point ‘MAR-NILA’ - a fusion of 70s Manila Sound and the beat-driven art-pop emerging from the British seaside town.

‘Coco Okayo’ follows Thandii’s run of acclaimed releases, including their 2023 debut 'A Beat to Make It Better' and 2024’s 'Dream With You and Come As You', which were named Rough Trade Albums of the Month.

The full Coco Okayo album arrives on 11 September via Sama Sama Records, with digital and 12-inch vinyl editions available.