SB19 Interview | ‘Wakas At Simula,’ Lollapalooza, “LAWLESS” & ONE OK ROCK transcript

What is up Frontrow Live? We are SB19. Yeah. >> [music] >> What's up guys? Rob here Frontrow Live Entertainment. I am reunited with SB19. It's been some time guys. I'm so excited to see you guys again. It's been some time and I love how our first interview we were crammed in this like house in Hollywood. And I don't know how we made it work but we made it work. >> [laughter] >> Going back then. There's been a lot going on since then.

You guys have evolved so much. Had so many opportunities, major opportunities, so much growth. I'm curious like when you when you look back at all that how do you feel that you've grown vocally but also like artistically? >> Vocally and artistically? Well, of course we've been in the industry for almost eight years now and the training and all those things didn't stop. So also as an artist you you need to always reinvent yourself to you know show the people who have been supporting you something new.

And so I think one of the ways that we do to improve ourselves is to try different genres, try different things that we haven't tried before. And so of course we couldn't do that ourselves only. So we try to you know collaborate with different vocal coaches, people that could really help us you know get into that get into >> [laughter] >> it. So we're just really thankful and happy that with our position right now we're confident that we could pull something off and with everything that we've learned.

Yeah and I'm glad you said that because like you listen to the trilogy EPs that you guys released and it's a re-imagine of SB19 every single time. It's a new It's a new format. It's a new structure. It's new characters. Um how would you say that those EPs kind of allowed you to be better songwriters or or kind of express yourselves differently because of the different changes in genres? >> Definitely. Like since the genres and um the songs are all different.

Um also we work with different producers this time. It's always um a surprise to like get get into the song because it gives you different vibes. So you really have to like put yourself in there and try to imagine how you will sound whenever you record. And so um in this in this EP that we have released um I think we we we've done something that um we haven't done before and it's pretty amazing with all the people that we work with. >> Yeah and I think it's just just not in terms of music and I mean musicality in terms of life we've evolved so much and that matters because you know um it sees the maturity as time goes by. >> No, that's true and and with the album that just recently dropped this year uh you know I'm curious like when you think back or look at those songs, especially the new music, um which song would you say like really challenged you whether it was vocally, artistically, or just you know as as trying to get into that character of what that song is asking for? >> Well, I think I would say that vocally it would be Wakas because um it requires so much emotions, but that emotions should be like controlled, but at the same time it's really hard to sing like high notes and whatnot.

So the melody and all that it's really hard, but I think in terms of like the sound Pablo would >> I think I I think also Wakas. >> Wakas uh >> Um of course there's the emotion, but you know, to be able to deliver the message really well, you also have to be a little bit technical with it. I mean, it's always a emotion is always priority because, you know, you have to deliver the message and all, but it's hard to sing technical like very technical when you're feeling something inside.

And also, um, I think we haven't performed Wakas in its original key because whenever we perform, it's always like full dances and everything, and then after that we're go ballad. And so, like vocally we're already like a bit tired, strained, and all. So, when we perform Wakas, it's always uh half key down half semitone down. Yep. >> Will we ever experience the the the actual one? >> Hopefully. Hopefully. [laughter] >> I think during rehearsals you were able to at least do it.

But, it's it's kind of like, of course, dangerous or I would say it's yeah, when we do it live on stage cuz there's no going back. And we've been like performing dances before that. So, >> I was saying earlier how I'm I'm really in love with with Visa and I'm really in love with Memories. It's it's such an evolution for you guys. And as you mentioning, you know, just the way that you feel the emotion and stuff like that.

Like when you're rapping, it's like I feel like you're like rapping in my face or when you guys are singing, I feel like it's harder. But, did those songs kind of impact you or or were they a challenge to record? >> We were talking about Visa and >> More than a challenge, I think it's it's just really fun. Yeah. Like to hear the demo before it has before we even record, it's it's so different with the final output. And you really see the like the the magic with the tones of everyone, like how they deliver the message and like how they interpret the message and how like it was recorded.

And so, like when you listen to the track, you really feel like, "Oh, they're in this certain position. That's why they were they were able to deliver this kind of you know performance." And so, I'm I'm always amazed because I listen to our tracks uh multiple times before it's been it it it will be released. And so, like um like I I hear the nuances, everything that the members have like uh done in the record. So, yeah, it's it's really amazing. >> you said that because in the first interview you did say that you still you listen to all the music before.

So, I'm glad you're still like there's so much going on in your lives and you guys are so busy, but you still have that time and moment to sit back and enjoy your product. Um and it's beautiful you're just still doing that. >> It should be beautiful, but sometimes it's already I mean if like when you're doing so much, um uh some there's some things that you want to like um uh maybe some people could do it, but you know, with us it feels like it it will we will miss out if we don't try to be involved in everything that we do.

Um also, uh since we're we always want uh fans and all the listeners to really feel uh what we what we do or what we put out, um really we really make it a point that um we put 100% in everything that we release. So, I guess that will never change. >> And speaking of eras, uh you're about to drop Lawless, the new single uh July 31st, which I'm excited for. Um but for you guys, like how did you you know, what kind of era can can can we expect as as as fans?

Like what is this era of SB19? >> Well, >> Lawless. Yeah, technically Lawless. Um we're braver now, bolder, and more I think we're more serious Well, we're serious from from the start, but now we're more serious with what we want to relay a message to our fans, to our listeners. But yeah, I think we want to just break more barriers and like cater not only our local listeners in the Philippines, but also the global. Cuz we're here right now and we're very glad to have this opportunity to like um release while we were here in the US.

So, I think it's also part of um our strategy to like release uh a single while doing a lot of promos here in the US. So, yeah, this era is something that um we're very excited and we look forward on a lot of things that might come for SB19. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I just wanted to add like on what he said. Like he said um the thing about being more serious, but with "Lawless" we I I feel like it's it's the opposite. >> [laughter] >> Serious. >> when you hear the turn the word serious, like you're really like focused and everything, but "Lawless" isn't like that.

Like it's you know the feeling when you're so in the zone and you're you like you're not thinking, you're like in your flow state, you don't think anymore, and you just do, and like your abilities and everything just come out. I I think that is "Lawless". >> So, this is the this is the point where you just automatically trust the process. You know that whatever you do is going to be great. >> We're so confident with what we have and what we have learned in the past that when we step on stage, we just show.

We show show up. Look, SB19 We're SB19. >> Just go there, do our thing. Yeah. >> No, it's good. And when I look at the promo, like just the promo that's behind us right now, like it does you mentioned it, too, but it does look like this song could be what breaks that barrier, what opens so many more doors, what makes it more worldwide for you guys. >> Hopefully, hopefully. >> So, I'm excited for that. >> Thank you so much. >> Uh when it comes to the recording process, though, because you're in this this uh more, you know, in your face, more lawless kind of uh kind of vibe, what was the recording process like?

How different was it to record it? >> How different was >> Um Well, I'd say I actually um a little bit of challenge. Um but when we were there, we were just, you know, feeling it cuz I think we're naturally right now we just we're not as tense as before, you know, we're not as um like what we've said um we're not as nervous or maybe overthink about things. We're just doing what we tend to really love to do, and I feel like it's really natural for us to be in the studio right now and just dive together, and it was really actually um um fun doing this.

But I'm going to be honest cuz um some of the first few passes of this is kind of um you know, I was overthinking about it, but really when we just get into get there, uh it was actually really just, you know, lawless. >> [laughter] >> Lawless and flawless. >> Well, I remember um what um I think it's different for me cuz from what I remember, like stepping inside the the recording booth, I I am very nervous like recording the track because I think it's more of um it's more on the attitude and how will I like um do my part cuz um for me I'm not used to doing some raps or anything cuz I'm, you know, I'm I >> [laughter] >> Most of my parts in our in our songs, like I do like courses or the verses, but rapping is something that I'm not confident of doing, but recording lawless is very like challenging for me.

But good thing um they really helped me like how to do this with confidence and just don't think about it. Just lawless. Think about lawless. Just do it like naturally how you want to how you how you feel it and how you want to do it. Just yeah, do it. Then like after recording it and hearing myself, then I realized oh yeah, I just need to be like relaxed and just don't think about it too much. Just do my thing. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Remember who you are. >> Yeah.

Lawless. [laughter] >> Well, that made me even more excited for the song and I'm sure everyone else is super excited for it. So, July 31st is when the song drops. July 30th though is another big day. You guys are making history. You'll be the first Filipino act at Lollapalooza. So, when you first got that news, like what was your reaction? How did you guys feel about that? >> Uh we were we were we were in Japan that time.

That Oh yeah, yeah, when they posted and they announced it. We were in Japan. I I I don't know what um it's is it our concert there in Japan or I don't I can't remember. Yeah, but we were in Japan that time. Oh yeah, yeah, we were in an event that time. We were in Tokyo and that night they posted the announcement. I was in the convenience store with the staff and I was teary-eyed like oh my god, it's finally happening.

Like first Filipino um act to perform at Lollapalooza. We were very happy. We're cheering inside the convenience store. I remember the staff were cheering me and then they were very excited about this. And yeah, and right now we're more nervous but excited at the same time and we're ready to show what we prepared for a very for the for a very long time and yeah, uh please look forward for our performance. >> Absolutely.

When it comes to the rehearsals for this, how different was it versus rehearsing for your own tours or shows? >> It's the same. >> [laughter] >> I mean, we're we're always like >> Lots of challenges. But yeah. >> There's not much changes. Of course, um we we try to change the arrangements of the songs. But in terms of preparation, like we always put out 100% so like like trying to polish everything multiple times, running the choreography until it becomes like, you know, second What do you call that? >> Nature. >> Nature, yeah.

Second um like and and as we practice, like there are some ideas that comes in and then we try to like um incorporate that so that we could like make the performance better hopefully when we perform on stage. >> Yeah. And I think the difference is actually our schedules are so much busier right now. So it's really hard to cope up with everything with all the challenges happening in real life as well. So but it you know, it's it's all good.

I mean it happens and we're been coping up. >> Yeah. >> Also to maybe it's also because we're it's a different market. It's not 100% our fans and like our like our tours and fan meets. It's So we kind of like we need to prepare like what's We don't know what how are they going to react with our songs and what not. So we have to discuss a lot of things like how are we going to hype them up. Are they going to like this song choice?

So there's a lot of things. >> I mean we're we're we're always passionate, but you know, you know the feeling when you first introduce yourselves to like the audience, it's different. It's like like more than 1,000% you you you won't get tired, things like that. And so we really make it a point that we will we want to like put out something that we will all be proud of and audience, even though they don't know us, they should be standing and jumping with us.

And so >> I reme- I remember we had a hard time choosing what songs to perform for our set. It's like, "Oh, should we perform this? No, I think this song it should be on our setlist. No, I think this one is the uh the best song to perform at Lollapalooza. Like we had a debate what song to perform and what to add and to, you know, I was fun. The whole process, the whole journey was fun, but yeah, as as like what they said, um we're very excited for the performance and please do look forward for our performance and please party with us, okay?

Thank you so much. >> Absolutely. And and get used to that feeling because after this is Summer Sonic, which is another big one. And after Summer Sonic, hopefully Coachella, hopefully something even bigger. So, guys, I'm excited for what is in the future for The Rose 19. Uh before I do let you guys go, I'm not going to let you go because uh I have a question for you, Ken. You got to meet one of my favorite bands while you guys were in Japan.

Uh One OK Rock. So, I'm curious, what is it about One OK Rock that really inspires you as an artist, but also like what is it about their music that you really gravitate to? >> I think it's about like the tenacity like the message of their songs. Like it's very motivational. And since I grew up uh you know, I grew up with my my dad and my grandfather >> Mhm. >> as a preacher, as a pastor, so it's kind of like the their music is kind of uh very gospel-ish type of song that I used to listen to >> Yeah. >> uh growing up, so that's why I was really captivated.

And you know, Taka, the way he just performs, every one of them, it's just very mesmerizing to me, so that's why they were just so natural on stage, as a as a as an artist. I really know if an artist is not natural on the stage or, you know, it's just like, you know, choreographer, so yeah. I I like I like being an artist uh like a natural artist, so that's why >> Yeah. >> I look up to them. And meeting them, they're so humble.

They're so humble. I was so nervous to talking to them like up close and they were like So how are you doing? What kind of music do you like? I was like I make music like you. So you know, it was it was very happy day for me. It's an unforgettable moment for me. >> That's awesome. That's awesome. I love it when you know, you guys make us happy when we get to meet you and hang out with you, but then you guys have that artist that does it for you.

It's amazing. Don't ever forget that. Don't ever let that spark go. But guys, thank you so much for reuniting with me. I can't wait for Lollas. I can't wait for Lollapalooza. You guys please be sure to check out SB19. Lawless is out July 31st. Thanks for watching on From The Vault Live. >> Yeah. >> Thank you.