BGYO On Rediscovering Themselves With ‘Trash’ And Finding Their New Sound

“With ‘Trash,’ we feel we’ve found our sound—what we call “fresh pop” is influencing our sound and style right now,” said BGYO Main Rapper Mikki in an interview with Billboard Philippines.

P-pop’s Aces have made a recent comeback with their single, “Trash”, released earlier last August 22. Composed of members Gelo, Akira, JL, Mikki, and Nate, BGYO teamed up with Grammy-winning artist, Lostboy, and nominee, Tele. In speaking on behalf of the group on their experiences in working with these talents, Mikki remarked, “Having experienced the talent of Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated musicians, we hope to carry on what we learned from them into our music now. The harmony and chemistry between them made a mark on us.”

BGYO originally debuted in 2021, with their hit single, “The Light“. From there, the group put out a series of singles, including “Kulay“, which served as the theme song for Miss Universe Philippines 2021. In 2022, the group put out their first-ever full-length album, Be Us, that involved smash hits such as “Magnet” and “Tumitigil Ang Mundo“. The group had also recently commemorated their third anniversary with a celebratory event at the Teatrino Promenade in Greenhills last January 27. Members JL and Akira had also ventured into their acting careers in a musical theater production of Tabing Ilog, that was held in PETA Theater in November of last year.

This new track marks a significant jump in the group’s concepts, as their sound grows more mature. The group’s leader Gelo noted that as the group further grows and matures, their sound and themes follow in suit. Just as the idols themselves shift into a newer phase in life and grow older, their passion and creativity in making music and connecting to fans continue to foster – and this reflects in the work they do.

“Trash” stations itself as a new chapter in BGYO’s journey, as they explore new sounds and a new genre entirely – an experimental hybrid of RnB and dance music they call fresh pop. Fittingly so, “Trash” is a new funk wave in the group’s career, exploring themes of love and sacrifice. “The right person will come along—who will make you willing to change for the better, willing to be brave for, and willing to sacrifice things for.” said BGYO Main Vocalist JL, when describing the message of the song. He added that while the title of the track may strike odd to audiences at the first glance, the deeper themes of love and determination within the song will resonate among all listeners alike.

The group had also returned from their performances in venues spanning throughout America and Canada. When comparing the experiences of performing in front of local and global audiences, the group’s youngest, Nate, noted that the familiarity of local audiences produces an atmosphere of warmth that grows with every event that they do. On the other hand, global audiences who they’ve yet to familiarize themselves with lend an excitingly open and fresh set of ears that the group happily reciprocates. “Wherever we are in the world, it’s pure sparks between us, the music, and who we meet. We’ll always be grateful and be putting on our 100%.” He mentioned.

As a mark of their growing popularity with global audiences, the group has recently received a nomination from Brazil’s 2024 BreakTudo Awards for their hit track, “Patintero”. Mikki emphasizes that while they continue to make their appearances abroad, the group makes it a point to connect to their kababayans across the globe and stay in touch with their roots.

In an era where P-Pop as a genre is reaching new heights of popularity, BGYO is also experiencing a growing influx of attention. Gelo spoke about the group’s learnings under the limelight, “With any rise in popularity comes a certain responsibility under the public eye, and we as idols are no exception. Not being liked by everyone comes with its territory, however what must also come with it—we’ve learned—is to build a more mindful heart that grows for the better, one that drowns out the noise, listening to only what matters and is necessary.” He noted that, with the group’s scrutiny under the spotlight, they instead focused on their hard-trained craft. He added that while it was a challenging experience, it was ultimately part of the job.

With 3 years of performing under their belt, the group promises a long journey ahead. “The music plays on. We’ve recorded a bunch of songs with a similar sound to “Trash” and can’t wait for everyone to see and hear it come to life.” Nate affirmed, and with confidence, he promised on behalf of the group, “We’re going to keep hustling, ready to break through anytime. We’re here to stay.”

As the group continues on their creative journey in establishing their new sound, they remain core to their mission; being the change in adapting to global trends so they can perform and be present anywhere, going further and never settling and aiming for the best in their craft, and involving their dedicated fans and their team. They hope to accomplish these while staying originally Filipino and true to the Philippine unique culture of love, energy, and passion.

Listen to BGYO’s “Trash” here: