More Than a Boy Band: SB19 Like You’ve Never Seen Before

SB19 is the P-pop blueprint. The act that didn’t just rise to fame but redefined an entire genre.

They charted globally without the backing of a major label before being signed, and in 2021, they became the first Southeast Asian group nominated at the Billboard Music Awards.

The name SB19 now stands as proof that Southeast Asian talent belongs on the world stage.

The early days

A connection built in dimly lit studios, sleepless nights, and unfiltered arguments that turn into breakthroughs.

To call them just another boy band would be a disservice—it’s a label that barely scratches the surface.

Their story isn’t a clean-cut narrative of overnight success. It’s a slow and grinding process of finding their voice in an industry that often demands a certain mold.

When they were trainees, the future wasn’t set in stone.

There were no guarantees—just long hours of practice, doubts gnawing at the edges of their ambitions, and a shared understanding that they had to keep moving forward.

There was no singular moment when everything clicked into place and no dramatic realization that this was their destiny.

Instead, it was the consistency, the willingness to show up even when the odds seemed stacked against them.

The training wasn’t glamorous. It was waking up every day, pushing their bodies to exhaustion, perfecting their craft while knowing that there was no certainty of debuting, let alone making it big.

“Back then, we didn’t know what we were doing with our lives. It felt like just training, and we weren’t sure of anything. But every day, we’d go to the studio and see each other there,” Stell recalls.

They weren’t just refining their musicality—they were building trust, learning how to exist as a unit, and navigating each other’s personalities and temperaments.

Some days, it was chaotic, but within that chaos, something real was forming.

The interwoven lives

Living in each other’s spaces for so long, they’ve developed an unspoken rhythm and an understanding that runs deeper than words.

They don’t need to make grand efforts to bond anymore; it’s in the small things—the way they move in sync even outside performances, the inside jokes that need no explanation, and the ability to call each other out without resentment.

“You might be surprised, but in our daily lives, our bonding moments come in the simplest ways,” Stell explains.

“Like right now—just being together, in this [cover shoot], that’s our bonding. We share new experiences with each other, and it’s all part of the work.”

When they do get time off, they retreat to their families, but even then, their world is interwoven.

A new gadget Pablo gets turns into a shared experience for everyone. A casual hangout can quickly turn into an impromptu brainstorming session.

They are always within reach of each other, tethered by something that goes beyond career obligations.

Last year, their bond was tested in ways few fans could fully grasp.

When a legal issue with their former management company prevented them from performing under their own name, it became an identity crisis.

SB19 embodied years of sacrifice, resilience, and hard-fought progress.

Stripped of that, they had to confront who they were beyond the moniker, and what they found was that the name didn’t define them—their unity did.

Even in uncertainty, they remained intact, because at the core of SB19 are Pablo, Stell, Josh, Ken, and Justin—not as artists, but as people who had built something that couldn’t be taken away.

Fortunately, the legal issue was resolved, allowing them to continue without compromise.

“It was a hard time for us, and for everyone involved with us. But even in those tough moments, you could see how everyone helped each other out. I think that’s what they’re talking about—the way we pulled through together,” Pablo admits.

The creative process

Inside the studio, their creative process is dynamic and intense.

It’s driven by passion, honest discussions, and a shared commitment to pushing each other to new heights.

Some might think that arguments signal cracks in a group’s foundation, but for SB19, it’s proof of their investment.

They care enough to challenge each other, to fight for what they believe will make their music stronger.

“We argue. A lot,” Josh says bluntly. “Not in a toxic way, but because we care. No one holds back.”

The balance comes from knowing that despite the disagreements, they are working toward the same vision.

Pablo might take the lead in production, but it’s never a one-man show.

Stell sharpens their choreography, Ken fine-tunes the musicality, Justin brings in fresh concepts, and Josh ensures everything runs efficiently.

Each member holds a piece of the puzzle, and no piece is more important than the others.

“Everyone has their own strengths, and we play to that. That’s why it works,” Pablo adds.

Being successful goes beyond talent—it means carrying the weight of responsibility.

As SB19’s influence grows, so does the pressure to represent something bigger than themselves.

They carry not just their own dreams, but the aspirations of those who see them as proof that Southeast Asian artists can stand on a global stage.

They know the stakes. They remember the empty rooms they once performed in and the indifference of early crowds.

That’s why every milestone, every message from a fan saying their music inspired them, hit differently.

They don’t take any of it for granted, and they don’t let the pressure suffocate them—they let it push them forward.

Their songs, their story

Each of their songs tells a different part of their story, and when asked which track best defines their bond, there’s no unanimous answer.

Pablo gravitates toward CRIMZONE, drawn to its aggressive and no-holds-barred energy that mirrors their relentless grind.

“That track is so energetic, and when you listen to the lyrics, it’s all about hard work—like, blood, sweat, and tears, literally.”

“The tears come, and there are struggles along the way. But at the end of the day, you have nothing to lose. You just have to give it your all. For me, CRIMZONE captures what we’re doing.”

Stell and Justin lean toward Go Up, the song that encapsulates their journey from uncertainty to recognition.

“Every time we listen to it, we’re reminded of the past. It’s like revisiting those fun memories—whether they’re funny, embarrassing, or exciting. Every time we play Go Up, it sparks those kinds of moments.”

Ken recalls the grueling effort behind DAM, the group’s latest single from their upcoming EP Simula at Wakas. The song that tested their limits in the studio.

“We spent so much time in the studio, always recording, always experimenting with the verses, the chorus.”

“We focused on making it perfect, not just for ourselves, but for our supporters too. And in the end, that became part of our bonding. That’s our bond.”

Meanwhile, Josh throws in an unexpected pick—Wag Mong Ikunot Ang Iyong Noo—offering no explanation other than a smirk.

His fellow members burst into laughter, hinting (probably) at an inside joke that only they, as brothers, would truly understand.

Learning and growing together

To be in SB19 is to constantly evolve, not just as artists, but as individuals learning how to move through life together.

They’ve had to develop patience, compromise, and the ability to check their egos at the door.

Josh acknowledges that their differences could have been a weakness, but instead, they made it their strength, saying, “We’re all from different provinces, different environments, so when it comes to aligning our wants and needs, it’s not always easy.”

Pablo sees the group as proof that even the strongest bonds require work. “You have to keep going,” he explains. “Because if you don’t, you won’t function properly.”

Justin credits SB19 as his greatest education.

“This is where I’ve grown up—it’s like my school. I didn’t have many other experiences outside of this. So, all my growth has come from being with this group.”

Stell reflects on how it’s taught him emotional control.

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how to control my emotions. Before, whatever I felt would just come out, but now, I can’t explain it—it’s like I’ve learned how to control my emotions and my thoughts. They don’t get scattered or go in different directions. I can hold onto them,” he says.

Lastly, Ken has learned to appreciate the present rather than always looking toward the next goal.

A legacy of perseverance

They don’t waste time on empty promises about the future.

When they talk about what’s ahead, it’s not with starry-eyed idealism but with intent.

Josh wants their legacy to be a testament to perseverance, saying, “I want to leave the impression that, even though it’s not easy or it might be tough to finish, they should still try. The process might be hard, but it’s worth it in the end if you give it your all.”

Stell sees SB19 as an example of how loyalty and individual pursuits can coexist. “At the end of the day, we always remember where we came from. And when we come together, that’s what matters.”

For Justin, their journey proves that differences don’t have to mean division.

And Pablo, ever the pragmatist, simply states that no matter what comes next, the brotherhood will remain.

More than just a boy band

Their story is authentic. It’s raw, unpredictable, and filled with moments of resilience and triumph.

When you talk to them, it’s clear—this group is self-made, battle-tested, and unshaken.

They’re not an industry-molded phenomenon, and they have nothing left to prove.

They are exactly where they’re meant to be.

They’ve weathered doubt, redefined expectations, and stood their ground in an industry that wasn’t built for them—at least, not until they carved out the space themselves.

They don’t ask for validation; they already know their worth.

SB19 is more than just a boy band. They’re a band of brothers, an unbreakable force.

And they’re just getting started.

Read the cover story in the pages of VMAN SEA 02: now available for purchase!

Photography Charisma Lico

Creative direction Vince Uy

Fashion Weilun Tok and Rex Atienza

Grooming Mac Igarta

Hair Mark Familara

Production design Justine Arcega-Bumanlag

Art direction Mike Miguel

Project manager Jazmin Orbe

Fashion associate Corven Uy

Styling assistance Team RAINXEM

Special thanks 1Z Entertainment