As the new year takes shape, Filipino boy-group BGYO enter a more assured chapter with “Fresh”, a Tagalog-led track that places confidence, cultural identity and self-expression firmly at its core. Arriving on the heels of last year’s Andito Lang, the group leaned further into their heritage while honing a sound built to transcend borders.
Members Gelo, Akira, JL, Mikki and Nate see “Fresh” as a reset, a way to step into the new year with confidence while grounding themselves sonically in something familiar. After several releases that leaned heavily into English, there’s a palpable pride in returning to Tagalog, in representing the Philippines not just as an identity, but as a sound.
“With “Fresh” we want our international fans to feel that quiet confidence, or to know that being yourself is the freshest thing you can be. We hope they play it, dance to it, and pass that energy on. It’s a Tagalog track, a Filipino track, so if it makes them want to explore more of our music, and more of what comes out of the Philippines, then that means everything,” members shared their excitement in bringing their cultural background to the forefront, particularly at a moment when the global music scene is turning toward hyperlocal sounds. As such, a new generation of listeners has emerged, truly borderless in their tastes, unconcerned with the old boundaries of language or geography.
“Music is universal. Even in a different language, as long as you catch the vibe, then you don’t need to know every word to feel what it’s about. You just connect. We’re music fans first, and we know how to appreciate something from somewhere else. So being able to share ours, to put Filipino music out into the world, that’s a gift. This moment in music is defined by experimentation. Genres are colliding, sounds are shifting, languages are intertwining. That’s what we love about it right now. No boundaries,” JL, and other members proudly reflected on what it means to bring their Filipino roots to the international stage.
This time, BGYO emerged with something sharper. Where their previous output has been defined by love-soaked bangers that travelled far beyond Manila, “Fresh” finds them channelling a different kind of energy, one rooted in self-assurance rather than romance. In September, the quintet headlined their first solo concert to a fervent crowd. By year’s end, they had topped Spotify Philippines’ “Best of P-Pop On The Rise” chart and picked up TikTok’s “Community Impact Award,” tangible proof of a connection that extends well beyond streams. With “Fresh”, BGYO aren’t just refining their signature sound. They’re signalling the next chapter, and it sounds like they’re ready to write it on their own terms.
“Fresh” also arrives as the group marks their five years since their debut, adding a layer of reflection to its self-assured pulse. Standout lines including “I got what you want” and “Ain’t nobody fresher than me” land with an unapologetic certainty, the kind that only comes with time and lived experience. Sonically, the track introduces a smooth, groove-driven hip-hop sensibility that wraps around BGYO’s effortless swagger, stretching their musical reach while keeping their feet firmly planted in who they’ve become.
“Fresh came together in a rush, just days before the listening session, the track was written. The initial instinct was another love song. But then came the pivot. We realised that we’d been putting out a lot of love songs lately, thus we needed something different. Something with a real strong sound. Because if we’re going to start 2026, it has to be fresh. That’s literally where the word [Fresh] came from,” Mikki added, crediting in the song’s writing, reflecting on how “Fresh” became their offering for the Year of the Fire Horse.
“It’s an upbeat track, a strong way to open the year, and honestly, something we haven’t tried before. That’s why the lyrics lean into that idea of feeling fresh all the time. Your outfit, your energy, the way you carry yourself. It’s all about being confident in who you are.”
Yet, versatility remains at their core. Across their discography, BGYO have moved fluidly through R&B, dance-pop, EDM and soul ballad, a testament of deliberate showcasing of range that highlights their identity as a group.
In an era shaped by TikTok and shareable moments, BGYO crafted music that moves beyond the stream, offering “Fresh” as something fans can pick up, post and make their own, a way of staying close when everything moves fast, with a quiet hope that the confidence threaded through the track might just rub off.
“There’s something special about it being audio-visual. When you hear the song, even with your eyes closed, you should be able to see the steps in your head. We made sure it’s easy to follow, but not so easy that it loses its edge,” they added.
“Fresh” is just the opening move. BGYO is already on-the-move plotting their return to the love-song territory that first connected them with fans, while simultaneously eyeing a deeper exploration of R&B, a genre they’ve long wanted to delve deeper on.
“There are so many genres out there, so much still to explore. We’re open to all of it, to experimenting, to pushing into new territory. But no matter how far we go, everything we release has to feel like us [BYGO]. That’s non-negotiable,” they reflected.
“Fresh” is out now, follow via @bgyo_ph
Words by Yohana Belinda
