Filipino musician-composer-conductor and National Artist Ryan Cayabyab compared SB19’s journey to his protégé Smokey Mountain Band.
During the media conference for Linggo ng Musikang Filipino, Cayabyab recalled the similarities between SB19 and Smokey Mountain’s discipline, training, and performances.
“At ang galing di ba? Kasi nabigyan sila, at natutunan nila, naulanan sila ng yung tinatatawag na disiplina na ginagamit sa KPop. ‘Yung pag train ng Kpop.
“Kaya naman masyadong malapit sa akin ‘yung koneksyon na ‘yan is dahil noong Smokey Mountain, noong naguumpisa kami ‘yung mga batang noon nagsisimula sila, talagang quartered sila.
“At ‘yung mga nagte-train sa kanila, ganon. Kaya kapag nakikita n’yong sabay-sabay, ang ganda-ganda, it’s part of that training and discipline.”
SB19 Josh, Pablo, Ken, Stell, and Justin went under three years of training under ShowBT Philippines, a part of the SBT Group of Companies from South Korea.
As for Smokey Mountain, it was a Filipino singing group formed by Cayabyab during the late ’80s to early ’90s.
Cayabyab then admitted that SB19 wowed him when he saw the group perform.
“Noong napanood ko sila sabi ko, ‘wow, ganyang ganyan ‘yung gusto namin talagang gawin noon.’ Tapos itong napanood ko sila, ito na nga, ito na ‘yung koneksyon na naumpisahan talaga natin noon.”
Cayabyab added that they tried to invite SB19 to the Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino.
“They’re all actually invited, sila. In a way, magkakasama kaming lahat. Like, nag-collaborate nga ang Ben&Ben at SB19.”
Linggo ng Musikang Filipino 2021 includes music programs starting from July 22 up to August 1. The event will showcase virtual concerts, gigs, mic challenges, exclusive premieres, workshops, and lecture series via streaming on OPM-Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit’s facebook page.
