Ben Madilynn
P-Pop is captivating audiences both locally and globally, with the boy group SB19 leading the charge.
Joining SB19 at the forefront of this movement is the eight-member girl group BINI, whose success is further amplifying the surging popularity of P-Pop.
As these groups bask in the spotlight, the competition within the P-Pop scene intensifies, paving the way for other talented groups to vie for their moment of glory.
One such group is 1st.One, a six-member boy band whose members are known only by their first names—Ace, Max, Alpha, J, Joker, and Jason.
The band debuted on July 31, 2020.
Photo/s: Nikko Tuazon
For all the group’s immense talent and dedication, 1st.One finds themselves still waiting for their turn to shine.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), the members talked about riding the emotional rollercoaster in their quest for their breakthrough moment.
1st.One’s main vocalist, Max, admitted to feeling disheartened at times.
“Ako po, personally, meron naman po talagang ganung feeling,” he said in an interview at the grand launch of KAIA and Wear Casa’s merch collaboration in Quezon City on August 27, 2024.
Max continued, “Hindi naman siya mawawala, for example, magfo-four years na po kami, so parang feeling ko, kailan pa yung sa amin?”
But rather than feeling letdown, Max said, “Dun ko rin naman nari-realize na good things happen to those people who wait.
“So lagi akong bumabalik dun sa, ‘Hindi, okay lang… Kalma lang kami,’ ganyan. Gawin lang namin kung anong dapat naming gawin.
“Ginagawa namin ito para sa sarili namin, para sa fans, ganyan, sa lahat ng mga taong naniniwala sa amin, sa mga family namin.
“We always look back kung para kanino ko ba ito ginagawa at kung bakit ba namin ito ginagawa.
“Hindi na nga rin po maiiwasan yun since matagal na rin po kami, and di ba, ang span ng boy group din is about five to seven years, so we’re praying na yun nga… in God’s time.”
1ST. ONE: FOUR-YEAR JOURNEY AND “PAALAM NA”
And all in all, looking back to their four-year journey, all the members have been grateful for the experiences and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
1st.One’s leader Ace said, “Actually po, nag-debut talaga kami kakasara pa lang ng doors, kaka-start pa lang pandemic.
“Parang nag-debut kami nang hindi naman rushed, pero parang yung gusto namin music at that time, it was current at that time.
“Hindi siya talaga nag-full blown kasi yun nga, sarado yung mga pinto.
“Pero through that, ang dami rin po namin natutunan within that closed door [period] kasi ang dami namin na-explore.
“Like, si Alpha, mahilig sa rock. Si Max, mahilig sa alternative. Si Jason, Taylor Swift-type of genre. Ang dami po, e, which is napag-merge-merge namin.”
Citing their latest release, “Paalam Na,” Ace said it captured the essence of their growth as a band.
“At the end of the day, looking back four years after, yung ‘Paalam Na’ po, which is one of our recent releases, is actually the start of a new era of releases.
“Yung ‘Paalam Na’ is actually a merge of genres na natutunan namin along the way. So the growth is there, and I think It’s only the start.
“Kasi po natuto kami dun. We’re more hungry… We’re hungrier to keep on growing, to keep on creating new sound that will represent 1st.One.”
1ST.ONE: P-POP LEGACY
As they journey deeper into their careers, the members of 1st.One have gained a clearer vision of the legacy they strive to leave behind.
The realization dawned during their 4th-anniversary concert preparations back in July 2024.
Weeks of relentless rehearsals seemed to fall short, prompting their coach to replace a technical training day with an unexpected session of reflection and reconnection.
Ace recalled vividly those pivotal moments that underlined their group’s aspiration to be remembered for the heart they pour into their performances.
He said, “On the way there, we were rehearsing every day. As in everyday po talaga.
“Ginagawa namin what we have to deliver, gaya nga po ng sabi ni Max, with our full energy pa rin.
“But parang napansin na… Hindi lang rin po kami, napansin din po ng director namin na, ‘Ba’t ganun? Okay naman yung ginagawa niyo, pero hindi namin nararamdaman?’
“So one of our coaches gathered us one day and then, training day talaga siya, which alam namin sasayaw na kami, naka-shows na kami, naka-get up na and everything…
“And then in-expect na training, but then, sabi niya, ‘Mag-usap kayo kasi hindi niyo na kailangan maging technical naman ngayon.'”
He continued, elaborating, “So I think what happened with 1st.One, that’s why we needed to break out of our old shell, is hindi naman napagod kasi, of course, nangyayari yung pagod with everyone…
“But then parang nalimutan namin what we were always meant to be doing. But we were still doing it.
“End of the day, yung session na yun nag-sorry and thank you kami sa isa’t isa. And then, nag-sorry and thank you din kami kay Lord.”
This introspective moment grounded the group, reaffirming its commitment to the craft and its avid supporters.
It seeded their hope to be cherished not just for their skills, but for the heart at the center of their journey.
Ace said, “Nalaman namin what we were missing. Parang sabi namin, ‘Hindi natin kailangan maging magling sa concert.’
“Kailangan nating maiwan sa tao na maiisip nila na, ‘Grabe yung puso ng 1st.One.’
“So I think for me now that naalala nila, I think, yun yung isa sa mga gusto ko maiwan sa tao, sa fan, For.One or not, P-pop community or not.
“Gusto lang na lang ma-remember na nakita nila yung heart that we had to give to each other.”
As a rejoinder, the group’s lead vocalist Joker said, “Gusto ko maalala yung 1st.One as kuya, kuya na nag-i-inspire para gawin ang passion nila.
“Para sabihin kung ano yung nararamdaman nila through their passion.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR 1ST.ONE?
What’s next for 1st.One?
According to Alpha, the group’s main dancer and rapper, “Marami kayong aabangan sa 1st.One this year and sa susunod na taon.”
Alpha revealed the group’s plan for a music video for their song “Paalam Na” and their preparation for an EP album release.
When asked which P-Pop groups they would like to collaborate with for their album, each of the members shared his own dream collab.
Alpha said, “Ako po, KAIA.”
Jayson said, “I’m open din po for everyone, for every P-Pop group din, pero yun din po, kung mamimili lang din talaga, I think it would be KAIA din.”
Max did not have a specific group in mind, but said he was open to experimenting with other P-Pop groups.
In his words, “Ako naman po any, kasi ang sarap din pakinggan ng iba’t ibang groups, e, kung paano sila gumawa ng music like Alamat, SB19, BINI…
“Sa pag-incorporate din ng [music], medyo awkward, kunyare BINI tapos SB19, parang ang awkward, pero, at the same time, nakaka-excite kung ano po yung mabuong music so ako po, kahit sino talaga.”
Ace named four particular groups, “Ako naman po, of course, gusto ko po maka-collab lahat.
“Parang ano iyan e, kung alam niyo po yung Powerpuff Girls—sugar, spice, and everything nice.
“Dun nabubuo yung magic. Pero if I had a strict wish list, that would be SB19, KAIA, Dione, Alamat. Yun top 4.”
The group’s lead rapper J also shared the same sentiment, but he named one likely to be the top of his dream collaboration list.
He said, “Talagang maganda yung nag-e-explore kasi dun mas lumalabas yung mga… o nakakagawa tayo ng bagong pauso, mga ganun.
“Pero yung pinaka-naiisip ko is Alamat.”
Joker volunteered, “Ako naman po, kung pinapapili talaga, it would be SB19, or BINI, or Alamat.”
In addition to their music commitments, Jayson and Alpha will also be busy with their involvement in the web series titled Wuju Bakery.
This “boy love” series is a Thai-Korean collaboration featuring Thai stars Jeff Satur and Barcode of KinnPorsche: The Series, along with up-and-coming South Korean actors, Q and Dion.
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