Saweetie and H.E.R. officially welcome us to the Sinigang Gang in the ‘Closer’ MV. Get ready for takeoff ’cause it’s gonna be a long ride.
The song of the summer is here, all thanks to Filipino-American queens Saweetie and H.E.R. The retro disco bop has already been booming on TikTok not only because of its catchy hook that reminds us to have a good time, but also because of the gorgeous Icy Airlines PR package that the duo’s been sending out to only the baddest girls. It’s the first time that we’ve seen the two work together, and it’s been long-awaited, especially for their Filipino fans. Oh, did you peep H.E.R.’s Philippine flag pin on her jacket?
“#SINIGANGGANG ??,” she captions in a photo of her and Saweetie. In Closer, the Grammy-nominated queens hop on and off from one continent to another, jet-setting with their girlfriends only in the coldest ‘fits. H.E.R.’s fine as silk vocals and Icy girl’s tongue-in-cheek bars are enough to set the runway ablaze. Closer now has over nine million views and two million streams on Spotify, as it should. Purr. If you’ve watched the post-Valentine track’s music video, you’ll also see that they’ve made a round trip to the Philippines virtually and played tennis in a tropical jungle. This is as close to them visiting the country though due to COVID restrictions, but fret not, because these homegirls have always showed love for their homeland.
Saweetie really outdid herself this time. For the girls who spent Galentines, her Icy Airlines PR package got us wanting for more. A suitcase complete with the Icy Airlines cover that has the Closer sweats, a neck pillow, MAC mini makeup products, a Pretty B*tch kit that contains mouthwash, condoms, and intimacy wipes, an embroidered bathrobe and of course, the Icy necklace. We’ll take ’em all for the first class flight please.
H.E.R. and Saweetie, who were both raised by Filipino parents and love lumpia equally are on a roll *pun intended*, and it’s just the beginning of the year. H.E.R. was introduced as a character on Blue’s Clues (that’s also hosted by another Fil-Am, Joshua dela Cruz), she’s been cast in the movie, The Color Purple along with the likes of Taraji Henson and Halle Bailey and has seven Grammy nominations this 2022. Saweetie on the other hand’s been on solo flight mode, collaborating with disco icon Cher, running for Best New Artist and Best Rap Song in this year’s Grammy’s and is set to drop her new album Pretty B-tch Music this year. We love to see Filipinas linking up!
You can watch the music video for Saweetie’s Closer ft. H.E.R below:
Despite the fact that it’s already 2022, misogyny is still an issue plaguing Philippine society. You don’t have to look far and wide to see that there are still people who look down on women or people who don’t act in a certain way. This is why it’s so refreshing to see an artist like Zae slowly but surely reach the peaks of stardom, especially in a field that is sometime notorious for being unfriendly towards people who aren’t straight males.
If the name Zae doesn’t ring any bells, then maybe you’ve heard of the young Pinay rapper through her songServe, which has been making the rounds across social media, especially on TikTok. For the past few years now, Zae has been delivering songs and raps that warrant her a place in the local hip-hop scene. But more importantly, she also uses her music to clap back against haters and show that women can and will do well in Pinoy hip-hop.
Zae Zacarias, or simply known as Zae, got her start in rapping like most rappers have. “I started with posting videos of myself rapping online. I really just enjoyed it as a hobby, I would look for free beats on YouTube to rap over to then post it on my socials,” she tells NYLON Manila. It was clear from these early demos that Zae had a talent for rap. And what started out as a hobby soon became something much more as people realized that she needed to release original songs.
She credits this thanks to one of her rap videos for her single Pantsu going viral on Twitter. “It gained traction quickly, thousands of strangers online told me I should pursue rap. It inspired me, so I did. I just kept going and growing from then on.” Zae describes her music as “music that I can vibe and dance to, ones that I can do my makeup to”. Even though Zae has only been active in the game for just a few years, the young rapper has already released a diverse body of work, one that she says goes from “Rap/Trap to R&B/TrapSoul.” This can be seen in hard-hitting raps like Edi Wag to more R&B and slowed done tones in songs like Xxxstasy and Wine.
And before the haters come for her, Zae does write her own lyrics. And like any inspired lyricists, she takes inspiration wherever she can. “I write in my room whenever an idea pops in my head. I get inspired by my experiences, the shows I watch, books I read, and my introspection.”
SHE’S SERVING, YOUR HONOR
In the world of Pinoy hip-hop and rap, more often than not, the most famous or talked about rappers are usually men. That isn’t to say though Pinoy rap has a shortage of female artists. But when you ask someone on the street to name five Pinay rappers, most people would probably not finish that list. So, seeing Zae and her song Serve, which is a collab with fellow rapper Paul N Ballin, do so well is a surprise, but a much welcome one at that.
And just like with the song’s surprise success, the making of the track was a bit spontaneous in itself. “Project Serve started when Mark Beats told me about his interest in creating a song collaboration between Paul N Ballin and I. We set a studio recording session, wrote lyrics on the spot then bam! It was his idea and it was a cool experience. The three of us had great chemistry working together on this song,” Zae shares.
Serve was released in January 24, 2022 and takes its name from the slang term of “serve.” With production from Mark Beats, Serve sees Paul N Ballin and Zae take turns deliver fire bars over an addicting beat. “It’s us showing the local rap scene how it’s done, or how to serve good music and quality content. The idea of it was to raise the bar on Pinoy Rap music/music videos, and basically just to sh*t on haters,” she says.
While the whole song is quite good, what truly stands out from the track and what has garnered most attention on social media is the chorus. It’s an earworm of a chorus you won’t forget anytime soon especially with how Zae pronounces the words or goes “lamona na lamona.” In fact, some people even thought that the chorus was taken from a K-pop song. But believe it or not, most if not all of the chorus was made on the spot by Zae. “I came up with the title Serve and thought it would be fun and witty to add ‘Say Ahh’ on the hook, like when you’re feeding a baby and you ask them to open their mouth. Then I just went on and freestyled the rest of the chorus part.”
When Serve was initially released, you would be forgiven if you didn’t know of it. It didn’t exactly set the world on fire on release. But that all changed when it started picking up steam on TikTok, proving once again that the video sharing platform has the power to spotlight great yet under the radar tracks. Zae though had a big hand in helping with the song’s success as the TikTok she posted using the song went viral, garnering over 6 million views to date. “People started to do my transition trend, popular social media influencers were hopping on it too, saw multiple dance challenges and dance classes using the song.”
To date, the song has been used in over 167,000 videos on TikTok, racking up millions of views, been streamed over 300,000 times on Spotify, and it’s accompanying music video having over 600,000 views. But for Zae, the best part about having Serve trend on TikTok was how it started a conversation of how people should start stanning Filipina rappers. And as a cherry on top of the proverbial cake, Mimiyuuuh starting following Zae on Instagram. “It’s insane and I’m just grateful for everyone’s support,” Zae shared on feeling the love for the song. “I just had fun with it and I’m glad people are having fun with the song, too.”
But the song’s success stands out even more because filming the music video was not easy. While she said working with the music video’s director, Louie Ong, was “a joy”, the process to completion was anything but. “The fact that we had to shoot the music video three times because of malas circumstances. Our files got corrupted on the second mv shoot & we needed to do re-shoot, double gastos. But we still managed to make it happen. When I think of it now, it’s a blessing in disguise, maybe it wasn’t time yet when we were about to release it. It makes it even more meaningful to me. We poured our hearts into this and I’m happy that it’s fruitful.”
As mentioned before, this isn’t the first time Zae has gone viral. And when she first went viral on Twitter the first time, it was for all the right reasons. In an industry that can sometimes be hostile towards women, Zae stands out as someone who is proud to rep Pinay rappers and fight back against negative stereotypes against women. This, in fact, is a big part of Zae’s identity as a rapper and musician. From when people first got to know of her in 2019 until now, she uses her music to celebrate women, be proud of her morena skin tone, call out misogynists, and flaunt her body, all while spitting bars and serving looks.
Take for example her single Pantsu released in 2020. The track is noted for being an unapologetically pro-women anthem and calling out Nik Makino and his controversial song, Neneng B. “It’s rare to find Filipino rappers talking about these important things, especially in a male-dominated industry where misogyny is still preached to young men. I feel like it’s part of my job to raise awareness on matters like these, not only to educate pinoy rap listeners, but to empower women to be queens of their own kingdoms in a society that tells them they’re ‘babae lang,’ Zae proudly exclaims. She then adds “I make music for baddies mostly. I like to think my music is some kind of baddie energy fuel for the girls and gays.”
It’s no surprise then to learn that she looks up to powerful women who have unapologetically lived their lives and helped changed the music industry. “I love Lady Gaga, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj (OF COURSE), and Kehlani”. This isn’t to say though that all men are bad. It’s just that the music industry and society in general still has its ways to go treating women and minorities as equals. Serve’s viral success is also a hopeful sign that Pinay rappers should finally get their due in the Pinoy rap scene. “Though people have been welcoming and supportive [in the Pinoy rap scene], I feel like female MCs are still in the background and I believe we deserve a spotlight, too.”
RAPPER ON THE RISE
As Serve continues to attract more listeners, more and more people are starting to pay attention to what Zae has to offer, something the young rapper is extremely thankful for. “I want to say thank you to all of my new fans. As a rising rapper/singer, I’m grateful that you guys are allowing and supporting me to grow and discover my true form as an artist. YOU ALL KEEP ME GOING, I love you!”
Her success is also starting important conversations and opening the doors for more Pinay rappers to finally get their chance in the spotlight and prove that they too can serve just as hard, if not harder, than their male counterparts. If you’re interested in hearing more of Zae, she has three songs of hers she suggests you check out. Of course, there’sServe. The second one is Edi Wag, and the last is her baddie anthem, Baddest MF (BMF).
Alexa Ilacad and KD Estrada spoils us with two new songs while Alamat celebrates their first anniversary with a new track in this week’s round-up of new song releases.
This week of February was definitely a busy one, and not just because it was Valentine’s Day. Olivia Rodrigo teased a new project, which turned out to be a documentary/concert film of the making of SOUR coming to Disney+ in March. On the P-pop front, BGYO and H&M launched their collab, as well as Music x ME, a new platform to promote local artists. Girl groups G22 from Cornerstone Entertainment and LITZ from VIVA announced their comebacks, which are set to come by the end of the month. And SB19 teased a new school centric series coming soon.
As for the world of K-pop, the week kicked out with Stray Kids dropping the trailer for their March comeback. That was then followed by news that EXO’s Suho is finally out of his military service. BTS then shook things up by announcing the dates of their Permission To Dance On Stage in Seoul concert, as well as reports that a new song and comeback is imminent. And if that wasn’t enough, it was confirmed that Red Velvet are set to have their next comeback in March. With everything that has been going on, you may have then lost track of all the new song drops in the past week, which is why we’re here to help. Here’s a round-up of some of the new must-listen songs of the week.
Given the role music plays on the lives of Alexa Ilacad and KD Estrada, it was only a matter of time before the breakout love team made new music together. And that time has finally come as they dropped not one, but two new songs. The first is Misteryo, an upbeat love song about finding that special someone in your life. The second is When I SeeYou Again, which serves as the song played whenever some gets evicted in the current season of PBB.
LOVE’S TRAIN – SILK SONIC
When Silk Sonic, aka Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, dropped their debut joint album, An Evening With Silk Sonic, we feared that they might not comeback to make more music. Luckily, the duo just dropped a new song called Love’sTrain. A cover of the song of the same name by Con Funk Shun, the funky love song was appropriately released on Valentine’s Day, but honestly is perfect to listen to anytime you’re with your special someone.
MADALI – AL JAMES AND LOLA AMOUR
For those of who are rushing through life, Lola Amour and Al James are here to remind you to slow down. For there new collab Madali, the two deliver a message on the importance of enjoying life and not trying to go through things so quickly. You only have one life so take it all in and enjoy your time. Trust the process and you’ll get their soon enough.
TROUBLE – TROYE SIVAN AND JAY SOM
In the beginning of the month, Troye Sivan announced that he was starring in a new movie called Three Months, which is set for release on February 23. The movie is about a boy who had a one night stand who is HIV positive. Ahead of the film’s release, Troye teams up with Jay Som to release a new song called Trouble. The upbeat pop song, which is part of the film’s soundtrack, will have you feeling like a young and free teenager.
KAILANGAN FO NG… – JIKAMARIE
In 2021, Jikamarie made her debut with the underrated dream pop masterpiece that was lutang. And now, she’s back with her second single called Kailangan ko ng…, and she’s still got it. The upbeat pop song mixes elements of funk and disco to deliver a track about needing to be around people and things we love.
RICH KIDS ANTHEM – EPIK HIGH AND LEE HI
For more than a decade now, Epik High has been delivering some of the best music in Korea. And with their latest album, Epik High Is Here Part 2, they continue to prove they still got it. As the name suggest, the LP is part two of their 2021 releases with 12 new A-tier songs to enjoy.
FAST TIMES – SABRINA CARPENTER
For her first new song of 2022, Sabrina Carpenter gives us Fast Times, an uptempo song about moving fast and getting straight to the point in a relationship. It’s another good song from Sabrina, but we’re really loving the production behind the track. It elevates the song to another level.
INVU – TAEYEON
Taeyeon is really out here giving us range. After giving us the emotions with Can’t Control Myself, SNSD’s leader channels 80s pop and her inner Greek goddess for her latest comeback single INVU. The track serves as the latest single off her recently released third full length studio album, INVU – The 3rd Album.
JIKJIN – TREASURE
Finally, after over a year in hiatus, TREASURE is back and better than ever. The YG Ent boy group recently released their comeback single JIKJIN. It’s a hard hitting pop song that features elements of EDM in the chorus. To start of their new era, the boys also dropped their first ever EP called THE SECOND STEP: CHAPTER ONE. Hoping that this won’t be the last time we’ll hear of the group this year.
ANG WAKAS – ARTHUR MIGUEL AND TRISHA MACAPAGAL
Valentine’s Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get into out feelings if we want to. If you’re looking for a newly released song to help you get into that, we suggest you give a listen to Arthur Miguel and Trisha Macapagal’s duet, Ang Wakas. Get swept away as the duo narrate a story of love and it’s complicated aspects.
DIILEMMA – APINK
You can’t talk about second gen K-pop girl groups without talking about APINK. They’ve been in the game for over a decade and have outlived most of their generation. And with the release of their new song Dilemma, the group proved once more they’re still a powerhouse. Along with the release of the track is their latest album, HORN, their first in years. With 11 new songs to enjoy, it definitely is a great time for APINK fans.
EYE ON YOU – WONHO
Wonho refuses to miss every single time he drops new music and Eye On You is no exception. From the house type beat, vocals, and vibe, everything is on-point. Along with the release of Eye On You is a single album called Obsession, which comes with another song, Somebody.
ABKD – ALAMAT
To celebrate their first anniversary (which is February 14 by the way), P-pop boy group Alamat comes back with a new song called ABKD. This new pop track features a hip-hop vibe and is filled with uplifting verses made more endearing with every member’s unique R&B tunes. And as always, each member’s respective dialect are featured throughout the song.
WHY I LOVE YOU – GRENTPEREZ
grentperez is out with a new song this week called Why I Love You. It is a song about a relationship that seems too chaotic for its own good, but somehow just works. It also serves as an ode to imperfectness in a relationship that ultimately makes for a stronger bond. The track serves as his latest single off his recently released debut EP, Conversations With The Moon.
RACE CAR – CALISTA
There’s a new P-pop girl group on the scene, and their name is Calista, which stands for Call it a Star. Composed of members Olive, Laiza, Elle, Denise, Anne, and Dain, the six member girl group comes from Merlion. Their debut song is called Race Car which channels the group’s desire to make it to the top.
ARAW – CALLE ONSE
Pop band Calle Onse has a new song out called Araw. Dedicated to those who didn’t have a date last Valentine’s Day, Araw depicts the feeling of being ghosted. It expresses the stories of those that were suddenly left hanging by the people they considered special. The song’s message is supported by sensual musical arrangements, evoking the feelings of deep sadness and loneliness inflicted by those that ghosted them.
IRO – RELDEN
Cebu-based singer-songwriter RELDEN’s new song iro is all about being in a bad loop while in a relationship. Serving as her sophomore single, iro, which translates to dog in English, is a pop-punk track with English-Bisaya lyrics. It aims to remind people about having the power to take charge when stuck in a toxic relationship.
Yes, Even James Reid Can’t Live Without This Daily Essential
Like everyone else hooked on their phones throughout the lockdown, the Cool Down singer dishes about how this tech essential helped him get his creative juices flowing.
Find out how this Careless creative makes use of his smartphone
We are the generation built by the booming era of technology—no cap. From gaming consoles to mobile phones, these gadgets keep us company most of the day. Apart from keeping us entertained and connected, they also make a lot of things so much easier for us, which is why OPPO smart devices are part of our everyday must-haves. Even James Reid can’t get through a day without what he considers as his true essential.
When the pandemic hit, it was as if everything took a screeching halt. As someone who usually just rode the waves throughout his busy schedule, James was suddenly given more time on his hands. He decided to use it to his advantage by focusing on work and catching up with friends. He explicitly mentioned how crucial it was to have easy access to fast internet to be able to keep in touch with colleagues and loved ones because without it, they wouldn’t have been able to build what they have throughout the pandemic.
We all had to adapt to the limitations by the lockdown, which includes going on multiple online meetings a day, and for James, his smartphone definitely became one of his holy grails. “It’s become part of my daily life,” shared James as he talked about what it’s been after shifting to his now staple android phone, OPPO Reno6 Z 5G. “It’s been really fun exploring its multiple features. I use it for entertainment, streaming, gaming, social media, writing lyrics, Zoom meetings, recording voice notes—it definitely has taken a bigger role in my day to day.”
Keeping the creative juices flowing
As an all-around creative, James also makes use of his OPPO Reno6 Z 5G’s camera features, which includes the Bokeh Flare Portrait, Portrait Beautification Video, and Ultra-Wide Angle to create his own visual diary throughout the past two years. When asked what he looks for when capturing special moments and portraits, he said, “What matters to me really is the quality of the photo. Since I carry around my phone with me, I use it to take photos or record videos. I think it’s amazing how such a small device can really deliver so much. With my phone, I love its Main Camera, Ultra-Wide Angle Camera, and Macro Camera as they capture everything in raw.” This is why his social media pages consist of fun and exciting photos and videos of him, his friends and family, and his creative passion.
Apart from taking photos and videos of memories he wants to treasure forever, James has also been keeping himself busy with work. From overseeing his record label to shooting music video after music video, this multi-hyphenate has definitely been putting his skill and talent to good use. Not only that, but he also shared that his interest in gaming rose throughout the lockdown period, especially during his downtime. James specifically mentioned League of Legends: Wild Rift as the game he plays on his phone the most.
With the responsibilities he has as a singer-songwriter, actor, and producer, it’s pretty much a given that he needs a smartphone that caters to everything he has to do. He added, “My work requires a lot of creativity and this phone has really helped a lot in capturing inspirations, moments, and just challenging my creativity.”
Like James Reid, we can also capture everyday moments and #EveryEmotionInPortrait, and turn them into extraordinary memories with the #OPPOReno6 Z 5G. With AI algorithms powering its camera features, the OPPO Reno6 gives us industry-leading camera specs in the palm of our hands to help us get creative as we keep a record of our favorite moments.
The OPPO Reno6 Series is now available on Lazada, Shopee, and OPPO Brand Stores nationwide. For more information, follow OPPO on Facebook and Instagram.
Prior to meeting in college, none of the members of New Friends knew each other. But they soon clicked and transformed themselves into a band ready to take on the world.
Often, people like to say that everything you do in your life is pre-determined by fate and your actions are all part of destiny. While some might feel that the things you do are based on free will, behind the scenes, the invisible hand of fate is working its magic to push us towards where we are meant to be. For alt-pop band New Friends, you could say fate was pushing them to come together. Composed of members Cole Wilson (guitar), Stefan Boulineau (lead vocals), Conrad Galecki (bass, backing vocals, and drums), and Ayden Miller (keyboard), all four of them did not know each other prior to their college days. ”It was organic. It was spontaneous,” says Cole of their link up in college. But that didn’t stop them from coming together to build a band that almost didn’t happen.
WHEN THE STARS ALIGN
Even on paper, their backgrounds didn’t tell you that these people were meant to be in a band together. Cole wanted to be a computer programmer and played hockey as a kid. Stefan imagined himself as being a soccer player. Conrad was into sports, particularly rugby, but by his own admission, wasn’t the best at it. Ayden, meanwhile, had prior experiences being in bands in high school but they didn’t work out. But one thing they all had in common was a love for music. So, when their initial plans didn’t work out and they all met each other in the music program of their college in Canada, one thing led to another and New Friends was formed.
Soon, the band scored themselves a hit single with their debut Purple Candy in 2019, signed to management based in Los Angeles, won Canada’s largest music competition, It’s Your Shot, in December 2021, and are now set to drop their debut studio album, The Pilot, this February 18. It’s a compilation of all the songs they have dropped so far including a new track, a love song called Right Here. And the album drop also serves as a closer to their current era as they prepare to enter a new phase of their career. Ahead of The Pilot’s release, NYLON Manila spoke with the band as they talk about their friendship, music, and what their goals are for 2022.
How would you describe the first time you guys met each other?
STEFAN: We actually weren’t a band when we first came together. But the prof of that class was like, “You guys are so dumb if you’re not a band.” So, we were like, alright, okay.
Since you guys didn’t really know each other that well prior to forming as a band, how would you say your relationship has changed since?
STEFAN: Our relationship between us, yeah, it definitely got way stronger. And especially throughout the pandemic, living together, it got way stronger.
CONRAD: The main priority was, we want to keep this going. Clearly there’s something here let’s get to know each other a lot better because that’s the only way that this is going to get better. We want to make sure our music continuously gets better and so does our relationship. So, we just started becoming best friends really quickly. And now, we’re brothers.
How did you guys come up with your sound?
CONRAD: So, everyone came from such different backgrounds and that’s kind of the beauty behind the spontaneous come up. Stefan was listening to EDM music, but also listened to a lot of early 2000s like soft rock. Cole listened to a lot of John Mayer. Aiden was listening to a bunch of stuff like folk music. I was listening to a lot of like, heavy music, but also at the same time, rap and hip-hop. And that’s kind of the way the sound came about was we weren’t worried about making it sound like anything. We just wanted to make sure that there was a piece of everyone inside of the song somehow, some way. And little did we know that kind of created something that was a bit original.
Why did you guys decide to release Purple Candy as your first single to the public? How did you feel about thesong’s success?
AYDEN: First of all, it was just the first song we made actually.
COLE: It was actually more of a school project and we handed it in, and our professor was like, “Yo, this is really good.”
AYDEN: And at the time, we were like, “Oh, we’re just gonna be like a production group. And maybe we’ll have like an alias and like, throw out the song.” But then [the professor] was like, “No, you guys should be band.” And then we kind of went from there. It was really special to see it connecting with everyone. And it gave us drive as musicians and writers to, you know, to continue trying to make an impact and send a message to our fans and hopefully, become some sort of soundtrack in their life.
What was the experience like winning It’s Your Shot?
AYDEN: It was super spontaneous. It was like, one of my professors sent me a link to the contest. And I didn’t really think anything of it. I was like, Oh, you can win money, like maybe we should do that. So we, yeah, we submitted a thing. And then one day, we got a call saying like, “Hey, you guys have won.” And that was like a really big breakthrough moment for us. Because, you know, like, we’ve been working so hard for the last two years. And to know that another company was interested in supporting what we work towards over that time.
How does it feel to be able to finally dropThe Pilot, your first body of work?
CONRAD: It’s a great feeling. Because we’re so excited for all the things that we’ve done. And we’re very proud of them. And we can’t wait for everyone to finally have it all in one, one place to listen to everything that was kind of the accumulation of two, three years of four guys meeting in college, writing in a dorm room to go into a studio and getting management in Los Angeles. It’s this ever growing story that we’re just pumped to have.
AYDEN: And it wasn’t written, you know, as an album. It was just like us stumbling through our early 20s and writing songs, figuring stuff out, getting to know each other. And now it’s been three, almost three years, I think since we write Purple Candy. And here we are kind of at the end of this beginning of the journey. Yeah. So, the end of the beginning. Yeah, the end of the year.
When fans press play on the album, what do you hope they take away from it?
CONRAD: We believe that there’s a song in there for everyone, and every single song is about growing up, right. And it’s about all the things that every single person who you pass by the street probably went through at some point growing up, or it’s moving away from your hometown, falling in love for the first time. Or sometimes you just miss the person that you know you used to have in your life. And hopefully, once fans listen to it, they can at least, you know, remember any of those challenges that they had, and kind of see them in a new light, see them in a way of like, this was exciting. This challenge made me into the person I am, I’m excited to face more of them, because that’s kind of how the four of us treated our problems.
What are your goals for 2022?
CONRAD: Meet fans from other countries, like, you know, get to meet our new friends, no pun intended. Keep making the best music that we possibly can and make sure that we meet a lot of great people along the way.
AYDEN: We’re gonna have a lot of new music out this year, which is really exciting. Because we, for the last couple years, it’s been a bit of a slower process. But now even that this era is ending, we actually have a ton of new music that’s set to go like start the next era. So, it’s exciting for us that those are all going to come out, too.
For new and would-be fans, what top three songs of yours should they listen to?
STEFAN: This is the answer: once The Pilot comes out, just listen to it from top to bottom, and then they can pick.
Loud, proud, and they got your back, hype girls are always the best and no one can argue with that. Remember that inspirational speech turned meme by Lady Gaga? The one where she had a “spiel” during A Star Is Born press tour talking about how there could be a hundred people in the room and 99 don’t believe in you and just one does, it could change your life? Sure it sounds funny when it’s all you’ve been talking about for your movie promo, but it’s true. One person having faith in you matters, and we’re pretty sure Bella Poarch understands this too well. And why not? While she manifested her whole musical career, she also had her friends who believed in her. So, every chance she could get, whether it was her best friend Valkyrae posting bomb selfies or congratulating her vlogger pal Karl Jacobs for winning breakout creator of the year, Bella Poarch is always cheering, love bombing, and watching closely—respectfully of course. Read on for more times she was the main hype girl of the friend group that we aspire to be!
Out of 300 selfies, you have your BFFs to help you with trimming it down, but the work doesn’t end there. They’ll be the first one to comment and like when you post it!
3. THAT ONE FRIEND’S COMMENT IS GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOUR DAY
I seem to have lost my phone number…can I have urs???
Is it just us or does it feel more *kilig* when our girl crushes and friends hype us up on social media? Same, Bella. Same.
4. HAVING A FRIEND’S STANDEE IN YOUR HOUSE SEEMS PRETTY NORMAL
KARL MY BELOVED
No one deserves an award like breakout creator more than u. Even karl jacobs jr agrees. Thanks for all the positivity & love you’ve brought to our lives this year. Can’t wait to see what u do next 🙂 now text me ur addy so I can ship u this award?? @KarlJacobs_pic.twitter.com/0bwDKAk8Uj
Aside from promoting their posts on your social media feed, it also helps when you actually purchase and participate in their projects. That “friendship discount?” Completely false. Your friends need to make a living, too!
They’re no longer just a child’s plaything. Barbie and Bratz have been defining an entire generation for decades, even becoming cultural icons themselves.
Pitting women against each other will never be cute, nor is comparing one doll to another. Case in point, the long-standing Barbie vs. Bratz rivalry since the early 2000s. More than anything, can we talk about the brand’s character development and impact through the years? Far from the confines of the dollhouse, these dolls have been through it all whether you believe it or not: sl*t-shamed, degraded and criticized for not being a good role model to women.
When Barbie was created in 1959, most people saw her as nothing but a distraction to keep girls in their place. In fact, a study conducted by psychology professors in the past claimed that girls who played with Barbie dolls “tend to see fewer career options available to them than boys.” Bratz on the other hand were often “sexualized” by parents upon its controversial release in 2001 for their bold makeup looks and edgy outfits, that were modeled after POC. Perhaps, they too were victims of society’s toxic notions.
Decades later, Barbie and Bratz are no longer who they used to be. Now, they’ve encouraged self-expression and raised kids from different generations to unlock their full potential, all while smashing beauty standards and rejecting labels. Barbie has been teaching girls that they can be anyone with their career dolls and have launched variants of different shapes and sizes, including gender-neutral clothing. Bratz dolls became a pop culture phenomenon and highly impacted the fashion and beauty industry even 20 years later. Just one look at the Bratz hashtag on TikTok and you’ll find out why they’ve become the unsung style icons of today.
So, what have these two dolls been up to now that their influence has been proven to be massive? Scroll down below to find out.
Barbie knows that representation matters more than anything. Her recent collaboration with Chinese couturier Guo Pei and French-African designer Olivier Rousteing of Balmain broke boundaries. In time for Lunar New Year, Guo Pei, who famously designed Rihanna’s Met Gala dress in 2015, announced that she collaborated with Barbie to celebrate her Chinese heritage and its intricate dress-making techniques. Not long enough, Balmain posted their campaign photos where real-life Barbie and Ken’s roles were reversed. The French fashion house turned the dollhouse into a pink palace with its fun collection. Here’s to more collabs between Barbie and POC designers in the future.
BARBIE’S “YOU CAN BE ANYTHING” AND ROLE MODELS LINE
For a doll that’s only been looked up to for her ultra-cinched waist in the 50s, Barbie finally proved her haters wrong. A celebration of women empowerment, Mattel has been consistently releasing limited edition dolls of modern heroines and females from different walks of life, along with the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community. Take for example their tribute to frontliners last year by honoring the females who made medical history. They also created doll versions ofDominican-American author and activist Julia Alvarez, American suffragist and investigative journalist Ida B. Wells to name a few. This is the character development we love to see!
The Bratz pack have been the real style icons for the last 20 years, and most of their looks still prove to be timeless. Petition for the dolls to drop more designer collabs in the future because the recent GCDS and Puma collections were FIRE. We just want to steal their entire wardrobe, including the pastel platforms, chunky boots, mini bags and fur coats!
BRATZ’ IMPACT ON POP CULTURE AND STAND ON SOCIAL ISSUES
Oops, they’ve done it again. Whoever said that Bratz fell off after the Y2K absolutely knows nothing. Hello, they’ve made red carpet appearances, virtual games pre-metaverse, and now they’re killing it with the help of their Bratz creators who usually create pop culture-inspired looks. Their passion for fashion has cemented their status in the social media realm as well. (The Bratz hashtag on TikTok alone has over 2.3B views! Icon behavior.) But aside from their sassy posts, the dolls also know that speaking up about social issues is just as important. They’ve been staunch advocates of the Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate movement when most brands had their mouths shut. Jade and Sasha would’ve been proud.
Life works in mysterious ways. You may be expecting one thing to happen, but then life throws you a plot twist when you least expect it. 88rising’s NIKI knows a lot about this. Born and raised in Indonesia, the 22-year-old rewrote the rules of what it means to be a pop star and has now ascended to become one of the biggest rising acts of the new generation.
And this unexpended twist in life also occurred with her song, Every Summertime. When she dropped it as a single in August 2021, it was well-received, but it didn’t necessarily set the world on fire. That was until now, and honestly, it absolutely deserves it. Every Summertime is an A-tier pop song and it’s only right to see it receive the love it’s getting.
I’D GIVE UP ANYTHING TO TRAVEL INSIDE YOUR MIND
Every Summertime was released as the lead single of the official motion picture soundtrack for the MCU film, Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings. The track was also included in the movie’s official soundtrack album Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings: The Album. It doesn’t take a lot of repeat listens to understand why it is getting as much praise and plays as it is now.
An exuberant love song about two Asian college students falling in love in San Francisco, the track features somewhat of a throwback sound reminiscent of classic R&B and soul. NIKI’s voice in the track is divine, but where the song truly shines is when it reaches its godly chorus. From the retro sounding verses, the track then transitions to a euphoric chorus that sounds like what happiness feels like. It’s a mesmerizing section as NIKI sings about how loving a significant other feels like summertime. It’s the kind of song that would be perfect to soundtrack any love stuck teen romance in a movie, or any relationship in general.
“Every Summertime came together so fast–we wrote it in less than an hour! It was one of those magical moments where there’s a special kind of alchemy happening whilst creating and now it’s one of our favorite songs of our careers,” shared NIKI on the song’s creation. The mood setting is truly something else and harkens to a time of young love. NIKI, along with her co-writer and co-producer Jacob Ray, did an excellent job with this intoxicating single.
For most of 2021, Every Summertime experienced mild success. But that all changed by late 2021 when the song suddenly started going viral on social media, particularly on TikTok. Say what you want about the video sharing app, but if it has brought us one good thing, it’s that it gives songs that deserve mainstream popularity its chance in the spotlight. As of this writing, Every Summertime has been used in videos over 742,000 times, and that’s just the official version.
From song covers to being used as the BGM to many kinds of videos, the song soon gained in popularity. Currently, it has over 70 million streams on Spotify alone and is currently in the Top five of Spotify PH’s Top 50 chart. Speaking of song covers, some Filipino musicians have also hoped on the trend. Composer extraordinaire Trisha Denise is known for uploading Tagalog versions of Korean songs on her TikTok page. And she gave the Tagalog treatment to EverySummertime, which got NIKI’s seal of approval as she commented on the video. BINI, meanwhile, delivered a beautiful cover of the song, and has raked over 2.4 million views and counting.
EVERDAY IS SUMMERTIME WITH YOU
Clearly most of Every Summertime’s success has been driven by organic growth as more and more people discover the song. But NIKI herself has also helped in promoting it as well. She dropped not one, not two, but four music videos for the song. The first was released on August 9, 2021 along with the single. It follows a father and son, played by rapper and actor Dumbfoundead and Minari star Alan Kim respectively, driving around the neighborhood and listening to tunes. The second video features NIKI singing and making her way through the aisles of a 99 Ranch Supermarket, a renowned Asian-American grocery chain in the US. The third video is more autobiographical as it loosely follows the arc of NIKI’s own music journey from college student to rising superstar.
The latest video was dropped just recently and it’s more of a lovely short film. It centers on a young couple in Los Angeles in the 1970s on the day of their anniversary. The young woman hands him a beautifully wrapped gift box revealing a fancy pair of shoes. It then shifts to the present day and follows a dapper elderly man in Chinatown as he gets dressed for his 50th anniversary. As he walks through the neighborhood, the video flash backs in time to a young couple falling in love. The music video culminates in the old man arriving at the iconic Chinatown Central Plaza in LA and performing a heartwarming dance sequence in memory of his late wife.
What’s most impressive about all of these is how NIKI has included her Asian heritage in nearly every step of this process. The song itself came from NIKI’s own experiences as an Asian. “I think I just wanted to get at the Asian diasporic experience. What it would look like for two first-generation Asian Americans, going to college and falling in love—that was the inspiration,” she told Teen Vogue. From the Asians that star in her music videos to filming at an popular location for many Asian Americans, NIKI rocks her Asian heritage with pride.
With tracks like lowkey and La La Lost You, this isn’t the first time NIKI has scored a hit single. And this probably won’t be the last time. And with the fact that she is set to be the first Indonesian to perform at Coachella later this April, NIKI’s star continues to rise. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ll go back to listening to Every Summertime.
It doesn’t take a lot to realize that the Philippines has an exciting creatives community. Across social media and other platforms, there are many up-and-coming and even seasoned creatives sharing their talents in a variety of fields to the world. But it also doesn’t take a lot to see that being a creative in the country is not easy. There can be a lack of institutional support, especially for those who are trying to get their name out there for the first time. Young and would-be creatives may find it hard to find support or find ways to grow their skills. This is why some of the most trailblazing creatives in the country have come together to form a new platform built by creatives, for creatives, and it’s called Artkipelago.
Mixing the words art and archipelago, Artkipelago is a new online learning platform designed to teach those ready to bring a new and exciting perspective to the creatives world and beyond. Open to both beginners (who are looking to get a head start) and professionals, Artkipelago serves as a jumping off point of sorts for those looking to leave their mark on the industry. Think of Artkipelago as a virtual arts school. The platform offers a variety of courses across different fields from music, film, performing arts, and more. And over the coming months and years, more courses will be added to the platform.
You don’t need to be a pro to enroll in a course. Every skill type is welcome as long as you’re ready to learn. Given the platform’s online setting and flexible schedule, Artkipelago can serve as a great way for creatives to get their foot in the door if they don’t have the time or budget to enroll in an arts school/program.
A-LIST TEACHING STAFF
Audie GemoraNyoy Volante
If the idea of an online Filipino arts school excites you but you’re worried that the prof you get might be boring, don’t fret. What sets Artkipelago apart from other online schools is that the entire teaching faculty is made up of luminaries in the creatives world and other A-list stars. Your teachers are some of the most accomplished and well-regarded professionals in their respective field. Students will be guided by a veritable selection of Filipino creatives who will not just simply teach but interact and speak about their art with expertise and depth, brought about by first-hand knowledge and practical wisdom.
Lugo GonźalezMenchu Lauchengo-Yulo
Artkipelago focuses on creative courses that will be taught by industry leaders, pioneers, movers and shakers with proven track records of success. Some of the teachers that you can learn from include veteran music producer Gino Cruz, theater actress Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, The Itchyworms’ guitarist Chino Singson, Nyoy Volante, and Jim Paredes, with more to come in the future.
THE CLASSES YOU CAN TAKE
Classes in Artkipelago are taught through a variety of ways. Most are done through video-on-demand (VOD). You can begin the course whenever you like but have to finish it within four weeks. Others are taught through live webinars and workshops where you can interact live with your classmates and teacher. To enroll in a course, all you have to do is go to their website, make an account, and pick which course you want to attend.
The courses you can take vary in what you want to learn. Some are intros to certain fields to give you the basics to get you started. But others are there to help you further your professional career. For example, Nyoy Volante’s course is all about helping you get hired by clients to be a songwriter. Once you finish a course, you will receive a certificate of completion signed by the mentor to document your accomplishment. You will also have access to most of the videos and materials used in the course for up to one year after completion.
But the best part is that you’re learning won’t stop after you complete the course. You will get the chance to build your professional network and be part of an ever-growing community and collaborate both with fellow course-mates and mentors.
CALLING ALL FILIPINO CREATIVES
Learn from the best and get the chance to get your name out there to more professionals in the field. What’s not to love about that? So, to the Filipino creatives out there, whether you are new or a pro, there’s a new Filipino run online platform ready to help further the growth of the next generation of Filipino creatives. It definitely is an exciting time to be a creative in the Philippines.
In the world of K-dramas and movies, rarely do they revolve around what some may see as taboo. Especially for the more mainstream fair featuring big stars, having potentially controversial storylines usually won’t happen. This is why it’s a sight to see how a movie like Love and Leashes, Netflix’s latest Korean rom-com, is real. Starring two K-pop idols/actors, SNSD’s Seohyun and U-Kiss’ Lee Junyoung, you wouldn’t think that K-movie of two people entering into the world of BDSM and DS (dominant-submissive) relationships would be possible. Yet it’s here and the movie has attracted attention for its subject matter. But behind the movie’s take on BDSM and experiencing pain as pleasure is a story that surprisingly is quite progressive and unlike most in the genre. It’s more of a lovely tale that takes a different approach on its subject matter.
AN OFFICE ROMANCE THAT TAKES A TURN
Love and Leashes follows two office workers, Jiwoo (Seohyun), and Jihoo (Lee Junyoung) who both work at a PR company. Jiwoo has been working in the department for a while now while Jihoo just transfers to the team. One day, Jiwoo picks up a package at work she thinks is for her, but is, in fact for Jihoo. She then opens it, revealing a human sized dog collar, exposing Jihoo’s kinks. Later on, Jiwoo decides to accept Jihoo’s offer to be his master and the two go on a DS relationship that involves, among other things, role play and candle wax. (If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll understand this reference.)
THE ROLES REVERSE
What immediately stands out about Love and Leashes is how the woman takes charge of the relationship. In movies of this kind, most notably in 50 Shades of Grey, the man is the one who is dominant over the girl while she is submissive. But in this case, the roles reverse and Jiwoo is the master and Jihoo is her servant. It’s almost like a reclamation of narrative in a sense that instead of disenfranchising the woman, it empowers her to be a force in the relationship. Jiwoo doesn’t need saving at all and doesn’t need a man to enter her life to make it better.
She is a strong woman and is the one who is taking the wheels of the relationship. Also, there’s no full on nudity in the movie nor is a character forcibly removed of their clothes. The woman nor the man are degraded of their dignity in that sense. They both participate in consensual light play. They both respect each other in the relationship. While other movies would have easily put the man on a pedestal and the woman beneath him, that does not happen here.
BOTH AS EQUALS
The movie also gives both leads equal footing in the story. Both have a say in the relationship and one is not dominant over the other in that sense. While in their DS relationship, Jiwoo is the master over Jihoo, she won’t do things to him without his consent and vice versa. Because of this, we get a different take and perspective on these kinds of relationships. Since these are two consenting adults entering a DS relationship, Love and Leashes portrays BDSM not as a taboo topic that is uncomfortable, but more of a unique interest that people do have.
At no point in the movies does it portray what the two main characters participating in as an abhorrent act. While some characters in the story may not agree with what they do, the movie itself shows the acts as just another form of pleasure in a relationship. You may even see it as questioning social norms on what is deemed appropriate or not in a relationship. More importantly, these two, like any real couple, go through the same struggles and challenges. Which is why you end up getting a surprisingly wholesome take on this kind of lifestyle. Yes, the movie does go there at times, but it also has it’s cute and grounded moments.
DEALING WITH SEXISM
Another aspect of Love and Leashes that pleasantly surprises is how a good chunk of the narrative revolves around sexism in the workplace. By the movie’s opening, we are introduced to their team leader, Hwang, who is an open sexist towards woman, especially Jiwoo. While Jihoo gets constantly praised, Jiwoo gets constantly dragged for doing the exact same things as a man would do. It’s a scenario all too real for many woman in the workplace, having your work degraded while having your male counterparts get praised for doing the exact same work you do. Even when both end up in a situation where they share blame, Jiwoo gets the brunt of the criticism. It’s actually quite refreshing for Love and Leashes to tackle this kind of topic.
NOT YOUR TYPICAL BDSM MOVIE
Love and Leashes is not perfect, but it stands out of how it tells its tale. It’s a story of love, respect, boundaries, and consent. Communication and understanding is important in any relationship, even ones that involve red rope. For those who are initially curious about the movie because of is BDSM themes may be pleasantly surprised by how the story unfolds. Definitely come with an open mind for you to get the most enjoyment from this.
Was this the Korean 50 Shades Of Grey that some people were expecting? No, not really. And honestly, that’s for the better. In a sea of films where one person, usually the woman, is put down and degraded, Love and Leashes stands out by giving both characters in the relationship equal footing and not make it your typical dominant-submissive relationship. Come for the BDSM, stay for the wholesome story.
