Justin de Dios, going solely by the name Justin, is a Filipino singer and one of the vocalists of the Filipino boy band SB19. Last February 27, at Novotel Hotel Araneta City, he officially marked the beginning of a new journey. On a laidback Tuesday afternoon, Justin held a private launch of his new single “surreal” to mark his official debut as a solo recording artist.
Among the attendees who showed their support were his fellow SB19 members Josh, Pablo, and Stell along with Justin’s friends and family.
The event started with a video presentation of the “this is just a figment of my imagination” trailer, which he previously shared on his official social media channels as a teaser for the release of his new single “surreal.”
Justin then came on stage to serenade the audience with a beautiful cover of the Maroon 5 song “Sunday Morning.”
He talked a little about his preparations for his solo venture followed by a first-ever presentation of the “surreal” music video.
When talking about the inspiration behind the visuals and aesthetic of his single, Justin mentioned that he has always been a nature lover and always wanted to be in forests or surrounded by trees even as a kid.
Justin also explained the story behind his logo which includes a sprout, representing growth; a boot, representing the journey he’s about to take and a reminder to keep his feet on the ground; and the imperfect lines, representing the beauty of imperfection.
When asked about the most surreal moment in his life so far, he talked about the time when SB19 went viral which led him to where he is now, debuting as a solo artist. He also talked about his musical influences which include Ed Sheeran, Stephen Speaks, and other acoustic artists.
About his collaboration with Radkidz’s Pablo and Josue, he said that it was a unique experience because it helped to have a different point of view during the process. He also talked about his experience in creating the “surreal’ music video sharing that they had to travel to different places to capture the imagery they wanted to convey. The music video featured scenes shot in Atok Benguet, Zambales, and Korea.
When asked what his plans are after the release of his single, he joked about getting some sleep first. “Matutulog ako after ng release.” But later mentioned that he wants to pursue other creative venues like acting and filmmaking.
Finally, he shared his learnings throughout the process highlighting the realization that it is normal to be scared, and as long as you are happy with what you are doing, it will automatically show in your work. “Makikita nila na yung project ay ginawa ng may pagmamahal [They’ll see that the project was made out of love].”
The event ended with Justin’s live performance of his song “surreal.”
“surreal” is now available on all digital music platforms via Sony Music Entertainment.