The Juans Take a Milestone Leap With TAWID
The word “tawid” in Filipino primarily means “to cross.” It simply means moving from one place to another. As is the case with most words, the country’s counterpart to "crossing" has also developed new meanings. And for The Juans — consisting of members Carl Guevarra, Japs Mendoza, Chael Adriano, and RJ Cruz — the word represents the current stage in their respective lives.
While the pop-rock band started out with more upbeat songs during the early years of their career, they have unexpectedly established a name for themselves as a “hugot band,” known for their songs about love and heartache. It is a songwriting style they have mastered over the past few years, with singles like “Hindi Tayo Pwede,” “Hatid,” and “Dulo.” All these tracks, also categorized as “mapanakit (hurtful)” songs, tackle love in its purest form, though not in its most tender.
For their new album, titled TAWID, The Juans is still devoted to their brand of storytelling. This album, however, is more nuanced. It marks a reinvention of their musical style, both lyrically and sonically. During the listening party and press conference held at TriNoma last Sept. 4, The Beat Asia got a chance to experience TAWID before its official release. Here’s what we think about the album.
‘TAWID’ Proves the Juans Is More Than Just Their ‘Hugot Band’ Moniker
If there’s one thing fans can expect from the album, it’s that The Juans’ customary songs about the heartbreaking side of love are still very much present. On being branded as a "hugot band," lead vocalist Guevarra said during the press conference, "I think hugot songs only make sense if they come from a point of sincere, honest love. The lover part will always be an integral key to our messaging."
In Tagalog, “Hugot” means “pull.” The word has also taken on a new meaning, especially in the contemporary era, where it refers to drawing out something more profound and sentimental from deep within. For Guevarra, all their hugot songs stem from a genuine feeling of affection. It’s not something they just pulled out of thin air. Pain wouldn’t be present, after all, if the love wasn’t real in the first place. It’s the authenticity of it all that has made their songs strike a deep emotional chord among listeners. And Gueverra couldn't have explained it better.
“Hindi ka naman masasaktan kung hindi ka nagmahal ng tunay (You won’t get hurt if you weren’t truly in love). Therefore, [love] is essential to our storytelling. It’s part of the formula… We are storytellers first before we are musicians. There will be love songs all the time,” Guevarra added.
The band members revealed it took them half a year to fully flesh out the album, with some songs written a few years ago. The album, which consists of 10 songs (including the previously released “Ako Na Lang” and “Ano Ba Talaga Tayo?” featuring Janine Berdin), originally had more than 10. While the band admitted it was scary at first to put as many as 10 out there, it was also a struggle for them to narrow the list down.
“It was more about truly committing to the messaging and storytelling. [Our one guiding light was what we wanted to write] from a place where we actually are — at this point in life, our age, and our emotional state,” said Guevarra.
It’s clear that TAWID wasn’t intended to be just an album fans can listen to during sad hours. It serves as a representation of where the band is currently, both in creative and personal aspects. Although writing about the different facets of romance has always been The Juans’ bread and butter, they have, from time to time, incorporated songs that aren’t all about love. TAWID is no different. If anything, it only showcases the band’s sensibilities as both artists and storytellers, having successfully conveyed complex emotions through their songwriting.
The album’s opening track, “Gusto Kita,” is a high-energy, disco-leaning number about a bold declaration of love. It is a fun contrast to the album’s far less energetic tone, setting the stage for what would become an emotionally charged listening experience. It is followed by "Ako Na Lang," where the narrator clings to the hope of being chosen by the one they desire. However, one romantic single from the album stands out the most: “‘Di Na Masakit.”
The Juans point out that we often hear songs about the painful aftermath of a relationship, but rarely about what happens when both the pain — and the love — finally fade. The track is a celebration of moving forward, free from the weight of what once was. Of course, it wouldn’t be a The Juans record without a generous dose of “hugot.” And “hugot” they deliver. But it’s in songs like “Tanda” and “Naiwan” where we truly get a chance to connect with the band on a deeper level.
Inspired by a band member’s friend who recently got married, “Naiwan” is a song about contemplating life and realizing that it’s moving quickly for everyone they love. It’s not a bitter song — just a sudden realization that time is passing, things are changing, our friends are getting their lives together, and at some point, we start feeling a little left behind; hence, the title.
“Tanda,” on the other hand, is a sentimental single about looking back on what they’ve accomplished as a band, holding onto their fondest memories as they grow older, and preserving them until the moment age finally catches up with them.
TAWID is undeniably a The Juans album. They are not yet done writing about the different aspects of love — and, by all means, they don’t have to be. After all, the band thrives greatly on authenticity. Every song they write is based on real experiences, whether romantic or otherwise. That said, the album could have been even stronger with more songs outside the romantic context, as the band has proven they can handle deeper and more diverse themes just as well.
The Juans Is Done Chasing Popularity
Having recently celebrated their 10th year as The Juans, the lesson they continue to embrace is to see things through “purpose, not popularity.” Over those 10 years, they've learned that "longevity is the name of the game." As Guevarra said, "it’s not about chasing hype — it’s about living a life with purpose."
Reflecting on their journey and drive, Guevarra shares insights into what fuels The Juans’ perseverance and evolving aspirations. “Being ambitious is one of the reasons why we keep pushing, even if we don’t see the output that we desire. In our 10 years as The Juans, not every song we release [has been a hit]… But our dreams have expanded from [wanting to be] known and famous to being an inspiration to the people that we are singing for… Our dreams are expanding. And this ambition that we have is also one of our driving factors in giving our best even if we don’t see the [fruits of our labor] yet.”
Years ago, the members of The Juans asked themselves one question: “Bakit kaya wala nagsusulat tungkol sa’tin (Why is no one writing about us)?” They’re thankful that several journalists have started writing about them, especially last year.
“Uy, nakikita na tayo sa balita (Hey, we made it to the news),” said Gueverra.
During the press conference, a number of Juanistas (the band’s fanbase) were already flocking to experience the album firsthand. Despite time constraints, The Beat Asia managed to ask at least one question that all members could answer quickly: “If each member could pick just one personal favorite track from the album, what would it be?”
RJ: “Ngiti.”
Carl: “Naiwan.”
Japs: “Gusto Kita.”
Chael: “Tanda.”
No explanations. Just a raw glimpse into where the members currently are, songs that would allow listeners a look into their personal journeys. Overall, TAWID is a strong reflection of who The Juans truly are as a band and as individual artists. It is a great milestone album, serving listeners a record perfect for late-night hours. The album shows they are more than just a band known for heartbreak anthems, as they venture beyond their usual comfort zone while staying true to what fans love about them. And we’re excited to see them bare more layers of themselves in the future.
TAWID is out now. Follow The Juans on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Twitter) for updates on their latest music releases and upcoming shows.
Get the latest curated content with The Beat Asia's newsletters. Sign up now for a weekly dose of the best stories, events, and deals delivered straight to your inbox. Don't miss out! Click here to subscribe.
