AUDIOJUNKIE: Boyband GAT skills
Boybands will always be a thing in pop. From The Beatles in the early ’60s (it can be argued that they were the first), to ’80s New Edition, to the Backstreet Boys and their peers in the ’90s, to the dominance of K-pop in the early aughts and everyone else in between, boy band music’s influence lingers to this day. That’s why it’s always good to check the new kids on the block (pun intended). And one group worth checking out is the young lads of GAT, which includes Ethan David, Derrick Ong, Charles Law, Hans Paronda, and Michael Keith.
G.A.T. is short for ‘Gawang Atin ‘to,’ which sums up at the surface what this quintet is all about, as they’re all about pushing Pinoy pop and then some, forward. Launched just recently, GAT's first moves are the time-tested tradition of doing covers, and their handlers chose a few tasty ones. There’s a version of South Border’s “Rainbow” which GAT did a decent job of. Check those falsettos in the choruses to know that GAT ain’t just for show, there’s some pro-level singing in there, and they aced it beautifully. And then there’s their take on some more recent fare pop, such as the pandemic-era viral hit “Marikit,” which they turned into a synth-y, bubblegum pop-tinged number that Derrick, Charles, Hans, Michael, and Keith each had a go at rapping and singing the bop’s hook chorus. There’s also the Thyro Alfaro-written “‘Wag Ka Nang Humirit,” originally recorded by James Reid, which, more than anything, put on display GAT’s R&B leanings and also, as if to say: ‘we’ve got James Reid's good looks going for us as well.’
But right out of the gate, GAT went viral with their cover of “Daleng Dale” (a dance track by the MMJ twins, both members of the K-pop-styled, P-pop progenitors XLR8). Besides the original “Daleng-Dale” picking on TikTok even before GAT recording it, their version also got a boost for its ties to the “Ang Mutya ng Section E” series, to which, incidentally, all of GAT are cast members. To date, GAT’s “Daleng Dale” has blown up with 16 million plus streams on a popular streaming platform.
Suffice to say that GAT has its auspicious beginnings, a fact that they hope to capitalize on with the release of their first-ever original track titled “Kakaiba.” And as original debuts go, GAT is going to hit this one right out of the proverbial ballpark. Booming synth bass figures open the track as it conjures up an imminent club beat which rises eventually right up to a funky guitar which punctuates the dance beats on the chorus in which GAT lead singers (either Ethan David or Michael Keith) intone “Sinta, liwanag mo ay di basta nawawala / kay ganda mong pagmasdan na parang tala / kakaiba ang tama ko sa’yo,” mixed with choice English lyrics, sung with Justin Timberlake-styled fervor.
GAT members contributed lyrics to “Kakaiba,” which is rapper-songwriter Kylu Garcia’s original tune. The top-notch beats (listen to it with the bass on full) are by The Kennel, a music production outfit from Sweden.
And in true 2025 fashion, where artist branding is as equally important as the music (some might even say more on the former), this boy band is coming out with their signature perfume called GAT Eau De Parfum. The press for the scent’s maker (Viva Beauty) says: “the signature perfume is a celebration of their journey towards grit, growth and greatness.”
Sounding and smelling great, too? This group has “GAT” a lot going for them, that’s for sure.