This is Your Men I Trust Starter Pack Before Their Manila Show on Feb 1
Songs We Trust for the groovy dreamers heading to the show.
by JV Ordoñez
Published on Jan 11, 2026
Canadian dreamy indie-pop trio Men I Trust is coming back to Manila next month, Feb. 1, after three years for their first headline show, and if you're as stoked as we are, then a major deep dive into their discography is a must. The last time they were in the country was in 2023 during the stacked Wanderland Festival. They have been quite the prolific band since their breakout singles "Show Me How" and "Seven" and their acclaimed 2019 record Oncle Jazz, followed by Untourable Album (2021).
Last year was also a busy year for them with the consecutive releases of the two-part project Equus Asinus and the follow-up Equus Caballus. Their trademark pillowy and atmospheric sonic profile—made possible via Emmanuelle Proulx's breathy and ethereal vocals, Jessy Caron's groovy guitar and bass lines, and Dragos Chirac's melodic keyboard licks—is a hypnotic ride founded on a lo-fi aesthetic.
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Whether you’re a fan of their newer stuff and a versatile indie music space enjoyer; or even a devoted Men I Truster, we’ve got a few picks to get you sorted before their long-awaited return to the Philippines at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang organized by local organizer Karpos Live.
The Men I Trust Manila show poster presented by Karpos Live
Certified Songs We Trust
1| Ring of Past (Equus Caballus, 2025)
Our first recommendation is a 2023 single that was renewed and remixed for their latest record. This is an unconventional entry into the Men I Trust dreamy tune sphere and is a very sepia-toned fever dream of recollections and lingering memories of a past relationship.
The funky drum work and the snazzy synth leads and Proulx's subdued singing form this nostalgia trip that is a certified foot tapper and head bobber of a track. It also isn't a Men I Trust track without those signature energetic bass lines from Caron that are the perfect contrast to the easy-breezy pristine sonic aesthetic of the band.
2| Billie Toppy (Equus Caballus, 2025)
"Billie Toppy" is not your typical Men I Trust track since it has a lot of post-punk and new wave tones with the synth-driven and 80s-inspired driving basslines compared to the smoother and more sanitized lo-fi songs from their older records. Dear Lord, these bass grooves are something else and kinda give old-school hard rock vibes and make this single one to look out for in the setlist as it is likely to be even better live. The song's bridge/instrumental break is incredibly done with the dampened guitar leads and recurring synth melodies.
3| To Ease You (Equus Caballus, 2025)
A good ol' feel-good, reassuring indie pop track is sometimes all you really need to brighten up your day. Another track from their latest full-length LP, "To Ease You" evokes an 80s nostalgia trip sonically and an aural safe space from the anxiety-ridden outside world. This song also is a dead ringer for Gwen Stefani's "Cool," more specifically Singaporean dream pop band Sobs' rendition of the 2000s classic.
4| All My Candles (Equus Asinus, 2025)
Is it just us or does the intro to this song sound exactly like the OPM classic "Forevermore" by Side A? Across music and the indie space, the motif of candles and nostalgia has been done well in songs like "Candles" by Daughter and of course who could forget the song of the same name by Hey Monday. The song is a memory foam pillow you can lay your head on along with being blanketed by the warm piano chords and comforting bass lines. "I spent my teens a fool. Let my mother down. Few days, no school. Was there more I could have done?" The track simply shows us the inescapable, universal experience of spiraling down memory lane and rethinking how you spent your numbered days and dealing with regret. Buyer's remorse on your own decisions is quite the tough customer.
5| I Don't Like Music (Equus Asinus, 2025)
A genuine hidden gem from the first part of the band's two-part project last year (Equus Asinus), and probably one that grew on us as we continued immersing into these past two records. This is an offbeat acoustic ballad centered on a mellow bass line to deliver one of their most poignant and melancholic tracks to date. I mean it is as striking as the title implies—a love/hate relationship with your livelihood and calling is understandably conflicting, which is what Proulx croons about.
6| Sugar (Untourable Album, 2021)
A jangly, energetic rush of endorphins immediately gets injected into your veins when you lay your ears on this single from the band's underrated 2021 record. This track is just a banger and is likely one of the fan favorites at the show on Feb. 1 since it is almost sickening how infectious it is.
7| Tree Among Shrubs (Untourable Album, 2021)
A mellow and reflective tune that sounds like something straight out of an early 2000s Japanese drama reveals yet another wrinkle to the band's versatile catalogue. We immediately think of the "big fish in a small pond" idiom as to what the band is getting at, but moreso getting to where you are by the skin of your teeth.
8| Say Can You Hear (Oncle Jazz, 2019)
Men I Trust are at their best when they pair their knack for delivering driving and distinct bass lines with dreamy-chorus guitars that would get you sorted for easy listening and dissociative sessions.
9| Seven (Oncle Jazz, 2019)
"He saw them, they saw him" and a charming guitar carry one of the band's most recognizable songs in their catalogue. I mean once you hear that opening guitar lick and bass line you are most certainly going to lose all your faculties besides grooving out to the tune. Lyrically, it is rather ominous if you look at it conceptually in a vacuum and almost an Eyes Wide Shut type of scenario.
10| Tailwhip (Oncle Jazz, 2019)
This is probably the band's magnum opus for us, especially since we are suckers for Oncle Jazz as a put-it-on-at-a-party-and-don't-think quality type album. "Tailwhip," which is definitely a Pokémon move, is actually one of the band's earliest singles even though it was still released as part of their 2019 record. Sonically this is the quintessential Men I Trust song, as they fuse their usual dreampop aesthetic with more electropop/disco flavors, along with Proulx's sparkly singing.
Here’s how you get tickets to the Men I Trust show next month
So, now that you're all set for the show but have yet to nab any tickets to the Filinvest show next month, we've got you covered too. You can buy General Admission Regular tickets priced at ₱4,450 at tickelo.com, since the show will be a one-section, standing-room-only event typical of concerts such as the Faye Webster show put together by Karpos Live last year at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang. Follow Karpos Live on all their socials to stay updated on show developments tagged with #MenITrustEquusTour2026InManila #KarposLive.