Juan Karlos Labajo just wants to go his own way. Having left The Voice Kids, he was determined to focus on songwriting—enter juan karlos, a four-piece band fronted by Labajo himself. Their initial salvo, 2018’s “Buwan”, triggered their ascent with a catchy three-chord hook, Labajo’s slow-burning vocals and an intriguing music video. And 2020’s Diwa, a complex collection of tracks and collaborations including “Sampaguita” with rap icon Gloc-9, rightfully sealed their spot in the alternative spotlight. Fresh and bold—juan karlos are simply incapable of fading into the background.