Up Dharma Down

UDD is an award-winning Filipino indie rock band that formed in Manila in 2004. Lead guitarist Carlos Tañada, drummer Ean Mayor, bassist Paul Yap, and vocalist/keyboardist Armi Millare made their full-length album debut with Fragmented in 2006. Released under the band's original name of "Up Dharma Down," Fragmented earned two awards at the NU Rock Awards: "Best New Artist" and "Best Female Award," the latter of which went to frontwoman Millare. Bipolar followed in 2008, featuring an eclectic, genre-bending sound that made room for electronic and post-rock influences. Although the album didn't chart, Bipolar still contributed to Up Dharma Down's considerable popularity in the Philippines, where the group opened shows for Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band was also named "Favorite Indie Artist" at the Myx Music Awards in 2008. One year later, Up Dharma Down won three awards — "Artist of the Year," "Album of the Year," and "Vocalist of the Year" — at the thirteenth annual NU Rock Awards. Capacities, the band's third album, was released in 2012. As the decade progressed, Up Dharma Down abbreviated its name to UDD and released a fourth record, U D D, in 2019. Although Millare left the lineup in 2021, the band's music continued to enjoy airplay throughout the Philippines, with the Capacities track "Tadhana" reaching Number 38 on the country's Top 50 Spotify chart in early 2023.