Boy band 1:43 puts a new twist to K-Pop

MANILA, Philippines - Often mistaken for Korean pop superstars, all-Filipino boy band 1:43 (photo) gives the term K-Pop a whole new meaning in its third album titled #KalyePop.

Released last month under MCA Music, the EP is composed of six original tracks from the foremost Filipino boy band that popularized Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, the single that won the 2013 PMPC Star Award for Music Song of the Year.

“#KalyePop or KPop is our humble contribution to the rebirth of the local music industry. We hope that our new musical direction will advance our mission of winning back the Filipino audiences to Original Pilipino Music (OPM),” says boy band spokesman Anjo Resurreccion.

Except for the novelty song Ang Saya-Saya penned by Jonathan Ong of Sonic State Studio, the rest of the tracks, including the hit song Hayop Sa Ganda and the earlier promotional single Ikaw At Ako, were composed by musician and the group’s road manager Urie Tesorio. Band manager and PR entrepreneur Chris Cahilig produced the album while Jonathan arranged the songs. Its neo-colonial themed album cover was photographed by 1:43’s original member Kimmeth Nicolas and styled by Ryuji Shiomitsu.

The three remaining tracks include the cleverly titled novelty song Istambay Me, which tackles  unemployment among Filipino youth and the ballads Langit and Pwede Bang Malaman which carry the 1:43’s signature romantic melody and lyrics.  

1:43 is composed of Resurreccion, a University of Santo Tomas (UST) Psychology graduate and MYX VJ Search finalist; Argee Golding, an international taekwondo medalist from UST; Gold Aquino, an entrepreneur and a Business Administration graduate from the Centro Escolar University; and Yuki Sakamoto, an HRM student from CEU-Makati and the main vocalist.

The release of #KalyePop was supported by McJim Classic Leather and Belle Vita. Interested parties may book 1:43 through [email protected] or 1:43 Fan Page on Facebook.