SB19 doesn’t give a ‘Dam’ what you think
There is a popular myth surrounding Queen’s 1985 Live Aid performance, often hailed as one of the greatest live performances of all time. Before they took the stage, the band allegedly turned up the sound system, making them the loudest—and best-sounding—act of the night. This, despite the strict sound levels mandated by the Greater London Council.
Whether this is true is still debated among fans, but Pablo of P-pop royalty SB19 took cues from Freddie Mercury’s (rumored) rule-breaking for their latest single Dam. “May mga rules kapag nagmimix ng kanta, (pero) sometimes it’s about the feeling more than being technically right,” he tells Young STAR in an exclusive interview. “Gan’on ‘yung Dam eh. Dapat mag-iwan siya ng feeling. Talagang mafefeel ng mga tao na ito ‘yung passion, ito ‘yung gusto niyang sabihin.”
For their latest single ‘Dam’ and their ‘biggest comeback yet,’ P-pop royalty SB19 wants to tell nothing but the truth.
“Ilalabas na namin ‘yung frustrations namin, ilalabas na namin ‘yung matagal naming pagkakatago-tago,” Pablo, who co-produced the track, continues. “Ito ‘yung biggest comeback talaga namin, and I’m really proud of what we released.”
Dam, the first single off their upcoming EP Simula at Wakas, is a powerful, cathartic anthem about the price one pays for being on top. The group has always been frank about their jagged journey towards success, and now, as they approach the tenth anniversary of their formation, they reckon over their grand ambitions and the endless challenges it brought them. “Anong pakiramdam,” Ken sings in the first verse, “pumanhik sa walang hanggang hagdan?”
For Stell, Dam is healing “in a way na you feel complete again.” He continues, “Ang weird nga eh, everyday naman kami magkakasama, pero nung nag-release kami ng (bagong) track and music video…” Stell is cut off by his co-members teasingly clicking their tongues. They sense that Stell, known to always crack a joke, is about to get earnest. “Ito nanaman si dating tuko,” Stell retorts.
Before this comeback, the group temporarily went their separate ways and worked on solo projects, some for the first time. Josh, who releases solo music as Josh Cullen, even won Best Music Video for Wild Tonight in last year’s Awit Awards—defeating SB19’s Gento and I Want You. “Tapos ang SB19!” he joked upon accepting the award. “Bawi na lang next time, boys.”
Being together again, after that extended time apart, made the members more eager to work and perform as a group again. “Iba pa rin ‘yung mga ganitong preparation na super laki: mag-aaral kami at magrerecord ng bagong kanta at sayaw, (may) body conditioning. Mas exciting,” Justin says.
“Alam mo ‘yung feeling na, you’re being born again, na parang full ulit?” Stell continues. “I can feel na lahat ng member, game na game talaga sa era na ‘to. Healing siya kasi from doing solos, naging full ulit (kami). Ang sarap niya sa feeling.”
Ken also attributes the massive improvement of Dam, both the track and its music video, to what they learned from their solo work. “(We) honed our skills sa music production, songwriting, and conceptualizing music videos, so now inaapply namin sa group,” he said. “The music video leveled up—biruin mo, gumawa kami ng movie tapos music video lang.” The group created the video with longtime collaborator 1032 LAB, bringing to life a medieval fantasy realm hinting at bigger world-building.
Aside from calling it their biggest comeback yet, SB19 also considers this their “‘nuff said” era. Stell explains, “Release tayo, then tignan natin anong magiging dating. If they like it, go. If they don’t like it, so what? At least we’re happy. Ito ‘yung definition ng success for us kasi whatever happens, ito ‘yung desisyon ng group.”
“You don’t need to please everyone talaga,” Stell adds. “Ang kailangan mo lang gawin is to show them bakit mo deserve ‘yung stage, kasi ‘pag nakita naman nila ‘yung worth mo and if they want to stick with you, magfofollow sila.”
This level of self-assuredness in newer artists is rare, especially with the rising pressures to conform to public opinion. It seems it’s much easier to simply crumble under pressure. I ask where they get the courage to always be honest in their work and approach; to openly admit when they’re struggling.
“Hindi siya courage eh, I just wanna be authentic,” Ken says. “If you let people tell you, ‘You’re an artist, you should be this way, you should be perfect,’ eh we all know hindi ka naman talaga perfect, e 'di ipepressure mo ‘yung sarili mo. You have to be perfect and on guard 24/7. Will that make you happy?”
Pablo echoes the sentiment: “Kahit anong gawin mo, makaka-receive ka ng hate. Mapapagod ka lang kung pepekein mo pa ‘yung sarili mo. You’re in this industry, you’re vulnerable. Might as well live naturally.”
“Alam kong maraming nakasubaybay sa’min, and if my story—with how hard and gruesome it (has been)—kung nakakatulong ako through telling it, I will put it out.”
Even fans, Stell recounts, may sometimes disagree with the group’s authenticity. “Minsan ‘yung issues namin sa bawat isa, na-oopen publicly, (and) for them, hindi dapat siya gawin kasi nakakasira sa’min. But for us, okay lang naman. It’s our circle, at gano’n kami ka-authentic sa circle namin.”
“You shouldn’t tell me how to live my life,” Josh begins. Beside him, Stell, as another bit, asks for tissues and wipes Josh’s nonexistent tears. Josh carries on as if this has happened dozens of times before. “Mas marunong pa kayo sa mismong tao na nakaka-experience. ‘Di naman tayo pare-pareho ng pinanggagalingan. Kung ano ‘yung art or success for you may not be art or success for me.”
“‘Yun ‘yung di ma-gets ng iba,” Ken adds. He has left his designated chair and is playing around with the members. It’s nearing the end of the day and I’m their last media interview, after what I assume is a very long day of facing different reporters and camera operators. “As artists— write this down—talagang nagbibigay ng sama ng loob sa’min ‘yon. Minsan ‘yung mga feel naming sumusuporta sa’min, iba pala ‘yung tingin sa’min. It hurts.”
At this point, Pablo is kneeling on the floor. Justin is braiding Josh’s bleached hair. Stell has nicknamed me, with my curly bob cut, huge glasses, and long skirt, “Mirabel” from Disney’s Encanto. “‘Wag niyo ‘ko turuan pa’no mabuhay!” Josh declares with a smile. Ken continues, “We just wanna be happy, as much as we want them to be happy, too.”
