Kokoro Kohatsu and Lola Amour: A Heartfelt Musical Exchange Between Japan and the Philippines (Interview)
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In 2025, Lola Amour, one of the Philippines’ most iconic bands, received the Special Award for Philippine Popular Music at the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, often referred to as the “Asian Grammys.” Their latest release, “The Moment,” gained additional traction thanks to a collaboration with Kokoro Kohatsu from PSYCHIC FEVER, a group within EXILE TRIBE. This partnership extended beyond the song itself, culminating in Kokoro’s surprise appearance at Lola Amour’s concert in Japan earlier this year.
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Billboard JAPAN had the opportunity to speak with Lola Amour and Kohatsu about the impact of their collaboration.
What led to Kokoro working on “The Moment?”
Pio Dumayas (vocals/guitar) shared, “We’re both part of Warner Music, and I happened to come across PSYCHIC FEVER’s ‘Gelato.’ The song excited our entire band, and we had fun singing it a cappella. After we posted a video of our rendition on Instagram, PSYCHIC FEVER reacted, leading to discussions that culminated in Kokoro performing on ‘The Moment.’”
Kokoro, what was your reaction when you received the collaboration offer from Lola Amour?
Kokoro responded, “PSYCHIC FEVER had never been to the Philippines, so I was thrilled they reached out. I liked the song, too, and wanted to put my heart into it as I felt we could create a great synergy.”
Manu Dumayas (trumpet/guitar/bass) added, “When we invited him to collaborate on ‘The Moment,’ Kokoro was exceptionally enthusiastic, which made the journey enjoyable. We found a shared sense of humor that made working together a lot of fun.”
David Yuhico (keyboards) noted, “Kokoro might have felt lost initially, but he eagerly embraced every request. His friendly nature and incredible voice were instrumental in perfecting ‘The Moment.’”
The first live performance together was during the Lola Amour Presents Love on Loop ALBUM CONCERT in September 2025, right?
Pio reflected, “Our first meeting was during his visit to Manila for rehearsals. Working with another artist was a first for us, and we were nervous at first. Upon meeting and exchanging our band merch, we quickly connected. Over dinner, we taught him some Tagalog, and we became good friends.”
David added, “He adapted to learning the Tagalog lyrics much quicker than I expected. This suggested to me that our collaboration would be successful.”
During the concert, you performed not just “The Moment,” but also “Gelato” and “Raining In Manila.”
Pio explained, “We featured ‘Gelato’ on our own socials, and since Kokoro could sing ‘Raining In Manila,’ we decided to include it in the set. He seemed confident and contributed to the performance with ad-libs, inspiring me to play more expressively.”
Jeff Abueg (saxophone/clarinet) remarked, “Kokoro’s Tagalog was so impressive that some audience members wondered if he was Filipino.”
Raffy Perez (drums) noted, “Listeners have responded enthusiastically to our collaboration across different countries, which made it truly successful.”
Pio concluded, “People can sense that our collaboration stemmed from a genuine artistic connection rather than a business arrangement.”
You also collaborated live in Japan in January. What was that experience like?
Pio stated, “As always, Kokoro appeared at ease, effortlessly engaging with the crowd during ‘Gelato.’ He supported my performance when I faced difficulties, which I truly appreciated.”
Kokoro added, “Performing ‘Gelato’ with a band was a novel experience for me. I ensured to maintain eye contact and engage the audience, allowing us all to enjoy the moment together. It was far more effective than I could have imagined.”
A music industry figure remarked that your collaboration resembled the Asian version of Silk Sonic.
Pio expressed, “That’s an incredible compliment. After over a decade of playing, to hear that about our collaboration reinforces its success. We aspire to maintain that standard.”
What do you see as the key outcomes of this collaboration?
Pio noted, “The friendship we’ve developed is significant. The cultural differences between Japan and the Philippines allowed us to learn from each other, creating a meaningful collaboration. Watching Kokoro engage the audience taught me a lot about performance dynamics. It’s only been six months, but I feel we’ve laid the foundation for a long-lasting impact.”
Kokoro reflected, “Developing relationships across cultural boundaries is rare. I’ve learned about their serious approach to music, where every member shines, which I hope to bring back to PSYCHIC FEVER. I’m grateful we transcended language barriers to share our music, and the audience responses in both countries were amazing.”
Pio added, “At the Japan show, our entire band covered ‘Gelato.’ I’m eager to discuss future collaboration ideas with Kokoro, including working on an original song together.”
Kokoro agreed, “Our rapport as artists is strong; I can envision a new collaboration coming to life. We cover diverse musical genres, making our potential limitless.”
This collaboration between the Philippines and Japan has expanded musical horizons, with Lola Amour and PSYCHIC FEVER hinting at more exciting developments ahead.
This interview was conducted by Kaori Komatsu for Billboard Japan.
