Stell of SB19, in his latest single titled “Room,” aces the sound of his K-pop counterparts in sonics, production, and performance. From the dramatic, synth-drenched instrumental intro opening, to the exploding snare hits that signal the start of Stell’s singing, it’s obvious that he’s gone full K-pop.

The singer certainly has the K-pop style down pat, and by that, we mean the vocals. I can’t think of another Pinoy singer who can sing it like Stell as he does here (except maybe his SB19 brethren). It’s because he attacks it like a K-pop idol.

You can substitute the English lyrics with Korean and have a K-pop banger. That’s not a putdown, mind you; it just means that Stell’s got a track that can go global. Because that’s how this track was designed. This upbeat, R&B, and dance-inflected track nicks from all the appropriate sources: Michael Jackson-inspired groove breaks, club vibes, and, can’t say it enough, K-pop.

Don’t believe it? Maybe you need to, in Stell’s own words, “read the room.” Or better yet, listen to “Room” because, well, it cooks.

Recently, another SB19 associate released a solo track of his own with Pablo releasing “edsa.” This equally upbeat track differs a bit as the lyrics and themes lend a more local touch. But the sound is equally persuasive. Heavy on the synth sounds, with that wheezing riff motif that informs the intro and the choruses and the trap-inspired beats that pop in and out. Pablo’s slice-of-life look of what a day looks like for a typical Pinoy has its charm, but it’s Pablo’s performance—where he sings the main chorus hook and the rap breaks here and there with such exuberance-- that really makes the track.

Josh Cullen, SB19 lead rapper and vocalist, had his own recent solo release titled “Sumaya.” Whereas Stell and Pablo’s were bangers, Josh Cullen’s is on the introspective side as he “ruminates on heartbreak and acceptance on this song that blends R&B, bedroom Hiphop.” “Sumaya” opens like an alt-flavored ballad at first but eventually gives in to trap beats and Cullen’s rap-sing verses about the messy aftermath of a relationship.   

The whole of SB19 themselves released a track of their own with the club-inspired dance track “Moonlight” just over a month ago. The track, with Ian Asher and Terry Zhong is a head-bobbing affair whose music (production) will be very much banging at the clubs. This track credits Ian Asher and Zhong (and Lenno Linjama) are credited as producers with Zhong, Linjamma (among others) credited as songwriters. Recorded by SB19 in New York, “Moonlight” only needs 2 minutes and 48 seconds to get you in that bangin’ club mood.

Boybands unite! The Juans and Alamat team for their first ever collaboration on the just-released single titled “Gupit.” This upbeat, electro-cum-pop-rock number is a hugot-filled song that finds the two ‘boybands’ jamming on a P-pop mash that has healthy heapings of rap, dance and P-pop mixed in it. The Juans’ Carl Guevarra, Japs Mendoza, RJ Cruz and Chael Adriano taking turns on the stanzas with Alamat’s Taneo, Mo, Tomas, Alas, R-Ji and Jao (with the occasional rap break in between) sounds more natural than it does on paper and at first listen. Perhaps it’s the P-pop upbringing in ALAMAT and the innate boyband DNA in The Juans (their common denominator) that make this seemingly unlikely collaboration work so well.