The P-Pop solo act stars in the music video, along with Nicole Omillio of One More Chance stage adaptation and RJ Cruz of The Juans
Justin delivers another track brimming with unfiltered creativity. The promising P-Pop star releases “kaibigan,” an anthemic song that hits the sweet spot most solo artists only dream of: staying true to their roots while fully realizing their potential.
The song channels the agony and frustration of expressing one’s true feelings to a friend—a familiar premise that ends with an intriguing twist in its storytelling. “To be honest, there’s no actual or specific inspiration behind the song,” Justin reveals. “I wrote this tune from the perspective of an observer and wanderer: a person who enjoys movies with a coming-of-age slant.”
Radkidz Collaboration
Layered with sonic complexities and refreshing builds, “kaibigan” defies expectations by giving Justin more room to experiment. Credit goes to Filipino production duo Radkidz (SB19’s Pablo and his brother, Josue), who blended Justin’s pop sensibilities with their innovative ideas. Pablo and Josue previously collaborated with Justin on his solo tracks “surreal” and “sunday morning.”
“Similar to ‘surreal,’ I let them hear my demo in its ukulele version,” Justin shares about the production process behind his new track. “Initially, it was a more solemn and calm song, but as we delved deeper into the collaboration and explored the material and its story, we created something that ripped out the emotional layers in the latter part.”
The charismatic SB19 member praised Radkidz for guiding him in honing his sonic instincts while sticking to the brief. “They added some interesting builds on the bridge and even made me scream towards the end. I personally didn’t see myself doing that, but there’s always a total payoff in accepting the challenge without giving in to your sense of inhibition. I’m actually thrilled with the final output.”
SB19’s Justin conceptualized the visual narrative accompanying the track’s release. While he is responsible for the overall flow, the talented multi-hyphenate emphasizes the collaborative nature of filmmaking and doesn’t want to take all the credit for the music video. He shares leadership with his team, particularly in developing the storyboard and shot list.
“For the direction of the MV, beyond the rough storyboard, we ensure the producer understands the story and the emotions we want to convey. I even sent movie references, not just music video pegs, to help them fully grasp our vision,” adds the 1Z Entertainment artist.
The music video for “kaibigan” stars theater actress Nicole Omillio, who recently made headlines as Basha on the stage adaptation of the hit movie One More Chance, and RJ Cruz of alternative pop band The Juans.
The concept of the MV captures the complexities of human connection. As the team puts it, the newest single from justin is a reminder that some things are better left unsaid: “kaibigan is an embrace for the unrequited.”
Justin admits, “To be honest, the music video is very easy to digest. And that’s what I want: for people to relate to it and feel the story of the music and the music video.”
Justin’s “kaibigan” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment. Watch the music video here.
