One Year Strong: P-Pop group 1621 BC is ready for stardom
It was a night of joyful tears and heartfelt cheers at the Viva Cafe last November, where P-pop group 1621 BC celebrated their first anniversary. The six young men – JM, Win, JC, Migz, Pan, and DJ – took to the stage, their performance radiating confidence and camaraderie. But the loudest cheers came from a special section of the audience: their mothers.
R-L top row: Migz, JC, JM
R-L second row: Win, Pan, DJ
Each mom, holding a bouquet matching her son’s designated color, beamed with pride. The scene was a touching testament to the unwavering support that has fueled 1621 BC’s journey. As JM reflects, ” ‘Sobrang saya po, sobrang grateful. Sobrang thankful po kami, sobrang blessed po kami kasi po hindi po lahat nabibigyan ng opportunity tumagal ng one year. ‘Yung iba po minsan nababawasan or nadidisband. Pero ami po, still intact. Thank you so much po.'”
Navigating the P-Pop World
One year may seem like a blink of an eye, but in the fast-paced world of P-pop, it’s a significant milestone. 1621 BC has not only survived but thrived, releasing a string of catchy tracks including “TOFU: Think of You,” “Ikaw at Ikaw,” “Crush, Crush,” and “Laruan.”
Their journey, however, has been far from easy. Win acknowledges the challenges they faced: “S’yempre marami po talaga kaming pinagdaanan on this journey po pero ang importante po nag-stay po kami nang matatag. May tiwala po sa isa’t isa. Feeling ko po ‘yun ang pinakaimportante po when it comes to a group.“
Migz recalls the initial shock of entering the industry: “Siguro ‘yung mga experience po namin with media, sa mga tao. Bago po kami sa industriya, naculture shock po kami kung paano po ba ang mundong ginagalawan namin. At the same time, gumagabay po sa amin ‘yung management namin, family namin, and Guardians na nandiyan para sumuporta.“
Milestones and Memories
The group has already collected a string of memorable experiences. Performing alongside established artists like Jeremy Glinoga and OPM legend Gloc-9 was a definite highlight. JC shares another unforgettable moment: “Siyempre hindi po namin makakalimutan ‘yung opportunity to perform sa New Year’s Countdown sa GMA. Kasi po sobrang laking bagay po noon para sa amin kasi mga artista na po ‘yung mga kasama namin. Iba’t ibang grupo na rin po. Sa loob po ng ilang buwan na po ‘yun nakapagperform na po kami sa GMA countdown.“
JM expresses gratitude for the opportunities they’ve been given: “’Yung iba-ibang shows po na nagtitiwala sa ‘min kasi kami for us, we’re a new group. Ang dami po kasing P-Pop [group] na mas stable na. Sobrang grateful po kami sa ABS-CBN, GMA, Net25.“
Finding Their Footing
1621 BC has also learned from their peers in the P-pop community. When asked about the groups who congratulated them in a video, Pan replied, “To be honest, lahat po talaga. Kasi po sila po ang nauna sa ‘min. We learned so much from them. Sa P-Pop community, we have a friendly competition. We are here to promote OPM. P-Pop rise! Nagulat po kami sabi kasi bloopers kasi. Nagulat kami na mga P-Pop pala na mga mas sikat na sa ‘min.“
The group’s growing fanbase, affectionately called “Guardians,” has been a constant source of motivation. Pan shares, “Mas ginanahan kami. Mas lalo kaming motivated from last year kasi parami nang parami kahit ‘di pa kami sakit. Pero andyan sila ibig sabihin may tiwala sila sa talent namin, sa ‘ming anim.“
DJ adds, “Sa mga Guardians, naappreciate namin kayo. Salamat sa lahat ng support niyo at sa lahat ng ginagawa niyo.“
Evolving as One
Initially, each member was assigned a specific color, a strategy used by their management for their introduction. However, since the beginning of 2024, they have moved away from this color-coding. JC explains, “That’s how the management introduced us. But now, we’re focused on growing as one.“
Though they’ve retained their individual styles, the shift symbolizes their unity and growth as a group. They continue to live together, navigating the challenges of shared living with open communication and “heart-to-heart talks.”
Looking Ahead
As 2025 approaches, 1621 BC is eager to continue their musical journey. They are set to release a new song on December 31st, 2024, at the GMA New Year countdown. JM, inspired by JC’s observation that some P-pop groups don’t achieve mainstream success until their third album release, remains optimistic: “Nagmarka po sa ‘kin ‘yung sabi ni JC na ang ibang P-Pop [group] sa third release ng album sila before nakakakuha ng hits so kami po, we’re just really giving all-out every day kasi malay natin baka ibigay naman ni Lord.“
With their talent, dedication, and the support of their Guardians, 1621 BC is ready to soar to new heights. P-Pop rise, indeed!
