Interview: Meet New:ID, the Newest P-Pop Group in Town as They Gear Up for Debut
With the ever-growing popularity of Philippine Pop around the world over the past few years thanks to the likes of groups such as SB19 and MNL48, P-Pop is finally making its way into the global music landscape with refreshing concepts and artistry. Such is the case with the upcoming group New:ID.
New:ID is a five-member global boy group under MLD Entertainment that is set to make their debut in 2023. The members WILSON, MACKY, L, THAD, and JOM were all former participants of the ABS-CBN survival show, Dream Maker. After placing between 10th and 16th on the show on February 12, 2023, the boys decided to join forces to showcase their multitude of talents through the group that is now New:ID.
Along with their label mates and fellow Dream Maker contestants, HORI7ON, the five-member group performed on stage together for the first time at HORI7ON's Friend-SHIP [Voyage To Manila] concert on September 9. Two weeks later, on September 22, the members dropped their prologue single "E.R," a Tagalog remake of K-Pop group Dalmatian’s song of the same title from 2012. Subsequent to this release, the group released their second prologue single "Deja vu," on October 27.
HALSUG recently had the opportunity to talk to the members and get to know more about their journey as idols and working together toward their debut.
Photo Courtesy of MLD Entertainment
Your pre-debut single "E.R" is a remake of K-Pop group DMTN's (formerly known as Dalmation) song from 2012. Based on your personal interpretations, what does the song mean to you, and in what ways does it represent New:ID's charms?
WILSON: This song is about a person you are deeply in love with, the person you will always be there for no matter what. I would express the charm of our group as sexy, cool, and powerful.
MACKY: For me, the song is about a person who has unconditional love for another person and will do anything or wait for him or her forever because he or she loves them. It can also be a heartbreak song. New:ID members have individual charms and uniqueness because we have different personalities that make us different from each other, but if you combine them all, it can be balanced as cool, light, and sexy.
L: When we recorded our song "E.R," I just thought of an everlasting love for someone, that no matter what happens, I will keep all the happy memories of that person that I had, and I will wait for that person forever. I think we, all of the members, delivered it well in the music video with a touch of sexiness. We are all musically inclined, which I think sets us apart from all other new groups right now. We all have our different charms that make our group unique.
THAD: As per my comprehension, the original piece was trying to send a message that each member of DMTN is willing to wait for the love of their life no matter the situation. It is very evident in the chorus part of the song. But as we were recording, practicing, and preparing for our debut, it came to my senses that this song could mean very differently, especially to a young aspiring performer like my group members and me.
In my rap part: "Halos 'di na makatulog kakaisip aaminin ikaw lang ninanais ko." (I can barely sleep, constantly thinking, I'll confess, you're the only one I desire), I actually imagined myself talking to my future "successful" self that he is the only one I'm longing for and the only person I want to become.
Based on our "E.R" music video, New:ID's charm may seem sexy, manly, and a little bit more on the serious side. But after months of leading the group and witnessing the other sides of my members that the cameras don't see, I can say that as a group, we can offer a variety of concepts that are not limited to the aforementioned characteristics if based solely on "E.R" 's concept.
JOM: Our song is about heartbreak, but since I haven't yet experienced it, for me, it represents missing someone. As the lyrics of the song state "habang buhay maghihintay," (Waiting for you forever) I greatly miss all of the people I love who are waiting for us back in my home country. Our group expresses our charm by giving goosebumps to the people who will listen to it. Since it is a remake, it will have a nostalgic effect on the listener.
What made you want to become an artist? Have you always had a passion for music since your childhood?
WILSON: BTS is the group that inspired me to become an artist. The first time I saw them, I knew right away I wanted to be like them.
MACKY: The time that being an artist comes to my mind is when I am performing, and I see that many people are happy and enjoying my performance and when they appreciate my hard work. So, I tell myself that one of my goals is to make people happy by using my talent and by encouraging them.
Yes, since I was a kid, I have loved singing and playing instruments. The first songs that I learned to sing were “Amazing Grace,” and “My Heart Will Go On.” I learned how to sing from my grandmother because she loves singing, and I learned how to play an instrument in our church and school.
L: I've always dreamed of becoming a successful singer. I see myself performing every Sunday in a famous variety show in the Philippines called ASAP. I started joining singing competitions at an early age, which became a good training ground for my craft. I thought it was the only way or the only stepping stone to reach my dream.
I never thought of becoming an idol. I didn't even think that I would reach the finals of Dream Maker. I really didn't have any experience when it came to dancing. So, until now, it still hasn't sunk in that I'm here in South Korea to train as an idol and not just as a singer.
THAD: When I was young, I've always wanted to become someone who can express himself in a multitude of ways. One of them is being a film director — a person who's always behind the camera but can express their creativity through visual storytelling. But I never imagined myself in the exact opposite situation. Now that I'm training to become an idol, I fell in love with music and all the processes behind its creation.
Song recordings, music video filming, and lots and lots of talking in front of the camera — who knew that a once shy kid now freely expresses himself and his craft to the media? It is only now that I realized my dream of becoming a filmmaker was not a failure but rather a redirection. Instead of directing the artists on what they should be doing, it is all on me on how I can embody the message of the song through the art of performance.
JOM: To be really honest, one of my dreams was to work as a backup dancer for lots of well-known celebrities. But when I started watching K-Pop superstars perform, I was amazed and thought to myself, "Why can't I be an artist like them, too?" I've always enjoyed performing since I was a child. I frequently performed at school events. So, I believe that is one of the things that contributed to my desire to be an artist.
All of you started on the TV show Dream Maker individually. What has it been like coming together as a group, and what has been your biggest lesson from the show?
WILSON: At first, I was worried because I hadn’t interacted with them much before. The only person I was close with was JOM, but after some time being and training together as a group and team, I was relieved because we really got along well with each other. We are perfectly balanced, and everyone’s talent and skill complement each other. I’m so happy that we understand each other. The biggest lesson I learned from the show was to never give up, no matter how hard it is. Always keep going and pushing forward.
MACKY: I'm so happy to know that I've been in a group with THAD and JOM because they are my close friends in Dream Maker, and of course, I was happy that I was with L and WILSON because they are so great, and we have different uniqueness and strengths that can help each other with. The biggest lesson I learned in Dream Maker is to have confidence in yourself and love what you are doing because you should enjoy life and the things that you are doing to lead a healthy and happy life. Also, it helps me to appreciate the people who help and encourage me.
L: At first, it was really hard. We all have different personalities. We have characteristics, behaviors, and attitudes that we don't like about each other, but in the seven months we lived together, we learned to accept and adjust for the sake of the group since we will be brothers for the next seven years. There were small fights and misunderstandings, but I think that's what makes our bond and group stronger. That's what I learned when I joined Dream Maker. I have also had to adjust to everyone since we're all different, and the world doesn't revolve around me.
THAD: All throughout my journey in Dream Maker, I never felt the competition against my fellow contestants. I would describe it as an "aired workshop" instead of a survival show (at least from my perspective). I've made more friends than I've ever made in my entire life, including New:ID's members.
Coming together as a group made it very easy for us to adapt to each others' preferences, behaviors, and lifestyles. It is certain that every "Dream Chaser" has learned a lot in terms of dancing, singing, and socializing. But I can say that Dream Maker has taught me more on how to become resilient about every hardship that I may encounter.
All the bruises I've got from dancing, the times I lost my voice for hitting the high notes I never thought I could, the moment I realized I had to film myself for the first mentors' evaluation, and the countless times I cried when some of my good friends were eliminated from the show, just to name a few — these hardships are NOTHING compared to what we're heading to: becoming an idol. But at least I've baby-stepped my way to be a braver, tougher, and a more resilient THAD that everyone will ever see.
JOM: Becoming a group is incredibly exciting for me since it will mean that I will get to see my friends more often and that we will make our debut together. The show taught me that if you fail, you can't go back and change it. The only thing you can control is how you respond to this experience and how you decide to move on. Don't let a single failure ruin your goals. If you fail another time, keep trying again and work harder until success comes to you.
Being an idol or a trainee is not an easy feat both physically and mentally. What keeps you going when the going gets tough?
WILSON: My family and our supporters are the reasons for me to keep on going and not giving up. My goal is to make them proud and satisfy them with our music. It really is tough, but I’m willing to work hard for it.
MACKY: I always think that if I give up now, the times I worked hard to get to where I am now will be wasted, and the hard work and hardship of the people who helped me will be wasted. I also think about the people who [constantly] believe and support me because they are also the ones who give me hope and strength. So everyday, I always do my best for myself and for the people who are always supporting me.
L: Honestly, it's been really hard. It's still hard. I don't just think about how I'll improve in dancing or in singing. I also have to think about the people around me, if they will like me or not, if the audience will support us when we debut or if we're gonna be successful. It stresses me out almost everyday, but my family is always there to make me feel better and to cheer me up. They are there to listen to all of my rants. They are there to give advice. They are always there for me, and they are the reason why I'm still fighting for my dream.
THAD: Behind every luxurious outfit and perfect body are brave souls who chose to be in the limelight instead of the tranquility and peace of a normal life. As much as I love performing and socializing in front of people, there's always a side of me that finds comfort when I'm alone with my members. Just us, inside our dorm, doing normal people things. It is them who always keep me going day by day.
The hardest part of living in Korea is not being able to see my family for months and months. Thankfully, they've been very supportive of me since the start. From my audition for Dream Maker, as I became a trainee, and until my very first performance as an idol, they were always there to support and clap for my small successes in life. Because as my Mama has said, "Your success is also my success."
I've also realized that the things people see in front of the camera are just the tip of the iceberg. There are far more things we have to consider to become an idol. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every single process of it.
JOM: Being a trainee is really, really hard, but it was me who chose this to achieve my goal. Because of the people who believe in me, I am motivated to improve more and give them a fantastic performance every time they see us.
It goes without saying that every single member of New:ID is quite multi-faceted when it comes to their work. Leading up to the release of "E.R," the members got to showcase their own charms and personalities through a series of covers on YouTube, which you can watch below.
MEET THE MEMBERS:
WILSON
Name: Wilson Budoy
Birthday: 5/27/2001
Country of Origin: Austria (Vienna)
Hobbies: Volleyball
Skills: Singing and dancing
Instagram handle: @newid_wilson
L
Name: Vincent Josh T. Labing-isa
Birthday: 5/6/2002
Country of Origin: Philippines (Novaliches, Quezon City)
Hobbies: Listening to podcasts, drawing pictures
Skills: Singing
Instagram handle: @newid_l
THAD
Name: Jude Lucky Leshter Sune
Birthday: 3/30/2003
Country of Origin: Philippines (Plaridel, Bulacan)
Hobbies: Taking pictures, filming videos, cooking, dyeing hair
Skills: Dancing
Instagram handle: @newid_thad
JOM
Name: Jomari P. Aceron
Birthday: 3/3/2005
Country of Origin: Philippines (San Jose del Monte, Bulacan)
Hobbies: Taekwondo & Muay Thai, taking pictures, video editing
Skills: Dance and rapping
Instagram handle: @newid_jom
MACKY
Name: Mark Vincent A. Tuason
Birthday: 10/31/2001
Country of Origin: Philippines (San Vicente, Camarines Norte)
Hobbies: Basketball, watching movies, riding a motorcycle, swimming
Skills: Singing, playing various instruments (Guitar, electric guitar, drum, beatbox, ukulele)
Instagram handle: @newid_macky
The members got to showcase their colors through covers and performance videos released over the past few weeks, and have developed skills in a multitude of areas. What do you think are each member's unique charms or their strongest point(s)?
WILSON: MACKY really improved so much in dancing, which really surprised me, and his charm point is being handsome, but his strongest point is definitely his vocals. L really improved so much in dancing as well. His charm and strongest point are his vocals.
THAD improved in dancing, singing, and rapping. In addition, one of his strongest points is his visuals. JOM improved in dancing. That’s definitely his strongest point, but his charm point is his stage presence. He never disappoints when it comes to delivering a good performance.
MACKY: For the unique charms of my brothers, first is the cool and cute guy in our group, JOM. I think his strongest point is dancing because he is so good at it, and has many angles that make him cool and fierce. The second one is our handsome leader, THAD. For him, the strongest point would be his confidence and smart brain because he is good at leading us, like in practice and when we are talking to each other. He can speak very well in front of many people.
WILSON, our oldest member, is the sexy and dance book of our group because he can slay in dancing so much that many girls fall for him, and he is the one who teaches us choreography during our dancing lessons. And the last one, L's crystal voice. His strongest point is singing; he can sing any song and make it sound like it is his own song.
L: WILSON has that sexy-airy voice and charisma that will catch your attention when you see him perform. He really is the Ace of the group, I must say. JOM has that swag that you're looking for in a dancer and a rapper. MACKY will attract you with his charming face and angelic voice.
THAD will make everyone's mouth water for how good he looks and will make you draw your attention to him when you hear his cool and sultry rapping. Me, I can sing, and I have some good humor, which I think makes the group strong, powerful and complete.
THAD: The good thing about New:ID is we were trained to be able to do other things aside from our main positions in the group. MACKY showed us that aside from his charming looks, he can also confidently flaunt how much he has improved both in singing and dancing. A total performer he has become! JOM and WILSON, being the main rapper and the main dancer, respectively, will have you second guess what their official position really is. JOM, being the maknae that he is, is not an excuse for him not to be a dance machine.
And WILSON's soothing voice is just a pleasure to hear every single day. And lastly, how can I forget L's powerful vocals and powerful dancing? Slowly but surely, he is gaining the confidence to show off the other side of L that many people have overlooked back in Dream Maker. Can I call him "Josh of all trades"?
JOM: Each of us has unique charms: kuya THAD with his playful vibes, kuya Josh [L] with his humor, kuya MACKY with his attitude, kuya WILSON with his optimistic personality, and me being the coolest hehehe.
Do you have any specific artists that inspire you within the Philippines or internationally?
WILSON: BTS, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Chris Brown and Drake are inspiring me the most to be an artist.
MACKY: Eraserheads vocalist Ely Buendia and Charlie Puth are some of the artists who inspired me to become an artist as well.
L: When I started singing, a lot of R&B artists really inspired me to sing better. I even copied their ways of singing. I also copied their riffs and runs. [However], when I started to join Dream Maker and made it here in South Korea to be a trainee, SB19 really took a big place as an inspiration. They paved the way for the P-Pop Community. P-Pop wasn't really big in the Philippines back then, but they were so brave to show the Filipinos that they could keep up, and that they were as talented as other K-Pop groups too.
THAD: Looking back, I was always fascinated by how our seniors, SB19, have brought a new era in the Philippine music industry. If I'm going to be completely honest, they paved the way for us, and they made P-Pop known globally by showing the world what Filipinos have to offer.
JOM: A lot of artists inspire me, but I really look up to EXO's KAI.
You recently released the music video for "E. R" What was that experience like for you all? Do you have any fun memories from filming?
WILSON: That was definitely the most important experience. It was really fun, but also very hard. Now we definitely know what we can do better for the next music videos.
MACKY: It was so fun for me because that was our first experience making a music video, and the place, environment, and staff were so good and kind. The fun memories are the times that we ate three boxes of pizza.
L: It was a fun and new experience for me since it was my first time doing a music video shoot. I didn't expect that it would be like that. It was tiring, but the other members were there and, of course, our MLD family to make the music video shoot easier. They even made us eat salt to increase our energy. That was also a first for me and kind of weird, but hey, it worked. So, I think salt is gonna be essential from now on when we do music video shoots!
THAD: Everything that happened during the music video shoot was very new to us. Since the staff were very passionate towards our group, it made it a lot easier for us, because there was less pressure on our side. The thing I enjoyed most was the time when the Director said, "It's a wrap!" and all the members said, "수고하셨습니다 (sugo-hasyeossseubnida)" or a polite way of saying thanks for the efforts they put into this music video. It was indeed a gratifying moment for all of us.
JOM: Shooting the music video was very tiring, but I enjoyed it. And because I ate my favorite food at that time, I was really happy while filming.
How has the preparation for your debut been so far? How different is it from your trainee days and the time at Dream Maker?
WILSON: The preparation has been stressful so far, but I always give my best. The difference is pretty big. In Dream Maker, I focused more on standing out and being better than everyone else, but this time, we have to be perfect as a group together. As a team, we are one.
MACKY: The preparation for our debut is good and enjoyable because our song is beautiful. Sometimes it is tiring, but we are doing our best to make it good. It is different from trainee days because during the time that we were trainees, we were only training in singing, dancing, and rapping. We were not recording or filming songs.
For Dream Maker, it was different because DM was a competition, and we could be grouped with other people, but now the members of our group are always five.
L: Our preparation for our debut has been really fun. [During Dream Maker] I was stressed because, at that time, I really didn’t have any dancing experience. It felt like I had to improve in a short amount of time, but now that we are preparing for the debut, I feel more confident since we really started from the basics. We have vocal lessons. We work out every morning to improve our core and stamina. We still have a lot to learn, but I feel more prepared and ready to conquer the Philippine stage.
THAD: So far, I can say that our training back in Dream Maker was more difficult than our training today just because we were not just dancing and singing, but we also had a lot of other things to consider, like missions, on-cam interviews, and outfit fittings, in a limited amount of time. But now, we can fully focus on our classes because we have ample time each day to absorb all the information from our coaches and teachers.
JOM: So far, our preparation for our debut has gone smoothly; there are challenges, but we always find a way to overcome them. The only difference between now and the show is that we have more time to prepare.
Do you have any goals or aspirations in mind for when you debut?
WILSON: My goal is to make super good music for everyone to listen to. I want everyone who listens to our music to enjoy it, so the quality of our songs will always be the most important thing to me. I want us to reach the top.
MACKY: When we debut, my goal is to be the top pop artist in the Philippines, make many people happy by performing, and also encourage and inspire them in what they want to do.
L: My goal is to be famous and make good music. It's our goal to be one of the best, if not the top group in the Philippines, and if that happens, we will try our luck globally 'cause why not? It may seem impossible, but I believe in my talent and in my group mates that we can make it as long as we have each other.
THAD: It is given that we all aspire to have a successful career. But all I am thinking right now is how I can be the best THAD everyone will ever see on our exact debut day. The same goes for all members. Because you have nothing to regret if you did your best in the first place, and the best things will follow suit.
JOM: I hope people will like and appreciate our debut and that it will be a success.
Do you have any messages for your fans?
WILSON: Please stay safe and healthy, and always take care of yourselves! Make sure you enjoy our music. We work hard and try our best to make you proud. Thank you so much for being there for us and supporting us. We appreciate every single one of you. We are extremely thankful. We love you.
MACKY: For our fans, thank you for always supporting us, and thank you for always giving us hope to keep going in what we do. We hope that you will continue to support us until we achieve our goals and become the top pop artists in the Philippines.
L: We will make you proud. Just believe in us. You are the reason why we're here. It's not just our talent that will make us reach our goal; it's your support that will bring us up to the top. We, New:ID will keep on improving and will keep doing our best to give you the best music and performance. We love you all. We hope to meet and interact with you all soon! See you guys!
THAD: Yooo, how are you all New:ID fans? Many months have passed, but you're still with us, and we can't wait to finally show you what we've been working on while you were patiently waiting for our much-anticipated debut. I really hope we get to see you all soon. You guys are, for real, what keeps us going. Don't you all worry 'cos "Hanggang dulo, I'll be there." (Until the end, I’ll be there)
JOM: Thank you very much to all of our supporters; we sincerely appreciate it. Please eat a lot of your favorite foods and drink a lot of water every day. STAY HYDRATED!
As the group gears up for their debut, we hope listeners around the world show them lots of love and support with their future endeavors.