YGIG On Redefining Their Journey With “Chicka-Chick-a” And “lyk that”: “If I could describe this comeback in one word, it’d be ‘Authentic.'”

YGIG have been a growing force in the modern P-pop scene since 2022, but with their double single release of “Chicka-chick-a” and “lyk that,” they’re carving out their distinct identity in the growing genre.

Initially making their debut in 2022 with “Shaba Shaba,” which presented a hyper-pop twist on the typical P-pop formula, the girl group broke into the scene with their talent and prowess in performance. Since then, the group has been churning out new music, releasing their debut EP YLGOIVGE in 2023 with five tracks in total. However, in 2024, the group came to a slow halt after releasing a single, “Universe,” in April, and took their time to develop a new boom in the scene.

Making their long-awaited return, YGIG didn’t just release one, but two fresh tracks this November, and continue to hint at further releases. Since the release of their two latest singles — “Chicka-chick-a,” a hip-hop-infused pop piece, and “lyk that,” a romantic R&B piece with a Y2K flair — the four-piece girl group is ushering in a new era. Vien, Hazelyn, Jewel, and Maeg have asserted that they’re tired of playing by the conventions of P-pop and instead are welcoming a fresh identity for YGIG — one that’s carefully curated and bursting with proud individuality.

On that note, Billboard Philippines spoke to all four members of the girl group about their rebirth, covering all sorts of topics from their newly-branded visual identity to their inspirations behind their developing concept.

Billboard Philippines: You’ve just come out with your latest single, “Chicka-chick-a!” How do you feel that the song has now been able to reach your listeners and fans worldwide?

Maeg: Nag-wo-worry kami, actually, kung ano ‘yung maging reaksyon ng audience, ng listeners. Sa first week na-release ng music namin, happy kami kasi puro good feedback yung na naririnig namin.

(We were actually worried about what the reaction of the audience, the listeners, would be. In the first week after we released our music, we were happy because all we were hearing was good feedback.)

The track also signifies the beginning of a new era for the group, one that mixes pop and hip-hop. Can you share more about this new creative direction?

Vien: I think since nag-rebrand yung group, we really wanted to try something that was a little bit more authentic sa amin, and a little bit more raw in a sense na unfiltered in that way. Kasi parang sa last na songs po namin — of course, they’re all good, but we were still experimenting with what type of genre (would fit us). And I feel like with this comeback, we really wanted something na… ito talaga ‘yung galing sa amin, sa creative input namin as a team. Kaya, if I could describe this comeback in one word, it’d be authentic.

(I think since the group rebranded, we really wanted to try something that was a little bit more authentic to us, and a little bit more raw in the sense that it’s kind of unfiltered that way. Because with our previous songs — of course, they’re all good, but we were still experimenting with what type of genre would fit us. And I feel like with this comeback, we really wanted something that truly came from us, from our creative input as a team. So if I could describe this comeback in one word, it’d be authentic.)

More than sonically, you’ve also visually leaned in a new direction, sharing your moodboards and inspiration on social media. Can you share more about the inspiration behind this new concept?

Jewel: I guess it’s more on modern Y2K, and we’re giving more on, parang (like a) “beautiful mess.” 

Hazelyn: You can see that we seem “good,” but there is something chaotic inside.

Vien: Since kami, apat kami, we have different personalities and characteristics. So kunwari, may isa sa amin, sobrang feminine, isa sobrang boyish. So, ngayon, sa dinami dami ng internal meetings with our team YGIG, ito ‘yung na-come up namin sa concept namin. Nagkaroon kami ng identity crisis. Although fun siya pakinggan ngayon sa amin, nung mga time na ‘yun, sobrang nahirapan kami. Para siyang puzzle piece na ‘yung hinahanap, “Sino ba ang YGIG?” And with that, ito na kami ngayon. We’re a beautiful mess.

(Since there are four of us, we all have different personalities and characteristics. For example, one of us is very feminine, another is very boyish. So now, after so many internal meetings with our team YGIG, this is the concept we came up with. We went through an identity crisis. Although it sounds fun to us now, at the time it was really difficult. It was like searching for a missing puzzle piece, asking, “Who is YGIG?” And with that, this is who we are now: we’re a beautiful mess.)

So with that, you all bring something to the table for this new era. Can you all share what one key factor each of you brings into this new era?

Jewel: I don’t know; for me personally, I think I’ve brought out more swag. I’d say more coolness, like more, I guess, swagginess with this comeback, and personally, I feel like I’m able to express myself more with this type of concept, especially.

Maeg: I don’t know about the rest of the group, but personally, I felt like I got to release more of that sass, like an inner sassy flavor. Of course, parang nung unang (in our earlier) days, we were very composed. We tried to filter a lot of things, and just tried to be presentable. And now, I think, mas nag-let loose na din po kami (we let loose more).

At the same time, I feel like mas naging not as perfect in a way, yung image, which is, I feel like ‘yung parang gusto namin ipakita sa “Chicka-chick-a,” na parang we’re all like different and we’re all imperfect, but that’s what makes us beautiful. 

(At the same time, I feel like the image became not as “perfect” in a way, which I think is what we wanted to show in “Chicka-chick-a” — that we’re all different and we’re all imperfect, but that’s what makes us beautiful.)

Hazelyn: Alam na nila yung sagot ko, which is sweetness and feminine energy. Since we have swag, we have sass, personality ko kasi talaga, very feminine and sweet.

(They already know my answer, which is sweetness and feminine energy. Since we already have swag and sass, my personality is really very feminine and sweet.)

Vien: I think for me, like, daring or like sexiness. ‘Yun talaga ako, bago pa ko pumasok sa company namin and for YGIG. Dati, sobrang tagong-tago kami, so nawala ‘yung confident energy. Pero, of course, confident parang sa ibang way na parang dati triny namin maging cute. Ngayon, mas bold na ‘yung concept namin, and mas mature na sa age din namin. So, parang naka-match din sa personality namin. 

(I think for me, it’s like daring, or like sexiness. That’s really who I am, even before I entered our company and YGIG. Before, we were really hidden away, so that confident energy disappeared. But of course, we were still confident, just in a different way — before, we tried to be cute. Now, our concept is bolder and more mature, in line with our age. So, it also matches our personalities more.)

With how many new acts are popping up all over the P-pop scene, how does this new era make a statement in defining your distinct identity as a group?

Maeg: I feel like madaming magagandang release, and it’s nice to see na sobrang diverse na (ng genre); hindi na siya ‘yung parang dikit sa trending genre, ang dami naming nakikita. I feel like for YGIG, we really wanted something na hindi polished, in a way.

(I feel like although there are a lot of great releases and it’s nice to see that the genres are now very diverse and not just stuck to whatever’s trending; we’re seeing so many different things. I feel like for YGIG, we really wanted something that wasn’t polished, in a way.)

Kasi, of course, with concepts, madaming layers po ‘yun and like, siguro na naka-curate ‘yung iba with like a specific storyline or direction. But for this, we wanted to focus more sa vibe lang. So, even ‘yung outfits namin, it’s kind of different and unique, but in a way na parang it fits the vibe of our song. Parang siguro din po dahil four members na rin po kami parang sana na-highlight din ‘yung parang distinctiveness ng each member.

(Because, of course, with concepts, there are many layers, and maybe some are curated with a specific storyline or direction. But for this, we wanted to focus more on the vibe. Even our outfits are kind of different and unique, but in a way that fits the vibe of our song. I think also, since there are four of us now, we wanted to highlight the distinctiveness of each member.)

So, on that note, what can we expect for this new era of YGIG?

Vien: More skin, joke lang. (The members laugh)

Hazelyn: More fun! More fun.

Jewel: Personally, I feel like “Chicka-chick-a” is just the calm before the storm, even though it’s just as crazy, because there’s still a lot more personality and a lot more concepts that YGIG has to offer – especially now that we know what our image is and what we feel truly with ourselves. I feel like — there’s no words to describe it — because I feel like masu-surprise ang everyone.  (Everyone will be surprised.)

Maeg: Kakasabi nga ni Jewel na “Simula pa lang ‘to!” Sa comeback, actually katiting pa lang ‘yan na ‘yung kita ng audience sa amin talaga and for me, I think yung word na hinahanap ko is growth din sa amin, and sa mga susunod na comeback kailangan talagang abangan ang mga releases. 

(As Jewel just said, “This is just the beginning!” With this comeback, it’s actually just a small glimpse for the audience to really see us. And for me, the word I’m looking for is growth — for us, and for our future comebacks, people will really have to look forward to our releases.)

Hazelyn: Actually po, parang ito na rin po ‘yung next will be the rebirth ng YGIG. Kasi, mostly, masasabi nga po namin na, “This is the new YGIG.”

(Actually, this will also be the rebirth of YGIG. Because, for the most part, we often say, “This is the new YGIG.”)

As you’ve explored various genres from R&B to pop, are there any new genres and sounds you’d like to experiment with? Or new concepts you’d like to try?

Hazelyn: I think po, may mga genre na rin po kami na gustong i-try, like rock, pop rock.

(I think there are genres that we’d want to try, like rock, pop rock.)

Maeg: Oh, we really wanted to do something pop-rock. Like Avril Lavigne, Kesha. Surprisingly, kasi genre siya na we never really thought of. Parang now, parang okay siya, possible.

(Oh, we really wanted to do something pop-rock, like Avril Lavigne or Kesha. Surprisingly, it’s a genre we never really thought of before. But now, it feels like, okay, it’s possible.)

As you move forward with this new creative direction, this rebirth, are there any new activities or releases that we can look forward to?

Hazelyn: I think you can really look forward. We still have some things.

Maeg: We don’t want to give any spoilers because it’s actually something that excited din namin ma-release (that we’re also excited to release).

Vien: Pero if I could say something, third anniversary na po namin sa November 25. 

(But if I could say something, our third anniversary is on November 25.)

Maeg: And sa November, may isa sa mga big events for this month, sa 29th — ang P-pop Awards. Sana next year, no spoilers pero sana next year ma-release na namin kung anuman.

(Maeg: And in November, one of the big events this month is on the 29th — the P-pop Awards. Hopefully next year… no spoilers, but hopefully next year we’ll be able to release whatever it is.)

Hazelyn: And iba naman siyang vibe. Ibang vibe na po ng YGIG. Another vibe. Parang ang masasabi lang namin na (it’ll be) more powerful. 

(And it has a different vibe — a different vibe for YGIG, another vibe. I guess all we can say is that it’ll be more powerful.)

Do you have anything you want to share with the readers that I haven’t asked about yet?

Hazelyn: Oh, si “Chicka-chicka” po is a more fun, feel-good vibe and more hip-hop. May isa din po kaming single, which is “lyk that,” another feel-good song. Mas R&B siya, very intimate and very warm. Para po siyang love song that you’re reassuring the person that you love na, “I like this. I don’t like that.” We actually released a double single, which is “Chicka-chick-a” and “lyk that.” 

(Oh, “Chicka-chicka” has a more fun, feel-good vibe and is more hip-hop. We also have another single, “lyk that,” which is another feel-good song. It’s more R&B, very intimate and warm. It’s like a love song where you’re reassuring the person you love, saying, “I like this. I don’t like that.” We actually released a double single: “Chicka-chicka” and “lyk that.”)

So, it’s like two sides of one coin?

Vien: Yes! It’s two sides of YGIG.

Listen to “Chicka-chick-a” here:

_{Photographed by Kieran Punay. Creative Direction by Gelo Quijencio. Produced by Mika Cruz.}