Juan Karlos Labajo, now known as juan karlos, never intended to style himself as a singer-songwriter—at least not at first.
This is quite surprising, considering that he is recognized as one of today’s finest songwriters, with major hits like “Buwan” and “Ere” to his name.
Simply put, he is a natural tunesmith, crafting songs that blend catchy melodies with lyrics in Filipino, effortlessly connecting with young and older listeners.
It makes one think he has always fancied himself as a songwriter who uses harmonies to convey his thoughts and emotions.
“No, I just love singing, and I just imagine the whole process of creating, not the whole process of being this,” juan karlos tells PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during a chat at Sindikato Studios on San Rafael Street in Mandaluyong City.
The 23-year-old artist elaborates, “Not the whole process of, alam mo yun, audience, and public, and publicity, and image, and branding, and all of these.
"This whole manufacturing to logistical to marketing, like, wala.
“So parang I just took a huge swing at it and basically learned while doing [work as an artist].
“Which I guess is good. Kasi sometimes the best way to learn something is by doing something.
"So, yeah, ganun lang. So yung songwriting is parang na-develop na lang eventually.”
FROM CEBU TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF SHOWBIZ
This just-do-it approach perfectly encapsulates juan karlos’s perspective during his early years in showbiz.
As a young boy from Consolacion, Cebu, he joined the maiden season of ABS-CBN's reality singing contest The Voice Kids in 2014.
His rendition of Adam Sandler’s “Grow Old With You” from the 1998 romantic comedy The Wedding Singer during the contest's blind audition provided an early glimpse of his magnetic stage presence, showing a soon-to-be signature style that prioritizes emotion and heartfelt delivery over technique.
It worked beautifully, charming the show’s judges, Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo Mañalac, with the young juan karlos choosing the latter as his mentor for the duration of the competition.
He eventually finished third behind Darren Espanto and overall winner Lyca Gairanod.
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Looking back, the musician acknowledges that although intrigued by the prospect of being a celebrity, he never really grasped the possibility of building a career out of it.
At that point, he was simply a passionate young artist who found the courage to audition for a widely viewed competition.
“As a kid, I don't think that was something that I had an imagination for prior to being a part of it.
"Kasi, I never really had this whole idea of [being a celebrity], alam mo yun,” the songwriter says in hindsight.
“Alam mo, pag sa classroom, tinatanong ka ng teacher, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’
“So yung mga classmates ko, kung ano yung sinasagot na sinasabi, ‘I want to be an astronaut.’ ‘I want to be an engineer.’ ‘I want to be a doctor.’"
He added, “Ako yung sinasabi ko, ‘I want to be a lawyer or a businessman.’
“So, as a kid, I never had that kind of imagination of what showbiz is like.
“Only the whole concept of filmmaking, how to make films, paano kaya yun, how musicians make music.
“But only up until that, kasi I love watching films and I love listening to music.
“But showbiz in general, never ko siya na-imagine prior to joining it.”
Once he entered the industry, however, the opportunities started pouring in.
He admits that the sudden fame, attention, and lifestyle can be overwhelming and eye-opening, especially for someone from a small town.
“Yung world, especially coming from the province, yung world kind of grows exponentially,” he points out.
“I feel like that's one of the factors that really kind of blew me away. Especially as a younger boy na, wow, totoo pala ito. Like, this thing is wild.
“And alam mo yun, parang one of the things that I really loved about was trying to do all of these different things and put you in different kinds of directions.
"But then also trying to keep that true self and identity of who you are."
juan karlos would rather not dwell on the unpleasant side of the business, but opts to focus on the positives based on what he witnessed and continues to experience as an artist.
“The showbiz industry is not innocent when it comes to bad things as well. But with everything in life, it depends on perspective.”
He added, “So ako, I like to focus on the things that are good.
“Ang daming mga tao na naging parte ng buhay ko. Ang dami tao na tumulong sa akin at sa kung nasaan ako ngayon.
“You know, all of these people that I love and I learned to love.
“Masaya siya. I mean, whatever it is you're doing, I feel like I suppose as long as you're enjoying it and you love it, you tend to have a more positive POV [point of view] of things.”
JUAN KARLOS HITS IT BIG WITH BUWAN
It took some time for JK Labajo, juan karlos's former screen name, to find his breakthrough, but in 2018, he achieved a significant milestone with the hit song “Buwan.”
This blues-inspired track features a captivating melody with sentimental lyrics, quickly becoming a chart-topping success.
“Buwan” was one of the most played OPM songs of 2018, and had garnered awards left and right, including Song of the Year from Myx, PMPC Star Awards, and Awit Awards.
He credits “Buwan” with helping him discover the formula for a hit song.
If anything, "Buwan" has significantly transformed the singer's life, both professionally and on a personal level.
While he was already a celebrity before the song's release, its immense success thrust him into the spotlight even further, bringing in a new audience that closely follows his every move.
Read: Singer JK Labajo receives death threat from netizen
juan karlos reflects on the kind of influence that you gain, both good and bad, in the aftermath of the success of "Buwan."
He says, "Kasi with privacy comes freedom and situations wherein all of your actions are not put in check.
“But as you grow more and more less private, I suppose, the smaller actions always get expounded to bigger actions.”
With success also comes the need to be more discerning with the intentions of the people around him, something that he has come to realize as his popularity grows.
juan karlos notes, “The more success and whatever you call it, fame or whatnot, this and that you get, the more friends you also have and the more people who become a part of this circle that created itself.
“But it's the filter, parang, you know, it's after the fact of being up there when you get to really know who those people that you should keep in your life are.”
He continues, “I'm blessed to be surrounded by people who are not afraid to say no, who are not afraid to go against whatever idea comes out of my head, who are not afraid to criticize me.”
ERE PROVES JUAN KARLOS IS NO ONE-HIT WONDER
Interestingly, juan karlos points out that while achieving a breakthrough hit is challenging, creating a follow-up that matches or surpasses that success is even tougher.
Both fans and management frequently expect artists to deliver consistent hits, creating pressure and the fear that failure to do so could lead to the previous success being seen as a fluke.
It’s worth noting that some of his songs coinciding and after “Buwan”—“Boston,” “Shot Puno,” “Demonyo,” and “May Halaga Pa Ba Ako Sa ‘Yo”— were no pushovers as well.
However, it was the song “Ere,” released on August 4, 2023, that truly solidified Juan Karlos's status as more than just a one-hit wonder.
Like “Buwan,” “Ere” features the defining characteristics of a hit OPM song: its lyrics are in Filipino, it boasts an anthemic chorus, and it has a touch of profanity.
Talking about the weight of public expectations, Juan Karlos remarks: “Kasi the first hit is kind of like a hit or miss situation.
“The second hit is when people already have expectations set up for you, and of what you're gonna put out next. It kind of continues so on and so forth.
"Like, after releasing ‘Buwan,’ people expected me to release another ‘Buwan.’ After ‘Ere,’ people are expecting me to release another ‘Ere.’ People are expecting me to release another ‘Demonyo.’ Like, the expectations are always built up.”
juan karlos, who is set to stage a major concert on November 29, 2024, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, acknowledges the pressure that comes with expectations, but emphasizes that focusing on them can be detrimental to his mental health and creativity.
He believes that artistic expression must always take precedence above all else.
“Even up until now, even after all of these hit songs being out there when I make music, it's never part of the equation.
"It's never part of the cocktail na parang, ‘Wow, hit song!’ Wala,” says the young artist.
“It's just I just wanna make it and then put it out and that's it.
“If it becomes a hit, then it's good. If it doesn't, then that's also good.
“My end goal is to put something out and then release something. So, that's a job done for me”
This principle holds even in light of the controversy surrounding “Ere.”
Some critics have taken issue with its profanity-laden chorus, arguing that it may not be suitable for younger audiences to listen to or sing along with.
“Wala naman,” he replies when asked about his reaction to people's misgivings about the song.
“I mean, if you're going to put control on something before it even comes out, then what will be created? Right?
“What innovation or development would arise if you try to put a ceiling on everything?
“Madami akong nakitang opinions about a lot of people being against it. Kasi ngayon, yung mura, tapos yung mga bata na makakarinig, ganyan-ganyan.
“But, at the same time, so what am I supposed to do? Just not stay true to what I was feeling during the time I made that song?
“I feel like it's the same thing with movies. That's why there's a whole thing about R-rated films.
“It's the listener's responsibility on who's going to listen to it. I guess people are expecting the creator to also control.
“I can focus on the making part and then siguro parents can focus on making sure [they guide their children when listening to the song].”
Speaking of films, juan karlos is also an actor—a pursuit he genuinely enjoys and plans to explore further beyond his music career.
He has appeared in various TV shows and movies, including Ako si Ninoy, When This Is All Over, and Lolo and the Kid, among others.
Incidentally, juan karlos’s emotional scene with Joel Torre in Lolo and the Kid, where they sing Kenny Rogers’ “Through the Years,” moved the audience to tears, drawing him praise as a result.
As an actor, he typically refrains from using his personal experiences as a reference when embodying a character and evoking emotions.
However, Lolo and the Kid resonated deeply with him, as it reminded him of his relationship with his grandmother.
It’s well-known that juan karlos was raised by her lola after his German father abandoned him and his mother passed away when he was just 12 years old.
“It just so happens na that feeling of a lolo, of an apo, a grandparent, is just something that’s also really familiar for me personally because I grew up with my lola."
JUAN KARLOS ON ALWAYS LOOKING HIS BEST
Although he may not conform to the typical standards often expected of showbiz personalities, he understands the importance of always looking his best.
“I have my stylist as well, my team, who takes care of everything else.
"Ako, I just try to focus on the simple things, and really, the most, actually the only thing that I really try to, aside from actually making sure to take a bath and cleaning up all aspects that you have to clean, it’s really the scent for me that I want to focus my energy on.
“Because I feel like that's one of the first impressions that will really matter to people when they come closer to you. The smell is such a nostalgic-inducing kind of scent.”
Speaking of which, he has recently become an ambassador for the perfume and fragrance brand STR8.
juan karlos shares that he likes to choose different perfume scents depending on his mood each day.
Fortunately, the brand offers a variety of unique signature scents that cater to all preferences.
“Definitely, I don't think you can just have one scent,” he enthuses.
“I feel like you have to have different kinds of scents for different kinds of situations.
“If you're feeling something sporty, feeling something outdoorsy, maybe something freaky, I don't know. It really depends on what kind of situation you're going to be in.
“So yeah, you need to have different kinds of fragrances for different kinds of situations. That's really one important aspect. It's kind of like having different instruments for different sounds.”
juan karlos highlights several variants of STR8 that he uses: The Game (purple) for its sweet aroma, perfect for everyday use; Red Code (red) for its long-lasting scent; Fr34k (green), ideal for nights out; and Live Through (blue), known for its light yet pleasant fragrance.
In closing, he emphasizes the significance of self-care whether you’re a public figure or not, and its connection to self-love.
“Well, aside from looking good and then feeling good, it's also really for yourself.
"Kasi I feel like whatever it is that you feel for yourself is a reflection of how you are on the outside and the external aspect of things as well… always trying to radiate positivity in some sort of way,” smiles juan karlos.
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Jo-Ann Maglipon
EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Karen Pagsolingan
LIFESTYLE & SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR: Nikko Tuazon
TEXT & INTERVIEW: Bong Godinez
COORDINATION: Katrina Gangcuango and Cha Cabayao
CREATIVE DIRECTION: Juan Carlo Maala
GRAPHIC ARTIST: Miguel Ong
PHOTOGRAPHY: Stephen Capuchino
ASSISTED by Jobo Nacpil, Meinard Navato, Lou Fajardo
STYLING: Guiseppe John Aaron Mangsat
ASSISTED by Carvey Evan Samonte
GROOMING: Jims Oga
VIDEO & BILLBOARD PRODUCERS: Rommel Llanes, Kim Manalo, Jino Del Mundo, Dianne Rochelle Cruz, Richford Unciano, Grekko Joy Junio
SPECIAL THANKS: STR8 Philippines team led by John Lozano, Chief Marketing Officer; Vani Altomonte, Marketing Director; Nikolai Gonzales, Marketing Head; Hazel Lee, Group Brand Comptroller; Veronica Blanco, Sr. Brand Manager; Jade Tulilian, Jr. Brand Manager; and the rest of STR8 Philippines' marketing team; Arsenal Agency Pablo Mendoza, Accounts Executive; Marino Sapugay III, Social Media Associate; Joshua De Villa, Production Associate; and Universal Music Group's Joe Garcia, Senior Manager for Artist Management and New Business; Andrei Lacorte, Artist Development Executive; Ikko Esporna, New Business Manager; and Dani Sanchez, New Business Executive.
SHOOT LOCATION: Post Ceremony Design Studio + Cafe, Scout Borromeo St., Tomas Morato Ave., Diliman, Quezon City
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