As a member of the popular P-pop group SB19, FELIP (or more popularly known as Ken) has always been unassuming. Usually quiet and coy, the singer has often let the music speak for him. But with the release of his debut solo EP, he unleashes his story, introducing us to the intricate world that lies within his heart and mind. 

Named after the defining factor of his being, COM•PLEX is FELIP's first-ever major release as soloist, following his singles 'Palayo' and 'Bulan' in 2021 and 2022 respectively. With every drop, the singer-songwriter harnesses varied influences and sounds to create music that's uniquely his own. 

"FELIP is more free sa artistry niya, yung craft niya. Pwede niyang gawin whatever he wants—kung gusto niya maging experimental sa mga kanta niya, sa sound niya, pwede niyang gawin yun. FELIP is more bold and brave," he tells Bandwagon.

("FELIP is more free in his artistry, in his craft. He can do whatever he wants—if he wants to be experimental in his songs, in his sounds, he can do that. FELIP is more bold and brave.")

COM•PLEX is entirely FELIP. Beyond the fact he wrote and co-produced the entire record, the EP features so much of the singer's being, interweaving himself every way he could across its six tracks. Whether it's his innate love for hip-hop and metal that shines in tracks like 'STRAYDOGS' and 'SUPERIORITY', his stories of passion you hear in 'ROCKSTA', or even his proud Bisaya background taking the spotlight across the entire tracklist, COM•PLEX is an undeniable reflection of who FELIP is. 

"[The EP has a lot of different sounds], minsan may sad part that talks about negative thoughts but meron din yung confident side that’s very free. So parang na-mix ko sila but related sila talaga. That’s why it’s COM•PLEX kasi pinapakita yung [complexity ng mga tao], when they’re weak and when they’re not—and in a way, that’s me," he shares. 

("The EP has a lot of different sounds, there are sad parts that talk about negative thoughts and then there's a confident side that's very free. I wanted to mix them but they're ultimately related. That's why it's COM•PLEX because I wanted to show the complexity of people, when they're weak and when they're not—and in a way, that's me.")

Through COM•PLEX, FELIP not only wanted to show who he is but also what more he can do. "Gusto ko lang makita nila that I’m a versatile artist. They know me as someone with a deep, low voice so gusto ko lang parating sa kanila na kaya ko din gawin mga ibang bagay," he explained, particularly pointing out his falsetto riffs on the EP. 

("I want them to see that I'm a versatile artist. They know me as someone with a deep, low voice so I want to show them that I can also do so many different things.")

Thematically, COM•PLEX also gives life to the inner workings of FELIP's mind, speaking to light the anxieties and worries of being an artist. Described as "a journey to his innermost thoughts and psyche", the record puts forth the singer's personal highs and lows of chasing your passion and being an artist, in hopes of inspiring others to stand up and fight on. 

"The EP is basically about picking that mic and yung mic, parang passion yun sa akin so if ever ma wala yun, I feel like I’d be lost," he explains. "Gusto ko i-pass ang message na meron tayong complexities that makes us unique. Yung mga ganong klase na bagay makes us normal, we’re just humans. Minsan darating yung araw na magiging weak tayo pero we have to keep reminding ourselves to stand up and just pick up that mic."

("The EP is basically about picking up that mic and the mic to me is my passion. If ever that goes away, I feel I'd be lost. I want to pass on the message that we all have complexities that make us unique. Those things made us normal, we're just humans. There will be days when we're weak but we have to keep reminding ourselves to stand up and just pick up that mic.")

Again, living up to its name, the making of the EP was also complex. Written in the pockets of downtime FELIP had during SB19's Where You At? world tour last year, COM•PLEX came together in pieces on planes and in hotel rooms as he worked tirelessly to bring his story to life. 

"Mahirap siya kasi ginagawa ko yung EP while we were on tour. Yung nag tour pa kami, ginawa ko siya sa airplane, sinusulat ko. After ng concert sa hotel, hindi pa ko natutulog—even if it’s time for me to rest, sinusulat ko pa siya kasi gusto ko siya tapusin. It was hard, sobrang tiring kasi pag uwi namin from tour, wala pa din akong pahinga kasi I have to finish everything," he says. 

("It was hard because I made the EP while we were on tour. When we were still on tour, I would write on the plane and even after our concerts in the hotel, I wouldn't sleep. Even if it's time for me to rest, I was still writing because I wanted to finish it. It was hard, super tiring cause even when we came home from tour, I still didn't rest cause I wanted to finish it.")

But as they say, hard work pays off. "Pero worth it lahat ng pagod, sobrang refreshing na tinapos ko yung EP. I thought it was impossible at first but parang kumbaga na lagpasan ko yung limitations ko, kaya ko pala parang ganon. Ibang yung level of satisfaction na binigay sakin nun. I think nalagpasan ko yung expectations ko and I’m really happy. Ito talaga yung pinaka memorable na moment para sakin," FELIP continues, adding that COM•PLEX really comes as a gift to his fans who have unrelentlessly supporting his solo projects. 

"I decided na why not mag release nalang ako ng EP para yung fans ma-enjoy din nila yung iba’t ibang tunog na ma-ooffer ko sa kanila. It’s a gift para sa kanila kasi grabe yung support na binibigay nila sakin. Gusto ko sila ibigay ng gift kasi kahit isang kanta lang, sobrang happy na nila so wala lang, this is their gift."

("It was all worth it, it was so refreshing to finish the EP. I thought it was impossible at first but I feel like I went beyond my limitations and I did it. The level of satisfaction from finishing the EP is really different, I exceeded my expectations and I'm really happy. I wanted to gift this to my fans so they can enjoy all the sounds I have to offer. They're always so supportive and happy even if I just release one song, so this is for them.")

FELIP comes as one of the newest acts to grace the Philippines' hip-hop scene, something he's honoured to be a part of, sharing that he takes a lot of inspiration from local acts like Al James, Skusta Clee, Flow G, and JRLDM, as well as the many Bisaya artists that are making an impact in the scene. 

"Sobrang galing ng sound nila, nakaka-inspire. Meron din mga artists, yung mga Bisaya din, na hindi yung mga tipong artists na binibigyan ng spotlight, sobrang galing nila. Gusto ko lang sabihin ka kanila na I see them, I listen to them. Keep doing what you're doing," he says. 

("Their sound is so good, it's so inspiring. There are artists, especially Bisaya artists, that don't get the spotlight but they're so good. I just want to tell them that I see them, I listen to them. Keep doing what you're doing.")

For the rest of 2023, FELIP has nothing planned quite yet, wanting to relish in the work he's put in for COM•PLEX. "For 2023, I’m not really sure. I haven’t planned anything yet but maybe more songs, let’s see. No promises, tignan ko lang (laughs)," he says. ("No promise, I'll see what comes next.")

Listen to FELIP's COM•PLEX here.