Justin De Dios, also known as “Justin” from SB19—the top Filipino boy band signed to Sony Music—has released his third single, “kaibigan.” This emotional love song continues to showcase his passion and heart, solidifying his reputation for crafting sorrowful yet captivating music.
“Kaibigan,” which translates to “friend” from Tagolog, tells the story of two people who may be more than just friends, though the song is open to interpretation.
De Dios has consistently delivered emotional tracks, and “kaibigan” is no exception, pulling listeners into a mellow yet emotionally charged experience.
Despite a busy schedule packed with solo projects, SB19 group activities, and even winning a Kids’ Choice Award, De Dios credits his team with helping him manage it all. Although it can be exhausting, his dedication to his craft shines through in his consistency as an artist.
In our recent interview with De Dios, we discussed his solo release and musical evolution. He pointed out his Spotify playlist titled “pastel forest” as a reflection of his signature sound.
“I love listening to songs that make you sleepy,” he shared, underscoring the mood he aims to achieve in his releases as a soloist.
“kaibigan” also features a beautifully shot music video in which De Dios plays a lead role. “I just imagined scenarios from the story of the song and tried to relate to it. Maybe I put some pressure on myself because I’ve always loved acting, and I wanted to do well,” he explained.
The video portrays a range of emotions—love, sadness, and even anger—particularly in its final moments. De Dios admitted that he simply “felt” the emotions as he acted out the storyline.
The music video is rapidly approaching 1 million views, surpassing the pace of his previous releases, which also featured stunning visuals and compelling narratives. Check out the music video below!
The Knockturnal: “kaibigan” is your third solo single, and the music video is stunning! It’s clear the word “kaibigan” takes on a deeper meaning after watching. Can you tell us about the creative process behind the video? Did the storyline develop alongside the song, or vice versa?
De Dios: The music video was based on a story that I wrote before. It’s just a realization that I can actually relate the song to the story I made. So with the help of my co-creative director, Xi Anne, we developed the storyline more to align with the song and the plans we have for the release.
The Knockturnal: Who did you have in mind when creating “kaibigan”? What emotions did you hope the lyrics and visuals would evoke in listeners and viewers?
De Dios: When creating “kaibigan”, I was aiming to make the listeners feel like they just finished a sad ending movie. There’s this particular feeling that I always feel after watching movies with a sad ending or like finishing a very good series; it’s not so sad but more of like a frustration or something, it’s just that I can’t explain it.
The Knockturnal: How has your songwriting and directorial process evolved from your earlier work to “kaibigan”? Are there any particular challenges or breakthroughs you’ve experienced?
De Dios: I guess, one of the things that I’ve learned is the organization of things. In order to do things smoothly, you must be organized and plan things very well, so that during the process, you can do things accordingly and there’ll be fewer challenges you’ll encounter.
De Dios also reflected on SB19’s recent summer collaboration with Apl.de.ap on the track “Ready,” describing the experience as fantastic. When asked about future collaborations, he shared:
De Dios: Recently I just met dwta and her songs are similar to the songs that I usually listen to, and also her personality is really fun as well!
Balancing his solo journey with his work in the group, De Dios makes distinct creative decisions for each, allowing him to explore and expand his artistic range in unique ways.
The Knockturnal: How does your solo journey compare to your work with SB19? What are the biggest differences, both creatively and personally? Have there been any specific challenges you’ve faced with your solo releases?
De Dios: Creatively the process is quite similar because I am working mostly with the same people, the difference is I have full control on the creative output. But personally the biggest challenge is performing alone on stage. I am used to performing in a group – with the other members of SB19, but performing solo has always been a challenge for me. I get really nervous whenever it comes to my mind that all eyes are on me.
To conclude, De Dios left us with a heartfelt message for A’TIN (the fans), expressing his gratitude and sending love to them before we wrapped up the interview.
De Dios: To A’tin and mga mais, thank you so much for your never-ending support! Please always take care of yourself and I just want you to know that I’m very happy whenever I see you guys at my events and whenever we have interactions online. I hope I have inspired you and make you happy.
FOR MORE OF JUSTIN DE DIOS:
INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK | SB19s INSTAGRAM
Photo Courtesy: Xi-Anne Avanceña
