Biography

Iktus is a four-piece pop rock band and winner of Sun Broadband Quest 2013. The band is comprised of guitarist Augusto Mendoza and siblings Andrei Panaligan, CJ Panaligan, and Andrew Panaligan (bassist, vocalist and drummer respectively). Their name comes from the Greek word “Ichthus” – meaning “fish” and alluding to Jesus Christ – which represents their identity as a Christian band. The band describes their sound as alternative pop rock. Andrei is the band’s primary songwriter and challenges himself to write melodies suitable for a female vocalist. As a proud Christian band, the lyrical content of their music deals predominantly with the topics of love, hope and positivity. According to Andrei, “ang gusto naming maramdaman nila na may pag asa pa kahit broken hearted sila” Iktus initially formed in 2005, while twin brothers Andrei and Andrew were still in high school. Their sister CJ joined them as the band’s primary vocalist in 2006 and, the following year, Augusto was added to the lineup. They played several gigs in school and honed their skills by competing in battle of the bands competitions. After taking some time off to focus on their studies, they underwent a lineup change in 2007 with the departure of their pianist, and shifted from a jazz-influenced sound to a pop rock style. Iktus recently released their rendition of Orient Pearl's "Pagsubok" and the melancholic ballad "Wala Na Ba?".