SB19 Interview On Simula At Wakas And Filipino Pride

Buzz Feed

5 days ago

You've heard of K-pop, but what about P-pop? P-pop stands for Pinoy pop music, and unlike it's Korean counterpart, P-Pop is still developing. Thankfully, we have groups like SB19 that have paved the way for Southeast Asian artists to enter the music scene and reach international success, which was previously unheard of.
SB19 is a five-member Filipino boy band that debuted back in 2018 and has been making waves in the music industry ever since.
The quintet — composed of Josh, Pablo, Stell, Ken, and Justin — got their big break with their 2019 release "Go Up," which went viral on social media and expanded their reach to a previously untapped audience. They've gained international recognition and have broken barriers throughout their career. Notably, they were the first Filipino act to be nominated for a Billboard Music Award in 2021, and their 2023 PAGTATAG! World Tour included sold-out shows across the Philippines, United States, and Canada.
BuzzFeed sat down with the boys to chat about their latest music, disrupting the music industry, and what's to come.
Congratulations on your latest release, 'DUNGKA'! What is the main concept and meaning behind this song?
You also released 'DAM' not too long ago — can you share more about the track and its significance?
Pablo: "DAM" is the title track of our EP, Simula at Wakas. Basically, when we were making the EP, we had this question in our minds of 'how are we going to be able to exceed what we've done before?' And so we tried to answer all of that in the track "DAM." What made our journey really interesting is that we've faced a lot of tragedies and challenges, but we were able to overcome all of it. And through the years, we've accepted that there will be lots of challenges and sacrifices in order to achieve greatness. We try to incorporate all of that in our music and try to [keep] a diary, explain in our music what we have been through during our seven years within the industry.
And so talking about obstacles and hardships, you definitely have come a long way since your debut. How have you grown as a group and individually?
Talking about raising the bar, you've made big waves in the music industry since your debut, pushing P-pop into global recognition through your music. Essentially, you've disrupted the industry by pushing Filipino talent into the global scene. So, how do you guys feel about the fact that you've reached such heights?
And on the note of feeling prideful and grateful of your success, as a Filipino myself, I know just how proud Filipinos are and how excited they are to showcase how amazing the Philippines is. And so, can you share more about your pride in being Filipino, and how that pride is reflected within your music?
Southeast Asians are often met with prejudice, both in the music industry and in society. How have you been affected by these prejudices, and how have you overcome them?
What inspired you to pursue music?
Josh: It's very different for each of the members. Maybe some of them really love music from the get-go, and some of us love music, but at the same time, want to inspire people. I didn't really know how to do it, but then I met these talented guys, and so I took the opportunity. And I really can't speak for everyone, but I think ultimately, we really want to inspire people, share our love, and showcase the talent of Filipinos and put it in the global scene. We take pride in everything that we do.Pablo: For me, if I'm going to be honest with you, at first I started doing this because I think I have a talent in singing and performing. But as people got to know us, it felt like there's something more to what I was doing — that there is a purpose. It felt like I was not just singing for myself, but for the people who are being affected by my music.Justin: Personally, when I was a kid, my dream was to become an actor, but I also enjoyed performing back then in school activities. It just happened that I got this opportunity to perform, and I was able to meet these guys and loved working with them, and that was what made me pursue music. It's because of them.Ken: Personally, I grew up in a church, and I've been exposed to music ever since I was a child. And that's why I thought that I could do it. It's not because I was like, full of myself or overconfident, but I just believed in myself that I could do it. And fortunately, I'm here now.Stell: So, growing up in a very typical Filipino family, I was extremely exposed [to] music because my family used to do the usual karaoke in the house. My parents usually set up the microphones and the DVD player, and then tried to perform and sing the whole day. When they saw me dancing on the side, they always pushed me to sing with them. But to be honest, I was into dancing more than singing. When I was in high school and college, my friends kept on saying that I need to go to an audition in Korea or somewhere here in the Philippines because they saw the potential in me. But I was focused on my studies [at] that time. And finally, there came a time where I really needed to step up and [do] what I can to earn money to help my family. And of course, with the influence of other artists that I look up to, that's the time I decided to pursue music.
What are your goals for your music career? How have you stayed motivated?
SB19 is a trailblazer in P-pop reaching international recognition. What do you think is next for P-pop?
Pablo: Personally, from what I'm seeing right now, P-pop is growing really quickly. Doors are opening for everyone to have this platform and showcase their talents here in the Philippines and slowly in the global scene. I think in the next coming years, we will be exporting shows like P-pop conventions in other countries —promoting not just music, but also the food, TV shows, and whatnot — and creating this wave of Filipino culture being celebrated all over the world. That's what I'm seeing.Josh: For sure. We're here to build and support it. We're not here to gatekeep anything, and we're here to really give our all and share the things that we learn to everyone who's still dreaming to be part of P-pop. We believe that in the near future, it's going to get maybe 100 times larger than what it has become right now, and it's going to multiply with those compounded efforts among all of these groups and shared dreams. I personally believe that maybe we're one of the instruments to really give a hand [to] other people's dreams in the future that would like to try this journey.
Talking about this wave of Filipino talent that you are supporting — do you have any Filipino artists you'd like to shout out?
What Filipino dishes do you think are S-tier?
Share a message to your fans!
Stell: To our fans, to our beloved A'TIN, we are very, very thankful and forever grateful to all the support and love that we've been receiving from you guys. We can't ask for more because you guys are enough for us, and we can't imagine our career, our lives, without you guys supporting us. It's been almost seven years, but nothing has changed. It's still you guys, and we are forever growing, and we hope that until the end, we stay forever and stay true to each other. We are hoping to see you guys in our future shows, in our concerts, and we're very excited to share our new music in this new era. So please be ready and be happy, because we're very excited to see you, and always remember that SB19 loves you. Thank you.
Finally, what does music mean to you?
Thanks for sitting down with us SB19! For even more, be sure to follow SB19 on Instagram and YouTube, and stream Simula to Wakas — out now!
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