The final members of the upcoming, yet-to-be-named girl group of The Girl Group Project have been making the rounds on social media, and after months of training and evaluations, they’re almost ready to take on the P-Pop stage.

Related: 10 Things You Need to Know About Dream Academy’s Sophia Laforteza

If you were on TikTok the last few weeks, then you definitely have come across the “I Wanna Go Back” dance trend set to a sped-up version of Do It Again by Pia Mia. Well, did you know that the creators of the trend are young Filipino trainees getting ready to debut as members of a new, upcoming P-pop girl group?

@ggprojectmedia boy can we go back? 🤷🏻‍♀️ dc: jezrene 🐝 & nicole 🐣 #fyp #ppoprise ♬ do it again – ᶜ ʰ ˡ ˡ ˣ ᵉ ᵈ ⁱ ᵗ ˢ

That’s right, dancers and artists Jezrene and Nicole, whose names you may have seen credited under TikToks of the trend, are members of a yet-to-be-named girl group formed by DreamCloud Media Productions. DreamCloud recognized the immense potential of Filipinos in the pop music industry, and so, in early 2023, they started The Girl Group Project. It was a passion project, an initiative to select, train, and evaluate talented young girls to form a group ready to take the P-pop world by storm.

After the final evaluation at Eton Centris last July 30, seven trainees were selected to debut. It’ll take some more time, work, and decisions before they make it big, but for now, let’s meet the young girls who have made it steps closer to living their dreams.

NICOLE

1/2 of the pioneers of the “I Wanna Go Back” trend, Nicole is The Girl Group Project’s center, and has shown her prowess in singing, dancing, and playing the ukulele—which she’s been playing since she was in high school. She’s driven by her desire to show the world her talent. She’s a Virgo, and her MBTI is ESFP-T.

JEZRENE

The other half of the TikTok trend’s creators, 19-year old Jezrene is a strong singer, which got her the position of lead vocalist. A true introvert but with a powerful voice, she’s a Gemini, an INFP, and, like most of us, her hobbies include sleeping. She’s been inspired by K-pop since she was young, and pushed through some mental and physical challenges before she got to where she is now.

HANA

Keen-eyed girl group enthusiasts may recognize the 22-year-old as a former center of idol group MNL48! Her stage name used to be Aly, and she can be seen in MNL48’s videos like Ikaw Ang Melody. Hana is the group’s lead rapper, visual, and sub-vocalist. She’s a Capricorn, INFJ, and she likes playing mobile games.

JANE

Jane is the group’s main rapper and a lead vocalist. She’s a Capricorn and an INFJ-T, often in dark clothing and makeup to match her fierce and independent spirit. She likes to sing, cook, and watch anime. She made, sold, and delivered food to help out her sick parents all while studying and trying hard for her dreams.

KATH

Kath was the first trainee to be announced as part of The Girl Group Project. The 20-year old is the group’s main dancer and lead rapper while also being a diligent university student at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. She’s got grit and stage presence for days, and is a Taurus and ISFJ-T.

MITA

Lead vocalist and dancer Sushmita, or Mita for short, is a proud Taurus and INTJ. She loves cats and owns a handful of them—18 to be precise. A multi-talented performer, Mita was influenced by her aunt to get into music.

PEARL

The ever-fashionable Pearl is the group’s main vocalist and resident baton twirler. A Taurus and INFP-T, she was the last trainee to complete The Girl Group Project. She also loves to design clothes. Emotional during her last interview before making the final lineup, Pearl is driven and determined to reach her dreams.

Stay tuned on The Girl Group Project’s social media accounts (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram) to keep up with these talented Gen Z artists! Do you have a bias yet?

Photos courtesy of Jionor Verona for The Girl Group Project/Facebook

Continue Reading: Girl Group Calista Puts the Pedal to the Metal With Their Debut, ‘Race Car’

On the lookout for more Filipino music to appreciate? We collated newly-released songs from young rising artists—along with musicians we know and love—to add to our playlist.

If there’s anything we, Filipinos, can get along with, it’s that sense of Filipino pride whenever we see talented people thriving in their passion for music. There’s undeniable talent everywhere and it’s important to appreciate them every once in a while.

It’s not easy producing and recording music at a time like this. While most have taken a break from tours, concerts, and music in general, these artists are coming through with new tracks that will surely get you vibing.

Here are the rising Filipino artists and the new music releases that are worth adding to your playlist.

Outlaws – Nameless Kids

Nameless Kids is a pop-indie band comprised of five multi-talented individuals, Nhiko Viktor Sabiniano, Kyle Perry, Jason de Mesa, Kim Allen, and Imay Alconaba. Their first single, Outlaws, was inspired by the popular biker gang TV series, Sons of Anarchy. 

Cake 4 Breakfast – Annette, Subzylla

You know you’ve had a good time when you’re having cake for breakfast. This track by Annette and Subzylla is a slow R&B jam that’s perfect for chill listening.

Kyusi – Zild

Singer-songwriter Zild Benitez is emerging as his own person away from IV of Spades with his recent track, Kyusi. It’s a refreshing track that will take you back to the simpler days. Read our full, exlusive interview with Zild here.

The Light – BGYO

By now, you would already know that we’re raving about BGYO’s debut single, The Light. And it’s definitely on repeat on our playlist. Take a look at our review of the song here, and an exclusive interview with the BGYO boys here.

Giddyup – 13C

13C is a three-piece band comprised of Davy, Ichi, and Flo. These Cebuano musicians are definitely the new band you need to watch out for. Take a listen to their song, Giddyup.

Luna – DonWilson

DonWilson is a young, emerging musician from Lipa. His latest release, Luna is our personal favorite when we just want to sit back, relax, and listen to chill music.

til forever – firegod

We’re loving til forever by the dynamic duo, firegod (Fern Tan and Justin Punzalan). It’s sure to guarantee LSS and frankly? We don’t even mind one bit. It’s a stripped back song that will get you mindlessly swaying.

Tama Ni Dzai – Edray Tedroso

Edray Tedroso sure knows how to release bops we can sing along with. Her recent release, Tama Ni Dzai perfectly explains what it’s like to fall in love.

Kwentuhan – Autotelic

Autotelic reminds us of the importance of human connection with their new track, Kwentuhan. It’s a song that will make you feel a sense of nostalgia and a reminder that good communication is the key to maneuvering in the new normal.

How Many – Guapdad 4000, !llmind

Guapdad 4000 is a Fil-Am hip hop artist who was the first signed artist of PARADISE RISING (88rising’s sister label.) And we can’t forget to mention that he’s a Grammy nominee! Show some love for his single, How Many with fellow Filipino, !llmind.

We’re so ready to add new music to our everyday playlists, starting with these Filipino music artists on the rise.

This year is already off to a good start for music. As fast-rising stars like Fil-Am musician, Olivia Rodrigo–who just released her first single drivers license–proved that it’s not too early to be considered the 2021 song of the year, we’re hopeful that more Filipino musicians will be recognized for their talents as well. We’ve picked out a fresh array of Filipino artists you should be streaming now so that this time next year, you can proudly say that you were one of the OGs.

RELATED: 10 Filipino TikTok Stars We Want To See More Of This 2021

Rob Deniel

The artist behind the hit song, Ulap, is Rob Deniel; a 17-year-old singer-songwriter. Ulap, which has about 2 million streams on Spotify was apparently single-handedly written, produced, and arranged by Rob on the app, Garageband. Gen Zs, am I right?

Fern.

Fern. is coming back with a new album and we’re excited for the new sound he has to offer. Mark our words, people. You’ll be seeing his name everywhere soon. While you wait for his comeback, have a listen to his latest single, Want U Bad.

BGYO

Without spoiling anything about their debut on January 29, we can confidently say that BGYO is the next P-Pop boy group you’ll be raving about.

…. Let’s just say that once you hear their song, you’ll be seeing the light as to why they have such a strong fanbase already.

Nathan & Mercury

Welcome to the indie scene as we welcome the band, Nathan & Mercury, composed of Nathan Huang on guitar and vocals, Angelo Sison on bass, Alex Samonte on guitars, and Daniel Monong on drums. You might have heard their single, Fools, while watching Gaya sa Pelikula. So, if you like the sound, then you should check out their discography.

Zack Tabudlo

Zack Tabudlo is a promising musician in the alt-pop and R&B landscape. His song, Nangangamba is almost at 1 million streams on Spotify and an insider tells us that he’ll be releasing more music soon. Don’t miss out!

Darren Espanto

You’re obviously no stranger to the powerhouse voice and charming good looks of the one and only Darren Espanto. He’s releasing new music real soon, so while you wait, feel free to jam to his hit songs.

Lala Vinzon

Is it just us or does Lala Vinzon give you superstar vibes, too? She’s got the face of a leading lady and the voice of a pop star in the making. Our personal favorite is her latest release, Pansamantala.

Huhsmile

Huhsmile is a fantastic songwriter and her latest song feels like it came straight out of a kilig rom-com series. Have a listen to Kung Pwede Lang by huhsmile!

J-Nine

If you’re into R&B, then check out the upcoming R&B singer, J-Nine. You’ll love her aesthetic and let’s face it: undeniable beauty. To all the gamers out there, this one’s for you. Listen to GG by King Promdi, featuring J-Nine.

Alexa Ilacad

She’s not just a veteran actress, but an up and coming musician as well. You’ll be having Love At First Sight when you listen to this rising star‘s latest single.