Settling in with Simple Socks

Iggy San Pablo’s new life in Toronto is written in laundry piles, rent checks, and a brave leap of starting over. By embracing the mundane things of being an adult, he transforms the stress of growing up into the warm, cozy sound of his solo project, simple socks.

Words Mariel Ann Breanna Puli
Photos courtesy of Dzesika Devic
May 08, 2026

Do we ever actually figure out how to be an adult? We spend so much time waiting for that one moment where everything is finally perfect— bills are paid, the house is tidy, and the lingering what-ifs finally go quiet. 

But for Iggy San Pablo, adulthood didn’t arrive smoothly like this. It showed up as a basement apartment in Toronto and the sudden realization that he was completely on his own. After years of fronting the beloved Manila indie band Rusty Machines, Iggy is navigating a new, more grounded chapter called simple socks.

The project simple socks is a creative reset rooted in the reality of moving across the world. While his old work thrived on the energy of a band he’d been with since the seventh grade, simple socks is deeply personal. It’s an exploration of the unexpected difficulty of domestic life, the grind of career shifts, and that identity crisis you only find when you're building a life from scratch in a new city.

What is Simple Socks?

The name simple socks is as unpretentious as it sounds. It was born from a bit of household shorthand between Iggy and his wife. “It actually started as—like a term that my wife and I use at home,” Iggy shared. 

Artist Iggy San Pablo

“Basically, I usually wear socks at home. So, I just say, ‘oh, so thank you, simple socks.’ It represents something that keeps me warm. It's homey.”

That sense of warmth is exactly what he’s trying to bottle up in his music. He sees the project as a way to find comfort when the world feels a bit too big or unfamiliar. 

“That’s the creative direction I want to take. It might be some sort of hobby, but I'm planning to take it seriously. Something cozy, but still something serious.”

It All Started at Joanna Drive

This whole transition is anchored in his upcoming EP, Joanna Drive, titled after his first address in Canada. That basement apartment wasn't just where he lived. It was where he processed the culture shock and the “mental breakthrough blocks” of a world that had seemingly stood still during the pandemic. 

“Most of the songs, dun ko siya ginawa—I built them there in that basement apartment for almost two years,”  he reminisced. 

(“Most of the songs, I made them there—I built them there in that basement apartment for almost two years.”)

These songs are a far cry from the “college love” themes of his youth. Now in his thirties, Iggy is looking at life through a different lens. 

“Back then, I was still young, so I wrote about my experiences then. But now, I can write a lot. I think I was able to elevate my vision for simple socks.”

On His Own

Moving from Manila to Toronto was a “big leap,” and Iggy is refreshingly honest about how sheltered his life used to be. Back home, the logistics of being an adult were mostly background noise handled by family. 

“I lived comfortably under the roof of my family’s home for thirty years. It was a bit of a sheltered experience. There were perks—like not paying rent or utility bills.”

Stepping into becoming a “real person” meant facing the music, literally and figuratively. “My growth was a big leap because I had to shoulder things I never shouldered before. I felt old. I felt my age.”

Suddenly, chores weren't optional. They’re needed to survive. “You know the consequences when you miss out on paying rent, when you’re not folding the clothes or doing the laundry. It affects your day-to-day [life]. That’s what changed me.”

Taking Off the Training Wheels

His debut single, Training Wheels, is the perfect bridge for these feelings. It actually started as a voice note back in 2021 when he was in a long-distance relationship with his now-wife. He parked it for years and only finished it while waiting for his new job in Toronto to start. 

“I channeled that energy of being in an LDR with my family instead. It became like a love letter to them. It’s me saying, ‘I’m here, miss ko kayo, but okay lang ako dito, sana proud kayo sa akin.’”

(“I channeled that energy of being in an LDR with my family instead. It became like a love letter to them. It’s me saying, ‘I’m here, I miss you guys, but I’m okay here, I hope you’re proud of me.’”)

The track is soft and vulnerable—a good song to listen to while you’re learning to ride through life’s transitions. It’s a song for anyone who has ever felt like they were wobbling while trying to find their own pace.

Settling in little by little

Even though he’s settling in, Iggy admits he’s still on a steep learning curve. “I still feel like naka-training wheels also,” he says about trying to break into the Toronto music scene. 

“I’m still trying to navigate myself with it. Parang takot pa akong mag-dive into it further.” It’s a daunting task, especially since the scenes in Canada are so diverse and spread out.

(“I still feel like I’m on training wheels also,” he says about trying to break into the Toronto music scene. “I’m still trying to navigate myself with it. It’s like I’m still afraid to dive into it further.”)

Going solo has also been a humbling shift after playing in a band for a long time. “I have to think of all the parts for the songs now. Before, I just needed to write the guitar parts and sing. It’s a huge adjustment in my confidence, but it’s helping me learn and grow.”

In a world of “content creators” and hyper-curated branding, Iggy isn't interested in the drama or the over-production. 

“I’ve always been a fan of simplicity and authenticity,” he says. “So many creators are doing it for the content and not for the art. I want to counter that oversaturation. I want to be straightforward—this is what I have.”

He wants to talk about the things we usually ignore: the different forms of love for friends and family, and the ache of losing touch with people across time zones. “Especially since I’m far away from my closest friends in Manila—magkakaroon ng instances where you fall out or lose connection because you don't have time to talk. Those are the things I want to tackle.”

(“Especially since I’m far away from my closest friends in Manila—there will be instances where you fall out or lose connection because you don't have time to talk.”)

How to be an Adult?

At the end of the day, the music of simple socks is a reminder that you don’t have to be perfect to keep moving forward. Whether he’s dreaming of collaborating with Canadian legends or staying connected to the Manila scene, Iggy is just taking it one day at a time.

Maybe adult life is not something you ever actually figure out. Maybe it is just something you explore—doing your taxes, folding the laundry, navigating the chores and the bills, and chasing your dreams, all at the same time. 

Through simple socks, Iggy San Pablo reminds us that we can do all of it while wearing our own simple socks. Because perhaps adulthood isn’t a destination we reach, but a phase of life we simply learn to settle in.

“Training Wheels” is available now on Bandcamp and all major streaming platforms. Look out for the EP Joanna Drive coming soon.