The Juans don’t write hugot for hugot’s sake
From the OPM classics we all know and love to the heart-tugging hits of today, “hugot,” a term popularized in the mid-2010s, has always been intrinsic to Filipino music.
One look at The Juans’ discography—with titles such as “Hindi Tayo Pwede,” “Pwede Ba Kitang Ligawan?,” “Ako Na Lang,” “Ano Ba Talaga Tayo,” and more—it’s clear what the four-piece band is all about: love songs for every heartbreak.
And yet, in an industry filled with hugot-worthy soundtracks, RJ Cruz, Carl Guevarra, Japs Mendoza, and Chael Adriano of The Juans, aren’t content with just making you sad. “We’re here from hugot to healing, and we believe that it is only God that can heal broken hearts,” says Guevarra, highlighting the band’s roots as church musicians.
The Juans offer more than just the perfect soundtrack for your sawi moments, but rather, it acts like a friend who tells you that you aren’t alone in what you’re feeling. Their newest album, “Tawid,” is a testament to that, and we’re not just talking about love songs.
“Tawid” and the happy middle
For The Juans, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary as a band, the milestone signifies much more than longevity. It’s a mark of their next step as they move on to another stage in their lives.
“People love to celebrate beginnings, and it’s easy to be happy about endings kapag alam mong patapos ka na,” explains Guevarra when asked about the meaning behind “Tawid.”
“We wanted to write for the people who find themselves in the middle because that’s where no one cheers for you anymore, and no one cares about what you’re doing. It’s a place of uncertainty, it’s a place of doubt, and we wanted to write from that place,” he says.
The complexity of the human experience diversifies the more you get older. By the time you’re in your 30s, the relationship issues that occupied your mind in your 20s could have very well been overtaken by more pressing concerns.
“Naiwan,” a new song from the album, in particular, talks about Guevarra coming to terms with the feeling of being left behind in the eve of a close friend’s wedding. “Ang pangit sa pakiramdam kapag tumatanda ka at na-realize mo na hindi mo na kasabay sa buhay yung mga akala mo makakasama mo habang buhay.”
“There will be moments in our lives where we will feel bad, because we realize that we’ve been left behind.” Guevarra adds. “We just want to let you know na kami, sampung taon na dito sa industrya… nararanasan pari namin yung nararamdaman niyo. May this be a comfort, a friend to you, that will tell you you’re not alone.”
Unpacking hugot and sawi
For a band that’s been writing love songs for about a decade now, The Juans understand hugot better than most. You can’t write hugot for hugot’s sake.
“Hugot songs will only make sense if they’re coming from a point of sincere, honest love… Hindi ka masasaktan kung di ka nagmahal ng tunay,” says Guevarra.
But bridging their faith with their artistry, the band also believes that our relationships aren’t so different from our relationship, or lack thereof, with God.
“I believe our best model for relationships is God himself. God is love—that’s what the bible says. I don’t see any disconnect between the way we love God and the way we love each other. If anything, that’s the model.” Guevarra adds. “How God loves us is how we ought to love other people. Our messaging is always anchored there. God loved us first, and what we learn from that love, from that relationship, is what we apply to our relationships with our co-humans.”
10 years and onward
A decade in the game and The Juans have seen it all—smash hits from thin air, and crickets from songs they’ve worked especially hard on.
And yet, they remain steadfast. Why? Guevarra points to purpose: “Sa buhay ng isang artista, di naman palaging mountain tops. Minsan may valleys. Minsan may moments wherein may self-doubt, may comparison. So focusing on our purpose is what allowed us to keep showing up every day. Knowing na hanggat mayrong makaka appreciate ng music namin, na mayroon kaming soul na na-touch, then we’re living out the purpose, and that’s the fulfillment for us.”
