P-pop group Sy.nc looks up to SB19, builds own management

P-pop group Sy.nc. Josh Mercado 

Now that Pinoy fans have seen SB19's huge worldwide success and contributions to pop culture, it's time for the P-pop community to look more closely at the next generation of P-pop groups.

It is not passing the baton, but rather promoting all groups that reflect Filipino stories and victories, demonstrating to the international pop arena that the Philippines has its own pool of talented artists.

Another rising P-pop group that the public should know about is Sy.nc (Simple Yet Not Common), which consists of Clyn, Sevi, Asa, Drew, Jai, Pen, and Lee, with a debut song “Balang Araw.” 

Like other rising P-pop groups, Sy.nc hopes to build a large fan base in the Philippines and, one day ("balang araw"), perform internationally.

“If we were able to explore this, it would be a blessing for us. Our goal is to make a mark in the Philippines. We intend to dominate the Philippines during the first two years. Also, if we have the opportunity, we should take some provincial and international tours. If God offers us the opportunity to dominate the international market, we would be thrilled,” the group told ABS-CBN News at their fan meet last July 6 at the Skydome in Quezon City.

Humbly asking the P-pop community for support, Sy.nc shared with ABS-CBN News, “We know that SB19 and BINI, together with their loyal supporters, are presently dominating P-pop. We are here because of them. We just hope they'll give us the opportunity to show who we are as a group. We aspire to have a spot in the industry. We want to make them proud.”

Right now, the group, who followed SB19's self-management approach by establishing their own management company Sirius8 Entertainment, is quite proud of what they have accomplished thus far, given their limited resources.

“Wala pa po kaming makinarya. Self-managed po kami. Magkakasama po kami sa iisang bahay for one year na. We go through all of our trainings, including voice, dance, and rock, with the help of others who are willing to help,” they told ABS-CBN News.

“We got the house dahil po sa mga gigs and brand deals na nakukuha namin. Doon po namin nilalaan ‘yung mga nakukuha po namin. For example, ‘yung baba po nun, ginawa po namin siyang studio. From our first brand deal, nilagyan po namin siya ng salamin. May mga kanya-kanya kaming tasks,” Drew continued. 

Clyn added, “Sa roles namin as a group, mayroon din po kaming kanya-kanya roles. Also, mayroon po kaming tatlong units: rock unit, vocal unit, and dance unit. We're just grateful to have professionals willing to guide and love us.”

Other members agreed, “As a group, we also follow the strict rules like K-pop. Minsan may mga bagay na hindi na namin nako-consider kasi ‘yun na ‘yung lifestyle na nili-live namin. So ‘yung mga ganoong bagay, mayroon na kasi kaming napagkasunduan sa isa't isa to protect also each other. Kasi ‘pag nasa grupo, hindi lang naman buhay mo ‘yung hawak mo, ‘di ba? Buhay din ng mga ka-group mo. So ‘yung mga ganoong bagay, hindi na siya nagiging mahirap for us. Talagang normal na sa amin. That's the lifestyle we live.”

The group's ability to handle all aspects of their profession, including training, finances, and negotiations, is quite impressive.

When it comes to music, they stated that they are very conscious of the lyrics they create because they want the songs to be relatable and aspirational, while also incorporating their youthful energy and fashion into the music videos.

They recently released a self-produced music video for their new single, "PLS."

“It's also written by our youngest member. It is actually his written letter to us before it was translated into a song. It's like a motivational message for us. It might be difficult to pursue ambitions at times, especially when we are feeling sad,” the group said.

P-pop group Sy.nc with Wow Glow founder and CEO Mariz Villanueva. Josh Mercado 

Meanwhile, at the event, the group also collaborated with skincare brand Wow Glow, founded by Mariz Villanueva, who was spotted enjoying the group's performances and taking photos.

According to Villanueva, the collab has contributed to a larger effort recognizing that men, too, require self-care and that skincare is no longer just for women.

“We are extremely proud of Sy.nc, and we are delighted to see the fans lining up for them. As male celebrities, they are also involved in the beauty industry because their faces are those that the public admires. It's also fantastic to witness Sy.nc perform their songs with such confidence on stage,” Villanueva told ABS-CBN News.

Villanueva, a proud Sy.nc supporter, launched her own cosmetic line to cater to Filipino skin types. She pointed out that even men, like the Sy.nc members, have varying skin tones.

“I formerly worked as a flight attendant. My husband, his family, and my mother-in-law are all involved in manufacturing. So when I came into picture, I thought, 'Why don't we create our own brand?’ So my husband answered, 'Okay.' It has been our ambition to create a local skincare brand tailored to Filipino skin types. We must recognize that we have diverse skin types,” she shared.