BINI's "Talaarawan." Instagram/starmusicph

MANILA — P-pop girl group BINI hopes that their listeners will be their new "best friend" with their new extended play (EP) "Talaarawan," released last Friday.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, BINI members discussed the process of releasing "Karera" and how they felt about the international attention they have gotten since the release of "Pantropiko" in November 2023.

They also shared the meaning behind the rest of the tracks of the EP, stressing how they want to show different emotions with each song.

READ: Why BINI chose Int'l Women's Day for 'Talaarawan' release

A COMEBACK TAKES TIME

Nearly two years since their last release, it felt right for Jhoanna Robles to release "Karera" as their comeback single.

Like the song's message, Robles wants listeners to realize that there's nothing wrong with slowing down in life.

"Nung ni-release po namin 'yung 'Karera' ang tagal na rin since nung last release po namin ... Nung nag-listening session po kasi kami, kakaiba po 'yung 'Karera.' Siya 'yung nag-stand out, kahit more than three na kami na listening session, number 1 namin siya, walang palya," Robles said.

"We feel like since matagal 'yung gap nung release ng song namin, 'buhay ay 'di karera,' ang perfect lang nung song and lyrics," she added.

Mihka Lim added that with "Karera", they want to show that everyone has their own pace to reach their goals in life.

"For me, 'Karera' speaks to everyone, especially the students now, especially those who are at their 20s, 30s who feel as if they're missing out a lot in life just because they are trying to keep up with the pace," Lim said.

"Hindi mo kailangang i-compare ang sarili mo with the people who are your same age, you go at your own pace dapat and set your own standard," she added.

With their hits "Na Na Na", "Huwag Muna Tayong Umuwi", Maloi Ricalde thanked composer Nica del Rosario for entrusting them with her songs.

READ: BINI's 'Karera' tackles mental health, says composer Nica del Rosario

"I think, lahat talaga ng sinusulat ni Ms. Nica is from her heart kaya I think iba talaga 'yung magic na nabibigay niya sa BINI," Ricalde said.

"From 'Na Na Na' bubblegum pop, 'Huwag Muna Tayong Umuwi' na sasabayan ka sa pag-senti mo sa love and with this 'Karera' sasabayan ka niya sa pag-aaral mo, sa pagda-drive mo sa buong journey mo. It's really perfect for me," she added.

RISKS COME WITH UNEXPECTED GIFTS

P-pop girl group BINI members (clockwise from top left) Stacey Sevilleja, Gwen Apuli, Jhoanna Robles, Colet Vergara, Sheena Catacutan, Mihka Lim, Aiah Arceta, and Maloi Ricalde pose for photos during a press conference for the release of their extended play (EP) "Talaarawan" on March 6, 2024 in Quezon City. Josiah Antonio, ABS-CBN News

For Ricalde and Sheena Catacutan, it was a risk worth taking for them to release "Pantropiko" during the holidays.

"We took the risk na November siya (i-release), taglamig pero 'yung song namin talks about being hot. Pero tingin namin it's the risk worth taking kasi nakita niyo naman po 'yung bunga super po siyang naging successful. Grateful sa isa't isa kasi we really trusted our gut," Catacutan said.

"I think perfect timing pa siya kasi papasok 'yung summer kasi nababad 'yung 'Pantropiko', it's going viral pa rin hanggang ngayon so perfect na perfect siya for summer," Ricalde added.

Stacey Sevilleja and Gwen Apuli expressed their gratitude to stars who joined the dance craze, describing it as an "unexpected" moment.

"Nagulat po kami kasi 'di po namin ine-expect na magba-viral siya ... Mas ine-expect po namin 'yung 'Karera' kasi roon po kami nag-effort talaga. Super grateful po kami na ang dami pong gumawa ng (dance video) mga K-pop (stars), international artists," Sevilleja said.

"Every time kinikilig po kami 'pag nakikita namin sa FYP. Minsan po kasi 'di ba, naglalabasan na lang, nagugulat ka lang din," Apuli added.

With the summer-inspired song, Aiah Arceta hopes that the success of "Pantropiko" will extend throughout the year.

"Ang dami kong friends na hindi into TikTok that much, but because they heard 'Pantropiko' biglang naging TikToker, naging Bloom kasi catchy daw po talaga 'yung lyrics and 'yung beat ng 'Pantropiko' po," Arceta said.

"Since it was released in the Philippines parang it's a yearlong of summer din po so sa tingin ko, any time of the month or any moment within the year, hopefully patok pa rin po siya," she added.

LISTEN: BINI releases EP 'Talaarawan,' trends on X

'WE'RE YOUR BEST FRIEND'

P-pop girl group BINI poses for photos as ABS-CBN’s ELJ Communications Center building lights up in pink and flashes “BINI.” Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

BINI's new EP "Talaarawan" hopes to encompass various emotions of a listener, Catacutan said. "We ended up with 'Talaarawan' kasi 'yung songs po namin not only one feeling but super dami... And ano ba nilalagay mo sa diary mo?"

"Pighati, excitement, kilig kaya 'yun 'yung naisip namin, diary, it's full of emotions, your own emotions," she said.

"Hindi siya nakakasawang pakinggan kasi every song is binibigyan ka different flavor and different feels," Ricalded added.

Robles said that "Salamin, Salamin" gives this typical feel of being in love: "Ito 'yung stage sa EP namin na ang sarap lang ma-in love, 'yung gigising ka sa umaga, may mag-a-update sa 'yo, happy crush."

New to its vocabulary, Lim said that "Ang Huling Cha Cha", written by Nica del Rosario, tackles situationships.

"The song, 'Ang Huling Cha Cha' it is when confused ka na, are you gonna go full or are you gonna hold yourself back in. You're still in a process, not there but getting there," she said.

For Robles, "Na Na Nandito Lang" is a very personal song written by a fan, more commonly known as Blooms.

"Very personal 'tong 'Na Na Nandito Lang' kasi sinulat din 'to ng isang Bloom, 'yung message ng song mapi-feel mo talaga na it was made for us and we sang it for our Blooms," she said.

The EP concludes with "Diyan ka Lang", which for Lim defines the sound of their latest release.

"It's giving old school vibes like hip-hop na old school, what I like it is rap part," she said.

With "Talaarawan", Catacutan wishes listeners would found a safe space with BINI.

"'Yung diary mo, that's your best friend and 'yung gusto naming i-convey sa mga listeners, sa mga Blooms na we are their best friends," she said. "Kahit 'di man namin minsan nakaka-usap 1-on-1, at least nako-comfort namin sila through our songs."

READ: P-pop girl group BINI to hold solo concert on June 28

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