Eight girls, one dream: Mei Mei makes its big debut
The Philippines’ newest girl group, Mei Mei, was officially launched on May 27 at the SM North EDSA Skydome. The group is composed of members Alexa, Jhamayka, Ada, Aerise, Thea, Jessie, Yuni and Dina, and is under Groovy Garden Records, a new record label launched by Pulp Group.
Hosted by Inah Evans and Milo Elmido Jr., the event was reminiscent of a vibrant local fiesta, complete with banderitas hanging from the ceiling, game booths and street food stalls. Members of the media, friends, family and fans enjoyed the festive atmosphere. There was even a round of bingo that delighted everyone in attendance. Celebrities such as Melai Cantiveros-Francisco and her family, as well as the divas of 4Sisters (formerly 4th Impact), were also at the Skydome to support OPM’s newest girl group.
Of course, no launch would be complete without performances from the group itself. Following an opening speech by Pulp Group chairman and CEO Vernon Go, who formally introduced Groovy Garden Records and the members of Mei Mei, Alexa, Jhamayka, Ada, Aerise, Thea, Jessie, Yuni and Dina delivered a powerful Jennifer Lopez dance medley. They also performed an unreleased song titled Sinta, showcasing their talent and star potential.
One of the standout moments of the event was the performance of their debut single, Telebong, a novelty pop track paired with playful choreography. Telebong also comes with a colorful music video directed by Kring Kim. Both the song and music video are now available on music platforms worldwide and have been gaining impressive numbers as of this writing.
Aside from their unique novelty-pop sound, what makes Mei Mei particularly interesting is that each member has an official persona and representative color, in addition to designated roles such as vocalist or dancer, making it easier for fans to get to know them. Alexa is the purple Spark Mei Mei, while Jhamayka is the blue Cool Mei Mei. Ada is the yellow Dolly Mei Mei, Aerise is the lilac Sweet Mei Mei, and Yuni is the green Groovy Mei Mei. These five members make up the group’s dance line. Meanwhile, the vocal line is composed of Thea, the baby pink Princess Mei Mei; Jessie, the red Power Mei Mei; and Dina, the hot pink Diva Mei Mei.
After the energetic performances, the members of Mei Mei sat down with Inah and Milo to chat about the group and their music, as well as answer questions from the press. The girls reflected on their journey to debut, shared the meaning behind their name, and explained that Mei Mei has a distinctly Filipino touch, inspired by the local tradition of repeating names and nicknames such as Jan-Jan and Mai-Mai. They also spoke about individuality as a key ingredient of what sets them apart in today’s music scene.
It’s a defining trait that allows audiences to connect with them, as they encourage others to embrace who they truly are — just like Mei Mei: energetic, bright, and cheerful. As they put it, “Huwag kayo matakot magpakatotoo. Be one of us. Be Mei Mei.”
The official launch is only the beginning for Mei Mei, as the group is set to unveil its debut EP, “Hello Po!,” under Groovy Garden Records in the near future.
