SUGARHIGH who just released their self-titled debut album under Flipmusic Records is composed of Luis Phillip Yumang, Julius Danielle Gareza, Carl Patrick Pollington, Carlos Ysmael and Daniel Huschka.

sugarhigh

I had a chance to get to know these talented young lads a little bit during a pizza party and listening session for their album at the Amerasian Studios in Quezon City.  All within the 13 to 15 year-old range, these teens are very much different from each other although they do share one undeniable passion – singing and performing.

I believe the OPM scene is already ripe for the Philippine’s version of a teen boyband revolution.  And last week, I just met five young talented individuals who are taking that challenge, raising the stakes and getting some positive vibes that just might make them the forerunner in what is about to happen in the music scene this 2014.

I secretly did a pre-interview profiling and found that my assumptions based on their gestures and how they dress closer to what they revealed during the interview.

LUIS was mentioned as the assured voice of the group, although it was evident in each of the songs that they recorded that the singing was equally distributed to all the members of the group each having that special signature style and flavor that distinguishes them from the other members.  But he’s got the highest vocal range among the rest of the group members.  Luis is the artist of the group.  Aside from singing which he started doing since the age of 5, Luis also joins art competitions and do sketches.  He is quiet, artistic and occasionally playful according to his band mates and voted Marian Rivera as a local showbiz crush.

JULIUS or JULZ is not new to showbiz.  He has done commercial modeling and appeared in productions like PotPot and I Do Bidoo Bidoo as a child actor.  In SUGARHIGH, Julius is able to let out his other talents – singing and dancing.  Julius also aspires to become a chef someday – he’s planning to take culinary courses after high school.  His showbiz crush is Julia Barretto.

CARL is the designated rap artist of SUGARHIGH getting his inspiration from idols Abra and Wiz Khalifa.  Carl can also easily belt out a hip-hop melody just as the rest of the other guys from the group.  His sporty and hip-hop look makes him to be likely a central figure that represents the kind of music that SUGARHIGH is offering.  Carl Likes Angel Locsin.

CARLOS delivers the low booming melody in all the songs of SUGARHIGH, he’s the tallest in the group and he carries the typical high school jock type of look.  He’s into drums and beat-boxing.  His showbiz crush is Anne Curtis Smith.

DANIEL is Filipino-German, he’s probably the most foreign looking in the group.  He speaks heavily on the influence of American Folk-Pop singer Gavin Degraw in his musical styles but settles on the 1-D’ish Pop-R&B hooks in all the songs of SUGARHIGH.  He is a pizza-type of person and his favorite sport is soccer.

SUGARHIGH the album was launched last February 1 with the group’s first-ever mall show at SM Bacoor.  Fans got a taste of what a SugarHigh sounds and looked like and they loved it!

There are 7 songs in the album.  Produced for Flipmusic by Awit-award winning producer Bojam De Belen with songwriting credits from prize-winning songwriter Thyro Alfaro.

The music video for the carrier single SUGAR SUGAR is already on its 150k hits mark on youtube and gaining even more grounds after their recent album launch.  Here’s the video directed by Nolan Bernardino with the special participation of Donnalyn Bartolome:

This is not your standard OPM pop track. SUGAR SUGAR is the sound of teen pop today.  Equal parts dance, R&B and melodic pop delivered with likeable sweetness.  Just the good old clean teen fun!

The other songs in the album are:

  • Weekend
  • Sino Sino (featuring Fliptop Rap Battle Champ SHEHYEE)
  • Best Days of Our Lives
  • Dinggin Ang Awit Ko
  • High School Crush
  • Sino Sino Pa Ba?

I personally love the songs Sugar Sugar and Best Days of Our Lives.  I think they’ll release Best Days of Our Lives next because it’s a pre-summer song and March is just around the corner.