Three years after an online backlash threatened to end his career before it properly began, the artist now known as Erock is releasing music again — this time backed by a full band.
Red Scarlet, the four-piece outfit fronted by Erock — who legally changed his name from Red Santiago — is set to drop four tracks across all major digital platforms on May 10, 2026. The release marks the culmination of what Erock describes as a deeply personal rebuilding process following the fallout from his 2023 declaration of a self-coined genre he called “EROCK,” a term meant as a tribute to the emo genre that shaped his musical identity.
The announcement drew swift and severe public reaction. Beyond social media ridicule and memes, Erock says he received death threats and watched professional opportunities evaporate. “Despite the insults, I chose to put my profession first and ignore all the challenging times,” he said.
Rather than stepping back from music, the experience pushed him toward something more structured. “This name change and the band are my way of commemorating how that issue changed my life and profession,” Erock said. He had been “intensely exploring the depth of the genre” during the period the controversy erupted.
Building a stable lineup took the better part of three years. Bandmates cycled in and out until 2025, when a settled roster finally came together: Al Mendoza Domingo on lead guitar, Elman Amolo on bass, and Jayson Sarmiento on drums.
The four recorded tracks — “Where Are You,” “Blame Me Hate Me,” “Hands Of Love,” and “I Won’t Stay Here” — were produced primarily by sound engineer John Rafael Corre, with one track handled by Seven Garcia. The band draws from emo, post-hardcore, and metalcore, with an aesthetic rooted in the early 2000s alternative scene.
Three of the four songs carry writing credits for collaborator Inah Munoz. “Where Are You,” the EP’s lead track, is a reworked version of a 2023 Erock release originally produced under Stardom Music Production, with lyrics co-written by Munoz exploring the theme of second chances. “I Won’t Stay Here,” written and composed entirely by Munoz, centers on the emotional aftermath of infidelity and the decision to walk away.
Beyond the release, Red Scarlet is currently building its live performance profile and social media presence, with international stages named as a longer-term goal.
