As torchbearers of Pinoy pop, SB19 has achieved record-breaking success in every step of their journey. The award-winning boyband has reaped accolades in the industry, being the first Filipino act to be nominated for a Billboard Music Award and reaching a No. 2 peak on Billboard Social 50, a chart that utilizes real-time social media data to track the most fan-engaged artists in the world. From being part of Spotify’s RADAR program in 2020 that supported the band’s borderless access to fans, to becoming the Most Requested Artist of the Year for 2020 on MTV US Friday Livestream, the band has solidified their global presence with their music.

Global recognition aside, SB19 continues to push boundaries through asserting creative control over their material in terms of production and songwriting, challenging conventions with their sophisticated modern sounds and anthemic lyrics. "Pagsibol" translates to germination, as to how seeds grow into plants. It's a metaphorical reference to the band’s journey in the music industry. The EP has 6 tracks, each with a different but cohesive sound.

In their digital presser, the group said that the goal to every song is to be interconnected especially through its meaning. Listeners will be taking on a rollercoaster ride with each song and continue to be surprised. They are very involved in all aspect of creating their music, but Pablo was especially involved in the making of the EP by writing and co-producing every track. Each track is able to standalone as its own anthem, however collectively it tells a larger story.

PAGSIBOL TRACKLISTING:

1. What?: A power song short for the Filipino word, watawat that means flag or banner. The track is a tribute to the Philippines and lifting up the flag and showcasing what it means to be Filipino.
2. Mapa: An inspiring ballad dedicated to parents. It's short for mama and papa. It tells the story a child wanting to take care of their parents who's been doing that from the start.
3. Ikako: A modern version of one of their earlier ballads that is now dedicated to the frontliners who continue to push through during the pandemic.
4. Mana: The track talks about aiming high for your dreams but also staying humble. The title is short for "manananggal" which is a Filipino mythical creature that can sever its upper torso from the rest of its body. It's redefined to symbolize humility, "No matter how far we go or how high we reach, our feet will always remain on the ground."
5. Bazinga: A track that reflects on the "bashing" culture and is for all the doubters and haters who motivate the group to aim high. The sound is a mix of genres like trap-pop, reggaeton, and hip-hop rhythms. It also interconnects with Mana.
6. SLMT: Another Filipino word that's short for "salamat" (thank you) and a song dedicated to A'TIN, a community of like-minded individuals and fans to whom SB19 is eternally grateful.

On joining Spotify RADAR Philippines, an emerging artist program that spotlights rising talent, SB19 says, “Being on Spotify’s RADAR program since 2020 has been a lot of help for us. Spotify’s commitment to local artists has unlocked many opportunities, from enabling us to represent Pinoy music on the global stage to helping new audiences discover our songs.” 

To celebrate the launch of Pagsibol, Spotify unveils “SB19 A’TIN ‘to!”, a campaign that showcases Pinoy pride and tells the story of SB19’s latest EP through audio and visual art. SB19 and Spotify collaborated with six Filipino visual artists to design roving jeepneys, each uniquely inspired by the six tracks on “Pagsibol”.

Fans can also look forward to exclusive SB19 content on Spotify’s Tatak Pinoy playlist. Kossy Ng, Spotify’s Head of Music for Asia says, “It’s been wonderful to be a part of SB19’s journey; watching their growth from RADAR artists to today reaching listeners all over the world. We are thrilled to get behind the launch of Pagsibol through this campaign and allowing fans, not only in the Philippines, but all over the world to experience their music. Spotify continues to champion the vibrant Philippine music scene by connecting more artists and fans.”

SB19’s EP, “Pagsibol” is out now on Spotify via Sony Music. The internationally recognized boyband will be performing the songs from their Extended Play for the first time live on their upcoming online concert, Back In The Zone, happening on August 1, 2021 (Sunday), 19:30 PHT. VIP and VVIP tickets are sold out, but you can still get general admission tickets here.

Cover Photo Credit: Sony Music PH

Iconic pop-rock outfit The Itchyworms kick off their 25^th anniversary in the music industry with the official video release of “The Life I Know,” a piano-backed ballad off their fifth studio album, Waiting For The End To Start—released on digital music platforms via Sony Music Philippines.

Helmed by partners Marie Jamora and Jason McLagan of Indie Pop Films with animation from Apartment D, the music video is a first of its kind in the Philippines to feature a stop-motion animation format that is embedded with Filipino cultural sensibilities.

The journey of Awit

According to award-winning filmmaker Marie Jamora, the music video follows the story of Awit, a toddler who begins to understand her place in the world as she gets more independent from her mom. Tension arises when an incoming new sibling threatens to take the place that was once her own comfort space. Marie Jamora adds, “with this spiritual quest, Awit realizes that she needs to accept her new baby brother in order to reconnect once again with her mother.”

“Being a new mother myself and remembering the experience of having a baby in my own womb, I always wondered what was going on inside, whether there was a different universe that my baby lived in,” says Jamora. “This all inspired and informed me for our video. I don’t think I would have ever thought of this concept if I didn’t go through this experience.”

Director of animation Cami Kwan is proud of how important the film is in documenting the universal experience of growing up, and relates the concept to how a child starts to lose the world they’ve known, and navigate a new realm that is both uncomfortable and terrifying, but is part of a bigger life process. “There is a beauty and awe in embracing a wider world, of seeing beyond yourself, but there is an inherent loss in that as well, and we wanted to explore that sense of melancholy as well as that sense of power and joy.”

Trusted collaborator

Having worked with The Itchyworms for so many years as a former manager and music director for their timeless hits “Antipara,” “Buwan,” and “Love Team,” Jamora is a trusted collaborator of the band who has maintained a formidable friendship with them through the years. Lead vocalist, drummer and all-around musician Jazz Nicolas explains that of all the directors they’ve collaborated with, Jamora is the one that knows them really well. “I fully trust her with making this video. I asked her to make us a music video and to choose any song from the album she wanted to work on. She chose The Life I Know. I trust that she would put her whole heart into it and come up with something awesome, as she always does.”

“Personally, I always thought that her talent is really for the international stage,” co-lead vocalist, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist Jugs Jugueta speaks fondly of Jamora. “With this project, we hope The Itchyworms too, can reach an international audience.”

Dream Weaver

As for the visual execution of the music video, Cami Kwan was excited with the infinite possibilities of the stop-motion animation as it “brings real materials to life in a way that no other art form can.” In true Filipino fashion, Kwan reveals that the team has always wanted to celebrate the tradition of weaving that exists in the country, specifically the textures and patterns in the work of T'Boli Dream Weaver. “The Dream World is made entirely of these traditional woven fabrics, and the characters are all made out of wool and other weaving materials,” the animator points out. “This fundamentally links the characters to the Dream World, which we also designed to evoke the feeling and patterns of a womb. Dreams and wombs are safe spaces, where anything is possible and where life can be created from nothing.”

The music video release of “The Life I Know” is part of a campaign series that aims to champion the legacy of Jazz Nicolas, Jugs Jugueta, Kelvin Yu, and Chino Singson a.k.a. The Itchyworms as one of the definitive bands of our time, a true mark of an artist that continues to shape pop-culture consciousness for more than two decades and redefine Pinoy artistry with cross-generational classics. As part of the multiple celebrations that mark their existence for two decades and a half, The Itchyworms are also set to release the 25^th anniversary single “Eto Na,” a music video to their title track “Waiting For The End To Start,” a mockumentary chronicling their official ‘untrue’ story and Worms Upon A Time podcast.

The music video of The Itchyworms’ “The Life I Know” will be out on the band’s Official YouTube Channel and WeTV at 7:00pm.