KAIA ushers in a new era
P-pop continues to gain steam with groups like SB19 and BINI already making their mark on the world stage. Their success stories are a win for OPM as a whole.
As for KAIA, SB19’s sister group, they are an inspiration to excel. They are confident in their place in the P-pop ecosystem at present, but they remain hopeful for the future.
As I entered the room to conduct an interview for Young STAR, KAIA was sitting and giggling amongst themselves. It was close to their third anniversary. I wasn’t their first nor the last media date for the day. Our session started with awkward formality, but rapport was quickly established. I got the impression that they were at ease with each other, undaunted by the barrage of interviews. Here was a group of kindred young ladies composed of twins Angela and Charice, Charlotte, Sophia, and Alexa.
We talked about Tanga and the story behind their collaboration with OPM hitmaker Zack Tabudlo, who wrote and produced the song. This latest single hopes to usher in a new era for KAIA, as they experiment with diverse sounds and work with different producers. In this era, they aim to attract new ZAIAs (the name for KAIA’s fans) with their own distinct style.
Zack made Tanga specifically for KAIA after the artist heard the group’s single Walang Biruan. Angela said that while the sound between the two is different, the feeling of comfort is shared. Both also tackle the theme of love.
Tanga is written from a girl’s point of view; Charlotte said they had to analyze the lyrics too, as Zack himself wasn’t confident that it was accurate. Nonetheless, the group put their own personas into it. “Meron kaming sariling characters sa voices namin, unlike dati na super boxed-in kami,” Charice said.
Sophia added, “Songs in general ay interpreted differently. ‘Yung way ng pagkanta ni Zack ay may sariling stories behind it. The same as us, individually, meron kaming certain moments in our lives na pinanghuhugutan so that helped kung paano namin kakantahin ‘yung lines namin.”
Zack gave KAIA the demo just a day before they recorded the song. He requested them to refrain from listening to it too much, to avoid them mimicking the way he sang it. As producer, he had the privilege of arranging the lyrics for the group, placing each member in parts not typical for them to be in. This is a way for them to be pushed out of their comfort zones. The group, however, adlibbed and took liberties of their own in making the song really theirs.
“There are some parts na binigay niya sa’kin na medyo staccato ang pagkakanta, so sinabi niya na, ‘Ah, perfect sa’yo ‘to. Nung una, nag-aalala pa siya kung kumakanta raw ba ako kasi nga rapper ako,” Alexa joked, making everyone in the room laugh.
Tanga is a bubblegum pop song that does sound similar to Zack’s hits; but KAIA was able to imbue a different soul to it. The end product is this light and assuring tune telling a cautious tale of a teenage girl falling for the wrong person, against the advice of those closest to her. As for the curious title choice, Angela explained, “Gulat pa rin ako na taboo pa rin magsabi ng ‘tanga,’ pero ‘yung ‘tanga’ kasi na sinasabi namin ay like a reminder na nasa maling sitwasyon ka. Hindi siya as a personal attack.”KAIA’s collaboration with Zack is a dream come true, as they were big fans of him. They said other artists’ success only inspires them to be better. “‘Yung success kasi nila, lahat natutulungan nila kami. OPM in general, nakikita namin ‘yung hard work nila. We look up to them, we respect them a lot,” Angela said, which Charlotte echoed. They would excitedly listen to artists’ new releases, make dance videos to it, and be pleasantly surprised whenever other people would do the same with their music. Not just as fans, they even have friendships with other P-pop groups.
When I asked how their sisterhood factored into the making of their music, they laughed as they reminisced about memories of their journey, from being competitors during auditions to collaborators as a fully-fledged P-pop unit. They auditioned among a group of 10 and got scouted by management during the COVID-19 pandemic with their already existing social media presence. Interestingly, Charice wasn’t even going to audition originally. She was convinced to do so later because fans were clamoring that the group wouldn’t be complete without her, as part of the Hermoso twins with Angela.
The quintet said it took a long time for them to build trust among themselves. Now, however, they intend to maintain their strong bond until way past their own weddings. While keeping mum on the details of their upcoming EP, the group promises new sounds that will tell the story of their own experiences.
In the near future, they see themselves self-producing with full freedom and flexibility. I, for one, believe they’ll soon sell out stadiums and even arenas. The journey until then will be a thrilling ride.
***
Tanga by KAIA is available on all major music streaming platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment. Follow KAIA on social media at @kaia.officialph.
