In addition to the musicality and performance aspect, we also need to discuss SB19’s storytelling skills.
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SB19 can sing, dance, and perform like nobody’s business. But over the years, one aspect that we’ve come to appreciate from the group, and we’d argue is an underrated part of their artistry, is their storytelling. Don’t sleep on SB19’s ability to work symbolism and imagery and weave narratives into their craft. Nearly everything you see the boys do visually comes with a purpose, and that includes the easter eggs and references they like to sprinkle in their music.
It’s a side of their creativity that shines bright in their current Simula at Wakas era and new single DAM. Tapping into their medieval fantasy era, the story SB19 is telling is as epic as the message they want to share with the finale of their trilogy.
THE BOYS ARE BACK
It’s been two years since we got a proper SB19 EP with the release of PAGTATAG! in 2023. But aside from the fact that we’re getting a new SB19 album this year, Simula at Wakas is special because, true to its name, it’s the beginning and the end of a story the boys began four years ago. “Galing po kasi siya sa trilogy,” Pablo tells NYLON Manila. “So, kaya po siya ganun kasi we tried to use the tree as a personified SB19.”
From a question mark in Pagsibol to an exclamation point in PAGTATAG!, the trilogy ends with Simula at Wakas, and for that, they turned to a dot, both as a definitive period and as a seed of new things to come. “Parang siya ang sign na kaya siya simulan because we believe that every ending has a beginning and you can always reinvent or learn new things sa journey namin,” says Pablo.
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This moment has been a long time coming for the boys, not just because the finale has been over half a decade in the making, but also because 2024 was a big year for the members individually. Last year, Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin dropped solo songs and albums, among other endeavors.
To be back for a proper era, and to finish a trilogy no less, is a welcome development for the members. “Parang iba yung feeling pagka-group na ulit. I mean group naman talaga but last year kasi nagkaroon lang ng window for everyone to explore, to create their own path kung saan nila gusto pagpunta. And ngayon we’re doing it again as a group. Parang iba talaga yung feeling. Mas nararamdaman na mas malakas,” exclaims Stell.
And of course, when you have a group as chaotic as SB19 back together, it makes for fun moments to remember. As Josh puts it, “Kasi to be honest, mas madali kapag solo. Pero mas masaya kapag magulo. Five different entities, five different characters. Pero pag magkakasama kasi mas nagkakaroon ng magandang color yun. So parang it feels good to be back again as a group na active na ulit sa SB19.”
LIVING THE MEDIEVAL FANTASY
In a career that has seen SB19 continuously push P-pop’s boundaries, DAM is one of their most exciting drops to date. The song is epic in scale that fuses elements of hip-hop, Celtic and Filipino folk, EDM, industrial, and prog-rock, while retaining the signature martial energy. It’s experimental in sound, while also pushing a narrative of the group’s unrelenting drive for purpose, ambition, and legacy.
The anthemic track explores themes of staying true to one’s values and principles amidst the sacrifice required to achieve greater dreams in career and life. Given all that, its visuals need to match in energy and aura, so the boys went the medieval fantasy route for some of their best and most striking visuals to date. It’s an aesthetic the boys knew they had to do even before DAM was completed.
“Early last year, nagkaroon namin ng time to brainstorm, ano yung goal namin sa next EP. So during that time, even though wala pa basically yung sound ni DAM, parang lahat kami, ang naisip namin na parang ganito yung magiging concept kahit wala pa yung music. It’s something epic, it’s something big, and parang medieval fantasy,” recalls Justin.
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And honestly, it’s just cool to roleplay and live your best wizard and knight life. This holds true for Stell. “Siguro gusto namin i-fulfill yung medieval fantasy namin. Siguro lahat kami, yun yung common namin. May time na nanonood kami ng ganun. Tsaka, bagay siya sa epicness ng sound. So, magaya natin ang epic music video.”
From pulling inspiration from Game Of Thrones and House of the Dragon to the video games Josh likes such as Final Fantasy, The Witcher, and God of War, it all makes for arguably their most visually stunning concept yet. The budget and production quality are giving, and the boys look cool af channeling their inner medieval hero and villain.
“It’s very SB19,” comments Pablo on the group’s take on medieval fantasy. “I feel like it’s a product of five members na talagang kulay niya. We try to make it cohesive and incorporate his idea of who he is. So kung baga dito sa story or narrative ng Simula at Wakas, sa medieval story na ginawa namin, parang hindi namin sinacrifice yung individuality namin.”
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A group effort no doubt involving SB19, their team, and all the partners they worked with on this comeback. But even in all the costumes and sets, the purpose is still there. “We tried to create a conflict that we could all resolve together. Tapos yun na, gumawa kami ng sari-sariling lore with the help of 1032 LAB. Ang saya ng process kasi everyone’s just throwing their ideas no matter how absurd or impossible it is. Pero ayun naman, nakagawa kami ng way para i-achieve siya or i-materialize lahat. It’s a very risky move kasi baka maging corny. Pero parang feeling ko na-achieve naman namin.”
STAY AWHILE AND LISTEN
Like any dedicated artist, SB19 knows their way around a good easter egg and reference. Their artistry is filled with such moments, especially in these past few years. To consume SB19 content is to not just see it at face value, but also appreciate what’s underneath, something their fans, the ever-loyal and dedicated A’TIN, know very well. The complex and fantastical world and lore SB19 promises to take us on in Simula at Wakas holds many hidden symbolism and easter eggs for fans to dissect, and you know A’TIN doesn’t play when it comes to that.
It’s this kind of world-building and myth-making that has endeared SB19 to many, and the boys admit that their penchant for dropping a reference wouldn’t be the way it is without their fans. “Kasi parang may times din kasi talaga na parang nagtuwa kami sa A’TIN na parang kahit yung small videos na nare-relate nila doon sa mga ginagawa namin before. So sa ganun, parang nagkakaroon din kami ng idea na parang, ah ito nga, sige, gawin nga natin, tignan natin,” says Stell.
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Adds Justin, “I think it started all the way from before Pagsibol pa. Kasi nga, parang meron kaming thought process na yung mga gagawin namin should have a reason. Naglagay na kami doon mga elements na merong reason. Hindi lang siya nakatayo diyan because design lang, but meron siyang reason. So, since na-catch siya, parang naging culture siya in a way sa A’TIN, sa community, na hinahanap nila yun. They try to dissect more than what they can see. Naging natural process na namin siya sa team na gawin yun. And suddenly, indirectly, kahit wala nang reason yung isang bagay, nagagawa ng A’TIN ng reason that would match.”
Sure, a few moments may have been coincidental or unintentional, or fans may overthink certain elements, but the combination of a group’s intentionality in a deeper meaning with a dedicated fanbase and their theories makes for an exciting dynamic between artist and fan. “Sometimes it’s coincidental kasi yung mga songs naman namin, we treat it as our diary or parang journey namin,” conveys Pablo. “So as you write the lyrics or make the music, parang automatically you’d get a glimpse of what happened from before.”
Such is the beauty of art. The artist and audience can take away two different meanings from the same piece, or they can be aligned on what they see. Regardless, there’s always something to say from the output. “That’s the beauty of art, the beauty of storytelling,” Josh points out. “You can do it freely or parang i-express mo in whatever ways you can. Ang storytelling is, I feel like, yung everyday na ginagawa mo. Basically, yung everyday na ginagawa mo, yung may intention, is storytelling.”
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So, what story is SB19 telling then with their career? “Siguro for us, yung intention namin is always bigger than us. It’s not just for SB19 but it’s for everyone at susunod pa. Lagi namin bumabalik sa intention namin from the very beginning na gusto namin not just for us but for the entire community and industry na makinabang sa kung ano yung kinukontribute namin.”
UNAFRAID TO REFERENCE OR NOT REFERENCE
A new song, album, and world tour are just some of the things SB19 has in store for 2025. It’s a big moment for the group, and it’s at this point of the interview where Pablo gets sentimental as he reflects on what he’s most excited to do this year. “To perform with everyone again,” says the group leader.
“Nakakamiss because it has been two years since a new song that we all worked on together. Tapos yung interaction with fans. To be able to perform in front of them and to be able to interact with them in a way, one of the things that I’m most excited about. At the same time, maraming kaming pakulo this year. I’m really sure the fans will really like it. Because ako, I like it so much. Kahit kami, sobrang na-excited na kami.”
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And as they get ready for an eventful 2025, keep an eye out for SB19, who is for sure cooking up even more fun easter eggs and references. And speaking of easter eggs, what exactly do the guys think makes for a good hidden detail? To them, it’s all about the purpose. “Yung parang babalikan mo siya after how many years then masasabi mo ‘ah ito pala yung legacy nasa harap ko na pala hindi ko pala napapansin pa,’” notes Stell on those easter eggs to be remembered for years to come.
“Para sa akin naman hindi siya explanation mostly but the reaction,” adds Pablo, alluding to those IYKYK moments in fandoms. “Talagang hindi siya or ako lang yung nakakita, but everyone can share it together. Kasi when there are things na talagang parang feeling mo nagcoconect sa inyo doon siya nagiging parang easter egg. You feel like you belong in this world na we created together.”
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