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FEATURE: Stop wondering, it’s just HEY JUNE!

Biglang liwanag ang mata, ako ay natulala… This line from the song “LASIK” perfectly describes the feeling of watching HEY JUNE! step on the UPIS stage. After hearing that song, as well as “Panahon”, live from their performance at APLAYA: Battle of the Bands 2024, I have no doubts that your curiosity of this band has been piqued. Well, if you have been wanting to know more about them or have simply been wanting to discover good new music, you’re in luck! I was able to sit down with them and ask a couple of questions, so stop wondering—let’s get to know HEY JUNE!!

HEY JUNE! is composed of members Jim (21; guitar, vocals, songwriting), Coey (23; bass and backup vocals), and Aci (21; drums). When I asked the three to introduce their band, I fully expected a description of their genre or their music—maybe something you would see in a typical bio. The answer I got was, instead, something much more sincere.

They started off by mentioning that they are a three-year old band who was formed during the pandemic by Soupstar Music, a management group in the Filipino music industry. Then to describe themselves, they said that they are kids who do not box themselves in. They are creative, explorative, and collaborative.

“We just want good music,” Jim said.

“We enjoy what we do, and we make music that speaks volumes about who we are, what we experience, or what other people experience and can relate to,” Coey added.

Talking about how they were formed, they went back to June 2021 when Soupstar had a special project. The band talked about how their name came about, since “HEY JUNE!” was evidently rooted from the month they were formed. They mentioned that they did not choose that name when they were surveyed, but it won when interviews were conducted. In the end, of course, the name ended up becoming beloved. Jim also talked about the exclamation point they added at the end. Since HEY JUNE! visited UP for this interview and ordered Pancit Canton from the iconic kiosks before it, the guitarist took the opportunity to make an analogy and say they added it so that, like the noodles, their name had some spice.

When it was Coey’s turn to talk about their formation, she said, “Strangers to bandmates to friends.” The three, in response, started teasing each other, pretending that they still see each other as strangers.

After their jokes ran their courses, the bassist began telling the stories of how each of them became part of the band. For herself, she was Mr. Herbert Hernandez’s (from Moonstar88 and 6cyclemind, also the creator of the song “LASIK”) neighbor, and she had long been playing guitar in her school, so she was referred by Mr. Hernandez. Aci, meanwhile, was a big fan of OPM from Romblon. He strongly supported OPM, traveling long distances to attend events involving it. Since he was also a drum student of Velvet Playground, Soupstar’s music school, he was tapped to be part of the band. Lastly, they found Jim on Facebook.

“Nasa Marketplace, [On Marketplace,]” they slipped in jokingly.

“Kalaro ko sa Tetris dati, [Used to be my playmate in Tetris,]” Aci added.

The reality is that the songwriter had upped the post where the band was looking for members. He was then asked if he wanted to join, to which he agreed.

After that, I asked the band what expectations they had going into joining the band.

Jim had not expected much—all that mattered to him was that they fit together when they played and they all agreed on the direction of their band. As time went by, he said that they eventually connected altogether.

Aci at first put focus on getting to know his bandmates—their personality and behavior, but he also did have the expectation that the band would last.

“Pangmatagalan, [Long-lasting,]” he said. “. . . Parang maging pamilya na rin, [Kind of become family, too,]” he added, then he joked, “Kahit na hindi kami magkakaibigan, gano’n. Pamilya, pero hindi magkakaibigan. [Even if we’re not friends. Family, but not friends.]”

He and Coey had a quick exchange, the bassist protesting that it should be both friends and family, to which the drummer immediately conceded: “Biro nga lang ‘yun! Pero ‘yun. Pamilya at kaibigan. Siguradong pamilya. [That was just a joke! But yes. Family and friends. Definitely family.]”

For Coey, she shared that they had not known joining the band would have a big impact on their lives and their passions for music. They surely did not expect for it to turn out how it did, but she said that they are very grateful that they gelled together, that they had chemistry, and that they are doing gigs and are making music that they enjoy.

“It’s our happiness to perform,” she said.

For her, personally, she was excited when she joined the band because it had been her lifelong dream to be in one. She had to turn down previous chances of having bands since her parents had not allowed her, but when she was asked if she wanted to be part of HEY JUNE!, “Nag-yes na ako agad. [I said “yes” immediately.]”

With their three years as part of HEY JUNE!, I asked each member what their favorite aspect of being in the band is.

For Jim, he said that it is performing with his bandmates who are comfortable on the stage with their instruments. He noted that he is not that expressive of a person, so being alongside his bandmates who are doing their thing, who are enjoying their performances, makes him feel drawn to joining them.

“I’m [with] the right people to be around,” he said, pointing out that especially in a band, there is a need to be cohesive, to be jiving together.

In response to that, Coey agreed, saying that it is “less about myself, more about us”. She added that it makes her happy because as the “ate” of the group, she cannot help but look out for her bandmates as both a personal friend and as a bandmate. She knows that she is strong in a way, and she wants to share that with them. When they’re having trouble, she wants them all to be connected.

“The best thing about being in HEY JUNE! is . . . trust. We’re trusting each other na kaya naming makipag-usap sa isa’t isa, maging pleasant man or unpleasant yung topics. Yung, parang, wala kang takot na ma-judge din, [We’re trusting each other that we can talk to one another, no matter if the topics are pleasant or unpleasant. It’s, like, you have no fear of being judged as well,]” Coey said.

For Aci, he shared that by being part of HEY JUNE!, he was able to find his purpose in the world.

“Malalaman mo yung purpose mo sa mundo . . . Siyempre, binigay ni Lord yung talento sa’yo, so i-share mo din sa iba, [You will discover your purpose in the world . . . Of course, the Lord gave you your talent, so share it with others, too,]” he said.

“Parang binigyan ni Lord ng direction yung talents namin, [It’s like the Lord gave direction to our talents,]” Coey added.

Another commendable part of being in the band is the support that they receive. They gave a shout-out to their management—specifically their manager, Mr. Darwin Hernandez, and their road manager, Ms. Harieth Escobar; they also mentioned their label, Island Records, and those who believe in them, be it fans, friends, or family.

When I asked the three about their vision for the band, their first answer was longevity. They want to stay happy. Jim talked about how, especially in our generation, “We live in a world where everything’s so fast.” There is a tendency for us to set aside future plans, so with that, as part of the youth, the band just wants to enjoy and have it last a long time.

“More songs to make, more people to meet, more stages to be in, and also to learn more about ourselves along the way,” Coey answered. She also spoke of staying grounded no matter how many years pass, and simply having HEY JUNE! grow further. “Malaki yung vision namin for HEY JUNE! [Our vision for HEY JUNE! is big] and we’ll just enjoy it along the way,” she said.

Of course, not everything is perfect. It is not always easy. One hardship that the band had encountered, Coey mentioned, was the pressure that they had felt from the very start. Their management is very reputable, handling big bands such as Moonstar88, 6cyclemind, Imago, among others, so being a new band, HEY JUNE! worried about how they would face the public. Their manager, in response, simply kept instilling in them the mindset that they were put in that spot because they knew HEY JUNE! were capable of handling that pressure. The band admits that until now, they do still feel that pressure, but it is safe to say that it has changed and has become more of motivation.

Additionally, disagreements happen—as they inevitably do. But Coey said that as long as there is trust between the members, and as long as they really communicate, they do not set aside others’ opinions, they value each others’ perspectives, and they learn to understand each other in their own way—like a love language, she said—in the way they want to be understood, then the band will get through them.

For Jim, he talked about the hardships he faced skill-wise—in terms of singing, playing, and performing. There was also the need to learn how to push himself and pour himself, his personality, and his essence into his performances.

“Kung gusto ko pumasok sa mundo na ‘to, parang, kailangan kong tapatan [If I want to be in this world, I need to live up to it] . . . If you wanna be on a big stage, you gotta act like you’re on a big stage,” the songwriter said.

As we all looked towards Aci for his answer, Coey jokingly responded on behalf of him:

“Ang hirap kasi maging pogi. [It’s so hard being handsome.]”

Taking it seriously, Aci admitted that he had not been as disciplined before—in terms of punctuality, his actions, and other things. But he has learned now. In response, Coey and Jim brought up the topic of karma and consequences. Aci reminded us that we must really be mindful of our actions, to think if they are appropriate, because there are consequences to them.

“Like I said, ‘yun nga, yung industry na ‘to, parang, mahirap siya. Pero kailangan mong paghirapan kung gusto mo talaga, [Like I said, this industry is hard. But you need to work hard for it if you really want to,]” Coey said.

“Kailangan mong paghirapan at gamitan mo ng utak rin, [You need to work hard for it and use your head as well,]” Aci added.

“[You] reap what you sow,” Coey quoted.

Amongst new releases, tours, and live gigs, I asked the band about their recent projects and the project they are most proud of. They talked about their vinyl, their live recordings, and their album, Curiosity Killed the Cat.

Only recently, this November 9 (coincidentally the one-year anniversary of their album’s release), HEY JUNE! launched the Curiosity Killed the Cat vinyl. The band said that the vinyl acts like the culmination of their first album—something to remember it by, something that makes it tangible. It is also technically their first piece of merchandise, according to them, but they add that it is not just merch—it is also a collectible memorabilia, being signed and limited.

Meanwhile, talking about their live recordings, they shared that they had a good time shooting. They also liked them because they were able to make their music more accessible.

(The link to order their vinyl can be found here, while the live recordings of songs such as “ORASAN” and “LASIK” can be found on all music streaming platforms.)

The project they are most proud of is their album, Curiosity Killed the Cat. It is special to them because it is their first album, their debut album, and the timing felt right because they had people who wanted to listen to their music and who were waiting for their releases.

“It’s a treat to them,” Jim said.

“Tsaka, parang introduction. Kung sino kami, [And also, it acts like an introduction. To who we are,]” added Coey.

The album, according to HEY JUNE!, is a journey through life. They talked about how their songs bring you through that journey. For example, the title track shows how we are in a modern world where there is a lot of information and misinformation; “We just have to be careful out there,” said Coey. In “Asan Ang Gana Ko”, they said to always find your drive, if you’re losing motivation. “Just live your world,” they quoted; enjoy your life, referencing “ORASAN”. In “Katulad Mo”, they tell you to strive more towards your dreams if you have idols who inspire you and who you wanna be like. In “SINO MALI”, they tell you to be angry. Be angry at the things that you don’t agree with. Be angry that, as the youth, we aren’t being heard. And finally, it all goes back to finding yourself. “Back To You” tells us to find that thing that we always feel like home doing.

They didn’t picture that they would be making an album, they admitted, because the way they made songs was singular. But ultimately, that made the album be the place where you can find the sound of HEY JUNE!.

Going back to May 20, I asked HEY JUNE! how they came about performing as a guest band for APLAYA, our Battle of the Bands event during UPIS Days 2024.

It apparently first came up when Andrea Rebaldo, a UPIS Batch 2026 student and a loyal JUNAKIS (what the band calls their fans), personally invited HEY JUNE! to come watch the event.

Coey admitted that when they were invited by Andrea, performing for UPIS was already at the back of their minds. They also shared that ever since, they had been wanting to play in our school—since they met UPIS JUNAKIS, as well as since one of their friends who is a UPIS Batch 2020 alumnus, Bryant Galicia, mentioned in passing to the band that they should perform in UPIS.

They checked with their office regarding their availability to watch, but they asked themselves, “Ba’t ‘di na lang natin tugtugan? [Why not just perform for the event?]” So they started poking and prodding, asking Andrea about the setup, the number of bands performing, starting a conversation that evolved into them eventually playing on our stage.

“Honestly, gusto namin mag-support. Lalo na yung mga young bands din katulad namin na nangangarap din, diba? [Honestly, we wanted to support. Especially the young bands like us who have dreams too, right?] . . . We want to be part of that to support you guys,” the bassist said, explaining their desire to perform in UPIS. They did it—for exposure, but also to get to meet the UPIS JUNAKIS, and to introduce their music to other people.

“Pero [But] more of it, like, being part of that experience. Sobrang dami naming natutunan, din. . . . [We also learned so much,]” Coey said. “Magugulat ka [You will be surprised] how big the world is,” she shared when she talked about meeting many people and discovering many new talents.

Reflecting on the number of fans they have gathered in the UPIS community, Jim said that he still gets shocked that they are known and recognized in that way. When I asked what in their music they think resonates most with people, he mentioned that that is, after all, what they want for their music—for people to be able to relate to their songs. He mentioned, as the band’s songwriter, that the songs are personal to him, but he wants them to be relatable, “Para ‘pag pinakinggan nila, ay, they can ‘character’ themselves dito. Parang, it fits in them. [So that when they listen, they can ‘character’ themselves into them. It’s as if, it fits in them.]” He also mentions that perhaps they are able to relate with the band in a sense that they are also part of the youth.

Coey then talked about how school gigs were their favorite, as the crowds there are typically the ones that are not yet allowed to attend bar gigs or festivals. Jim adds that in school gigs, they are similar in age to those listening to them, so with those crowds, “mabilis lang ang saya do’n. [the joy comes quickly there.]”

The bassist also talked about how approachable UPIS students are. “Mahilig sila mag-support. [They are keen on supporting.]” She mentioned that, beyond just liking the band’s music, UPIS JUNAKIS support their advocacy and their passion. They say that connection is built whenever they feel support from people such as UPIS JUNAKIS who crave for more. They say that it is as if they are more than a fan, that instead they are believers.

In relation, the band also said that they themselves are approachable—“parang tropa lang [just like your friends]”. They really do want to build a community, they shared, so they tell their fans to not be shy wherever they encounter the band. HEY JUNE! is approachable and they like meeting you.

Going off of that, I asked the band what their messages were for their supporters.

For Aci, he thanked their supporters for supporting HEY JUNE! and supporting OPM—supporting local. He also expressed gratitude for their families and for the Lord.

For Coey, she talked about the common phenomenon of “gatekeeping” in our generation. “Huwag na tayo mag-gatekeep, guys. Walang magandang dulot ‘yun, [Let us not gatekeep anymore, guys. It does no good,]” she urged. She also said to watch live gigs, and to not let the opportunity pass if an artist would ever come to your school or wherever you are, because those chances don’t come often. Of course, if you have free time and the budget, it would also be good to intentionally go to gigs. It means a lot to them as musicians; it is their drive knowing people believe in them.

“Nakakagana kapag may bumubuka na bunganga habang kumakanta rin kami. Kumakanta rin, [It’s motivating when there are lips moving while we’re also singing. They’re also singing.]” Jim mentioned.

“Sana you keep loving us the way that kung pa’no niyo kami nasimulan mahalin kasi there’s more to come and matagal pa ‘tong journey natin, guys, so sama-sama tayo, [Hopefully you keep loving us in the same way you started loving us because there’s more to come and our journey will still be a while, guys, so let’s do it together,]” said Coey.

HEY JUNE! said that they hope they can return to UPIS, to perform again—about ten songs, they joked—because they were left craving for more. “Gusto pa namin kayong makilala, [We still want to get to know you,]” the bassist said.

“Masaya ‘yun, [That was fun.]” she added, referring to APLAYA. “. . . Gusto namin maulit ‘yun, yung panahon na ‘yun, [We want that to happen again, those moments.]” she said, referencing the lyrics of their single, “Panahon”.

All that is left for us now is to keep supporting them as we wait for the time that they perform for UPIS once again.

To end the interview, I asked them some last fun questions: what their personal favorite HEY JUNE! songs were, as well as what they would tell the versions of themselves from three years ago and three years in the future.

Jim, as the band’s composer, picked “Panahon”. He said that it was because the song really left its mark (it is their most-streamed song as of today). It was a senior high school project of his, and he even mentioned how he thanked his teacher for being the reason he created the song. The joy of music, Jim said as he reflected on his choice, is that when you make something, you never know what will happen. It turns out, “Panahon” would end up being loved and enjoyed by listeners.

Being someone who started music because she had many inspirations and people she looked up to, Coey said that her favorite HEY JUNE! song is “Katulad Mo”. Now that she is in the industry, she mentioned that it further motivates her meeting her idols.

“Marami din akong pangarap [I also have many dreams] for the people who are also dreamers like me. Keep dreaming, and put in the hard work, and just have fun, ‘cause it won’t feel like work, at all,” she said.

Aci’s motivation stems from the song, “Asan Ang Gana Ko”. There are always times that the world is tiring, that it seems difficult to get up from bed—especially that we spend every day trying to live honorably—so he uses the song to pick himself up.

“Maging masipag at palaging hanapin yung gana mo, [Be hardworking and always find your motivation,]” the drummer told us.

For the last question, we went back three years in time, Jim telling that version of himself to always be happy. He said that sometimes things get serious but, “I think it’s no worries to add a little bit of fun into your life.” And for the future, he just wished, “Sana malupit ka pa. [Hopefully you’re still astounding.]”

Coey, meanwhile, said to herself from three years ago, “You won’t be prepared for what’s to come, pero normal lang ‘yun kasi lahat naman tayo hindi natin alam kung anong mangyayari. [but that’s normal because all of us have no idea what will happen.]” She told herself to just enjoy, to stay grounded, and to not be afraid to ask for help when she needs it and to give it when she can. “Be kind, always,” she added. For the future, she told herself to just enjoy along the way. “Don’t lose your happiness. Don’t lose that smile.”

For Aci, he told his future self that he hopes he is better at playing the drums. And in terms of what he would tell his younger self, it is that what he had dreamed of then—while it continues to be his dream—he has already gotten to now. But he quotes, “malayo na, pero malayo pa. [You’ve come far, but there’s still far more to go.]”

I think there is truly nothing more fitting for this band to leave you with other than that. In the span of three years, HEY JUNE! has indeed already achieved many things, but there is certainly more to come. Hopefully, we will all be there to see it.

Now that you have gotten to know the band a bit better, may their music accompany you as you live your world. Just keep coming right back to HEY JUNE! whenever you’re looking for the motivation to face a new day.

You can find them on all music streaming platforms (just search for “HEY JUNE!”) as well as social media platforms under @heyjunemusic. Keep up with their social media to see when you can catch their live performances. Stay curious, HEY JUNAKIS!!

//by Elis Reyes

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