Jhasmine Espinas Villanueva (born April 16, 2001), professionally known as dwta, is a Filipino singer and songwriter born and raised in Albay, Bicol Region.[1] She is known for her tracks "Padaba Taka" and "Santigwar". [2]
She is known for incorporating her mother tongue, Bikol, in her songs. Her stage name is derived from the combination of the Filipino words "diwa" (spirit) and "tala" (star), which she deliberately chose to reflect her deep connection to Filipino identity and culture.[3]
Early Life and Education
Jhasmine Espinas Villanueva (dwta) was born on April 16, 2001 in Albay, Philippines. Before discovering her talent for songwriting, dwta was involved in other forms of art like dancing and never expected to pursue music until senior high school year when she was invited to join a songwriting workshop after jamming with friends at an event.[4]
Dwta gained recognition for her unique musical style that blends traditional Filipino sounds with contemporary genres. Her lyrics, often written in her native language, celebrate Filipino heritage and promote linguistic pride. [5] She is currently signed with Sony Music Philippines.[6] She released her debut single, "Daluyong", in 2021, marking the beginning of her professional music career.
Her career continued to flourish in 2023 when she joined the Coke Studio Philippines Season 7 lineup. This notable collaboration series brings together diverse Filipino artists wherein dwta collaborated with the P-pop group Alamat for the song "Kapit".[7]
The following year, in 2024, dwta was part of the prestigious Wanderland Festival, an annual music event in the Philippines that features both local and international artists. At Wanderland, she shared the stage with global acts like Hwasa and Thundercat, marking another major milestone in her career.[8][9]
That same year, she was featured as one of the Spotify Radar artists for Class 2024, an initiative aimed at supporting emerging talent. Spotify Radar helps artists grow their audiences through curated playlists, platform visibility, and exclusive content. dwta's inclusion in the program, alongside fellow rising stars like BINI, Maki, and Cup of Joe, elevated her profile and introduced her to an even larger audience.[10][11]
Dwta's achievements have been marked by both critical acclaim and commercial success. In 2022, she received her first Awit Award nomination for her song "Panganoron". The following year, she won her first Awit Award for Padaba Taka, which became a breakout hit. [12][13] As of January 2025, the track has amassed over 27 million streams on Spotify alone and peaked at #22 on the Spotify Viral 50 Philippines chart in 2023.
Her earlier song "Santigwar" also made waves, reaching #2 on the Spotify Viral 50 Philippines chart in 2022 and was nominated for Best Regional Recording at the Awit Awards, alongside Padaba Taka.
In addition, she was also honored with a nomination for Listener's Choice at the inaugural Billboard Philippines Women in Music which celebrates the achievements of female artists in the Philippines.[14]
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