SB19 As A Reflection of Struggle
I was never a fan of groups. Be it K-pop, or bands, or musical artists.
Back in my day, especially in highschool, almost everyone around me raved about K-pop. From my classmates constantly doing dance covers in the classroom and the hallways or gushing over their idols from their screens and some even impressively singing the songs in full Korean. I’ve seen it all. If not that then mainstream Western music by the names of Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga etc. All such icons who became a large part of our nostalgic teenage memories and experiences. Although I was exposed to them through osmosis from the others around me, I never really took much interest. I can’t deny that they were certainly relevant and had great influence on pop culture and trends. But back then, I was more into visual art, fiction, and movies, and was only a casual fan if ever when it came to music. I loved Ben & Ben, COJ, Glock-9, and a few other hip-hop artists, mainly for their lyricism and storytelling, just to give an idea of my music spectrum. But never have I reached a point wherein I truly tried to know and follow an artist beyond their craft.
Amidst aimless scrolling on social media on a random day, I stumbled on their AAA 2023 performance.
Regrettably, I was one of those who held prejudice against anything that was Filipino made. I had very little belief in what our industries here could produce in terms of art or music. I had felt that the themes of our songs were repetitive like many of our teleseryes were-- which more often than not were love songs, or breakups, or cheating storylines and love triangles. All too unoriginal and outdated at that time. It was partly out of bias and partly because I’ve seen how lacking and wasted our potentials and outputs were by what was mainstreamed and felt disappointed. I am glad to note that we have improvements now.
Furthermore, as an ordinary person, and a Filipino at that, who live through everyday in a fight for survival and is so far removed from the glamour of romance in songs-- I didn't feel mirrored at all by the themes shown in our mainstream media. Although I still appreciated the occasional love or hugot song, or the calm and serenity of classic ones, something still felt lacking.
Hence, when I stumbled upon that video, I didn’t expect anything other than just a typical performance, something similar to what I would have seen on our noontime shows. The type maybe where they rush their talents without proper preparation or just a make-do performance without genuine intention.
But then they sang and performed. Astoundingly at that. A fresh and challenging sound. Unconventional and forward-facing, so unlike the commonness of our present sound. A whole 7 minutes of pure raw vocals, grueling choreo, hype raps, grit, and pure talent. And the longer I watched --because I apparently missed the loud battle cry of "Pilipinas" during the intro somehow-- I realized they were speaking MY language. Not Korean. Not English. Filipino. These were Filipinos.
This kind of talent and performance was possible by my own people. In my own language and in those kinds of genres.
I was so amazed that I inevitably started to look into them and watch their videos, especially their MVs and live performances.
It felt surreal to hear my language (or at least one of them since I’m also Bisaya) in the type of genres and style they were producing. Nonetheless by people who look like me-- share the same identity, culture, myths and experiences as me-- and mirror them accurately into their songs even. It was innovative and alive. It was seeing OPM transform and take root and catch up with the rest of the world, growing and making a name for itself. They were the key to me unlocking the world of PPOP and ending up discovering others like ALAMAT, BINI, G22, KAIA, and VXON. All of which unique in their own but nonetheless transforming and presenting our culture into a stunning display of performance. They have also made me more receptive to other kinds of sounds or music that I didn’t think I would have liked. And most of all, a newfound appreciation for OPM, both old and new.
It didn’t come as a surprise to me that other fellow Filipinos considered SB19’s music to be "noisy, angry, or chaotic". It can certainly be percieved as that as SB19’s songs showcase multiple genres, various beat and rythm changes, and artful use of vocal ranges and techniques, all in one song at that-- which is very unusual from what Filipinos are used to hearing. But that is exactly what makes them, THEM. They wouldn't be SB - "Sound Break" -19 if they weren't unconventional and didn’t challenge your so thought preference in sound, opening you up to many other possibilities outside the norm. Many a time I have found myself saying "I don’t like this," about a particular sound or genre, only to backtrack and reevaluate after SB19 releases a new song. Another banger. Another challenge. Another something for me to explore and open myself to.
Their noise was perfect for me as someone who grew up listening to Linkin Park, Imagine Dragons, AJR, and Twenty One Pilots to name a few. It was a noise that carried emotion, vigor, a statement, a fight. A revolution.
And most importantly and what I believe sets them out from all the others:
Their songs carry struggle.
In fact they show it so blatantly. Clear as the light of day; in the heavyness of not only the music itself but also the lyrics. Perhaps that is the price of mirroring everyday life--
Perhaps the S in SB19 is struggle even. Its personal yet also universal. It’s a main theme in most of their releases and the reason for what attracted me to them. They carry the narrative that life is a struggle; the commentaries in the lyrics, the symbolisms, the streets so displayed in their MVs. Yes, sometimes, it sounds ugly and daunting, and yet they don’t shy away from it. Their story is rife with it. And it shows.
It shows not only in the lyrics, but also in the way they sing and express themselves in every performance. It shows in the behind the scenes of the process of every craft or output that they give; the long and exhausting trainings and rehearsals, bodies that are beaten and out of breath in between tight schedules, trying to improve constantly. It shows in the storytelling, in their MVs-- the street, the culture, the life of an always ever persevering people in systems and people that fail them. The way they strive for something new, something better. The way that there are easier ways but it doesn’t matter because they choose to do it THIS way. The grit, the anger, the devotion. The passion.
And there is a certain kind of vindication in watching them and seeing all those struggles and experiences mirrored back. A certain kind of catharsis, a feeling of being justified and being listened to. Be it as Filipinos, or as average and ordinary people who are just trying their best in a world where its far easier to do your worst.
They are a struggle. And they are a mirror to me, if not to a lot of people. And I am glad to have found them.
Thus, it is truly an honor to see such artists in this lifetime. And I cannot wait to see how far they can go.
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