"You can't feel love if you can't feel pain."
- Felip, Warner Music Philippines 30 Picks

GV Interview with Felip, the Rocksta!

Original interview by DJ Clyde of GV 99.1
Translated to English for the general public by nami
Original interview upload: February 20, 2023

Let’s Ask Felip at GV 99.1

DJ Clyde: And of course, you’re still tuned in to the number one good vibes station, GV 99.1, Your Good Vibes! And you’re here with me, my name is Clyde making a feel of that good vibe. Yes, that’s right!

Alright, Ka-vibes! (term used to address GV 99.1’s listeners) For today’s episode of GV Insta-Play, we have a very special guest. A rocksta, an idol, an inspiration, a CEO, a performer, a model, a producer, a songwriter, a composer, a record-breaker 一 wait there’s more Felip (Felip is holding his laugh) — a gamer, an entrepreneur, a singer, a dancer, a creator, choreographer, an icon, fur parent, a son, a brother, an artist, yes!  An anime lover, everything –er

Ka-vibes please welcome, FELIP!

Felip: Hello! That was such a long introduction!

DJ Clyde: Did you like it?

Felip: You could’ve added “an alien” too!

DJ Clyde: That would be too much.

Felip: Hello everyone, hello.

DJ Clyde: Hello to you, how is our rocksta doing? How are you, Felip?

Felip: I’m feeling good right now, I hope you are too.

DJ Clyde: Thank you so much. You deserve that. Alright, kindly greet our listeners as well, on-air and online.

Felip: Hello to our dear Ka-vibes! Thank you for tuning in today and I hope you have eaten [your lunch] even though it’s past noon already. 

DJ Clyde: Thank you so much, Felip. How about you, have you had your lunch? 

Felip: Yes, I have. I just ate actually.

DJ Clyde: Nice. Felip you have a lot of gifts for the sisiws and A’TIN. Is there more to come? 

Felip: I’m not sure. But hopefully soon, there is. 

DJ Clyde: Alright. Could The FELIP still have time for rest? (Felip sips coffee) I love that he’s having his coffee.

Felip: Of course! I rest. Our health is the most basic and important [thing]. Especially for me, so I could continue with my work. Rest is necessary for good health. 

DJ Clyde: Yes, perfect! So my introduction was incomplete. I should’ve said “a health enthusiast” too. (Felip laughs)

Actually, the sisiws quote-tweeted our posts in GV 99.1 and they said that “He has so many gifts, we’re being spoiled with contents.” I salute you for that, Felip.

Felip: Thank you.

DJ Clyde: So Valentine’s is coming up, does our rocksta have a date? Do you have any plans for Heart’s Day?

Felip: First of all, I’d like to greet everyone who’s in love. Stay strong to all of you. As for me, I think I’d have a date with my producers. Right now I’m happy with making music and watching anime.

DJ Clyde: I love that. Alright Felip, I have a little game for you. 

Felip: Sure, sure.

DJ Clyde: Just a little, nothing serious. It’s called GV Insta-Sagutan, just like Fast Talk.

Felip: Alright.

DJ Clyde: Are you ready?

Felip: Ready, ready. Game!

DJ Clyde: Last song you listened to today.

Felip: What did I just listen to… shocks! This doesn’t seem like fast talk anymore. Exist For Love by Aurora.

DJ Clyde: Oh yes. Best anime for you.

Felip: One Piece.

DJ Clyde: Oh my God, One Piece! Best movie that you watched.

Felip: [There’s] a lot. Apocalypto.

DJ Clyde: Your taste, I love it. Your celebrity crush.

Felip: Doesn’t have to be local? 

DJ Clyde: Yes, anyone.

Felip: Rihanna? Dua Lipa, Rihanna, yeah.

DJ Clyde: Your taste! Okay 4 x 9?

Felip: 4 x 9? 27… What? 36?

DJ Clyde: Perfect! Is that right? 36? (asking someone from the studio) He’s right! Alright, dancing or singing?

Felip: Both.

DJ Clyde: Both, okay. Favorite Cebuano word?

Felip: Puhon’.

DJ Clyde: What does that mean? Could you explain that to our Ka-vibes?

Felip: Someday. One day, someday. 

DJ Clyde: I love it. Favorite Tagalog word?

Felip: ‘Mahal kita’. (‘I love you’)

DJ Clyde: Oh my God! Felip, wait! We just met! (Felip laughs) Favorite English word?

Felip: ‘Oh no’. 

DJ Clyde: Your most attractive feature?

Felip: Mine?

DJ Clyde: Yes, yes.

Felip: Eyes? Yeah.

DJ Clyde: I actually agree. You have very tantalizing eyes.

Felip: Wow, thank you.

DJ Clyde: Favorite anime character.

Felip: Zoro. (character from One Piece)

DJ Clyde: Zoro is the one with a sword, right?

Felip: Yeah.

DJ Clyde: [Your] MBTI?

Felip: What does that mean?

DJ Clyde: This one is about personality. Actually I already know your MBTI. Is this correct, [you’re an] ISTP?

Felip: I don’t really know what that means. (laughs)

DJ Clyde: Okay next question. This one is quite serious. Which came first, egg or chicken? 

Felip: Egg, I guess? 

DJ Clyde: You think? [His] final answer is egg. What activity can you do at night that you can’t do in the morning?

Felip: Sleep. Oh wait, you can do that [in the morning]!

DJ Clyde: You can do that! 

Felip: What? That’s so tough!

DJ Clyde: Stay up! 

Felip: Oh right! You got me, you got me! (laughs)

DJ Clyde: Okay, let’s move on to the questions from Twitter. #LetsAskFelipatGV991. Are you ready? These are from your fans, Felip. From the sisiws.

Felip: Okay.

DJ Clyde: First question is from Sharge. “Is there any chance that you might get into acting if given an opportunity? If yes, what role would you like to portray?”

Felip: Wow. I don’t really see myself acting. But if I were to really get into it, maybe movies where I’d be the villain.

DJ Clyde: Villain?

Felip: Yeah. 

DJ Clyde: Okay.

Felip: Or a thug? Like such.

DJ Clyde: My gosh, a villain. I got intrigued there.

Felip: A villain who’s also the main protagonist.

DJ Clyde: Yes! Anti-hero. Is that correct? 

Felip: Yes, kind of.

DJ Clyde: Alright next question is from @marialo8585. They said, “What can we look forward to in COM•PLEX? Thanks a million.” Didn’t you just release a music video for “STRAYDOGS”? They are asking if there is more to come.

Felip: Actually my EP is done. I’m not sure. I’m still thinking about stuff right now but hopefully in the future there’s something unique and different [I could release] even if it’s unrelated to COM•PLEX

DJ Clyde: Ka-vibes, we’ll be looking forward to that. Next is from @anjsuperior. “Hi Felip! Since it’s Valentine’s season, may I ask what’s your ideal date?”

Felip: Their questions are so hard… Ideal date?

DJ Clyde: Ideal date.

Felip: Just stay at home. Do something [fun], like making music. Date with my producer, like that. Having fun with music. Yeah.

DJ Clyde: I love it. Next question is from @berrynistell. “What  song from the EP did you make first?”

Felip: “STRAYDOGS.”

DJ Clyde: Next one is from Anya Kaye. “Can we expect a dance practice or a dance performance from his songs in the EP, COM•PLEX?

Felip: That’s a good idea. Actually, you guys are giving me ideas. Let’s see if I get some free time.

DJ Clyde: Okay, we’ll see about that soon, Anya Kaye. Next, “Among all of your songs, which one do you think would be a good theme for a superhero? Always here to support you, love you so much.” Didn’t he say he wants to be a villain? Why superhero?

Felip: Other than “MICTEST”, I think the five other ones would be suitable. 

DJ Clyde: Alright, let’s move on to questions for COM•PLEX before we continue with the other ones. Ka-vibes, please hold on to your questions on Twitter. Felip, I’ve heard that COM•PLEX is about your complexities as a person. Can you tell us more about that?

Felip: Yes, it talks about a person’s complexities. The message I want to share is that even though you have insecurities, don’t be defeated. You can turn those as your biggest weapon in the future. As long as you embrace your flaws [and] enhance your insecurities, in time those could be to your benefit just like the way I did.

DJ Clyde: Just like the way you turn your craft into art. That’s amazing of you, Felip. Next question. By the way Felip, all of your tracks from COM•PLEX, especially “ROCKSTA” are highly-requested in GV Insta-Play. Our Ka-vibes and I are curious about your favorite song from COM•PLEX

Felip: “DRINKSMOKE” is my favorite track.

DJ Clyde: Alright let’s think of it this way: your songs are people. Hypothetically, you and your six songs are in a boat together. There are only six life jackets. Who is the first one you will give a jacket to?

Felip: Probably “DRINKSMOKE”, “CRIMINAL”, “ROCKSTA”, which else…. “SUPERIORITY”, “STRAYDOGS”- wait, have I given all of them [a jacket]? 

DJ Clyde: How about you? Aren’t you getting a jacket for yourself? 

Felip: I’ll just give all of it to them. 

DJ Clyde: Wow!

Felip: Yes. I love all of them. The six of them could go on.

DJ Clyde: He said he wouldn’t take a jacket, he’ll give it to all of his songs in COM•PLEX. Wow. Okay Felip, you recently released another music video but this time for “STRAYDOGS”. But the other day didn’t you just release one for “ROCKSTA”?

Felip: Yes, I did.

DJ Clyde: You’re so cool, my friend. We also heard that the MV for “STRAYDOGS” was shot in Japan. Why Japan?

Felip: Firstly, Japan’s aesthetic is very different. When you go there, the place seems to have its own filter. Their culture, the art… everything is art there. We’ve decided to have our [MV] shoot there since I also love anime. We stayed at Akihabara, the biggest anime-centric place in Japan.

DJ Clyde: Wow. Congratulations about “STRAYDOGS”. We also got curious about who you’re addressing in the song. You said there, “Just keep barking like you wanted~” and also, “effin’ STRAYDOGS!~”

Felip: Interesting. As an artist, not everyone will like you. I just want to say [through the song] that I don’t care about what they say. I just do what I do as long as I’m not hurting anyone. I’ve realized that no matter how kind you are, there will be people who will try to bring you down. They will always have something to say.

DJ Clyde: So true. I see, but you weren’t bitten by these straydogs, right?

Felip: Definitely not. 

DJ Clyde: Before we proceed to the next question, I’m yet again curious about “GUMSHI, GUMSHI”.

Felip: Oh, GUMSHI.

DJ Clyde: Yes, it’s my first time to hear that word when I listened to “STRAYDOGS”. What does it mean?

Felip: Well, GUMSHI… I just made that up. In my songs, I use metaphors that others might find difficult to understand. GUMSHI is when you chew a gum and you spit it out after the sweet taste is gone or when it starts to harden. So you need to spit it out. 

So whatever they throw at me, I treat it like gum that I just spit out. That’s it.

DJ Clyde: Felip, you are inspiring a lot of people right now especially with your music. What advice can you give to those who aspire to write and compose their own songs? Any tips for composing? How do you apply the creative juices you have when it comes to song production, especially with COM.PLEX?

Felip: I’m honestly new to making songs. It has only been two years since I started writing my own stuff. I don’t know if this applies to everyone but I just really love making music. I continue to do it because there’s a different level of satisfaction that I get from it. Just have fun with it. If you want to pursue it, go for it. Be brave, even though not everyone will like what you make. There will be people who will criticize your work; some of those can be constructive, some can be nonsensical. Listen to those that would help you grow, opinions that are insightful. Again, if you really want to pursue music, just do it.

DJ Clyde: Yes, take what people say as inspiration. 

Felip: Exactly.

DJ Clyde: You’re so amazing. Now, let’s go back to the questions of our Ka-vibes. From Laurence: “Are you planning to release a full-length album? If yes, is there a song ready-made for that particular album?”

Felip: Oh. Of course as a music artist, the time will come that you’d aspire to achieve that kind of feat. Of course, the day will come that I will be releasing an album. Maybe not now, maybe in a few years to come. But I definitely will. For now, I am still experimenting with my music, my sound. I try to make something new. 

DJ Clyde: We look forward to that. This one is from Val: “What is the hardest obstacle you have encountered just to get to where you are right now?”

Felip: The people. There are those who just don’t like [my music]. You know, those who aren’t very accepting but on the other hand, there are those who will be pushing you to do your thing. They will really help you. The biggest obstacle is hearing hurtful words, that’s the biggest wall an artist must overcome.

DJ Clyde: Last question, Felip. “If the songs in your album are persons, like previously, which among your [SB19] co-members are these songs and why?” This is a hard question from Vince, Vincent.

Felip: That’s hard. Maybe Justin and Stell, “CRIMINAL”. Pablo and Josh are more hip-hop, so the rest of the songs [are them]. Justin and Stell are into R&B and more chill songs. There.

DJ Clyde: Thank you so much for spending time with our Ka-vibes, Felip! 

Felip: Thank you so much.

DJ Clyde: Ka-vibes, please listen to Felip! He’s also Ken from SB19 to those asking. They [are the group who] sang “Where You At (WYAT)” which is a highly-requested song in GV Insta-Play. He goes by the name Felip when it comes to his solo songs. The song “ROCKSTA” that you always hear in GV Insta-Play, he’s the one who sang that. 

Felip: Thank you very much!

DJ Clyde: Thank you, Felip!