Filipino Singers

Celebrating Filipino Vocal Talent

The Juans

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Quick Facts

The Juans

Group Name: The Juans
Genre: Pop

Current Members:
Carl Guevarra (vocals, keyboards)
Japs Mendoza (vocals, guitar)

Former Members:
Jiad Arroyo (guitar, vocals)
Jason de Mesa (bass, vocals)
Daniel Grospe (drums, vocals)

Year of Inception: 2013 (with current label)
Group Reformat: 2018
Languages: Filipino, English
Label: Viva Records
Current Base: Metro Manila
Status: Active as a duo

The Juans – Photo by Hope Jemimah

About The Juans

Locating a comprehensive chronological timeline in one place for the history of this band is a bit of a challenge. Piecing their story together necessitated some digging through a hodgepodge of text and video material.

If the assortment of references are to be believed, the boys were originally meant to be a song and dance boy group. Being a bit short on dancing abilities however, and seeing that all but one could play an instrument, their management decided to repackage them into an instrument playing pop band. Jiad had to learn to play the guitar from YouTube tutorials and from his band mates to fit into the new concept. In their reality TV show, Daniel mentioned being a later addition to the group.

The band’s name reportedly came into being at a coffee shop shortly after a One Direction concert, and the boys we’re mulling over the British boy band’s popularity. The name D’ Juans, an obvious play at homonymy, was at first, jokingly thrown around, but eventually became not just the basis for the band’s name, but the core of their purpose. ‘Juan’ after all is the Filipino everyman, and it was, and it still is, the band’s hope to spread the message that every regular Juan could dream and succeed.

The Juans went on to sign a five year contract with Viva Records. At the close of their contract in 2018 however, three of the original five members decided it was time to move on to other things. Daniel’s is currently running his own company to help and handle new artists. Jason now has his own clothing line, Felipe. Jiad is apparently acting on TV, but is also pursuing his passion for motorcycles and custom building units for clients.

With just two members remaining, The Juans launched their album Umaga, still under Viva Records, at the last quarter of 2018. How Carl and Japs will fare together as the new The Juans remains to be seen.

Videos

Singles & EPs

  • The Juans (EP – 2015)
  • Nasayang Lang (Single – 2016)
  • Binibini sa MRT (Philpop 2016 song finalist)
  • Balisong (OST – 2017)
  • Istorya (Single – 2017)
  • Yan Tayo, Eh (OST – 2018)
  • Darkness Fell (OST – 2018)
  • Lumalapit (Single – 2018)
  • Umaga (Album – 2018)

Previous Endorsements

  • Coke (Brand Ambassador)

TV

  • We are the Juans (Viva TV – 2018)

Nominations

  • MYX Music Awards Favorite New Artist (2016)
  • Awit Awards Performance by a New Group (2016 – Prom)
  • PMPC Star Awards Dance Album of the Year (2016)
  • Wish Music Awards Best Wishclusive Performance (2016 – Prom)
  • PhilPop Competition Finalist (2016 – Binibini Sa MRT)
  • Wish Music Awards Pop Song of the Year (2017 – Nasayang Lang)
  • Awit Awards Best Ballad Recording (2017 – Nasayang Lang)

Awards

  • Wish Music Awards Original Song of the Year by a Group (2016 – Prom)
  • MYX Music Awards Favorite Group of the Year (2017)

Perspective

By all appearances, the members of the original quintet seemed quite visually disparate, and yet when they performed, there was no doubt they belonged together. If the mark of effective band music is to communicate a united auditory feel, the five together played a unmistakably singular tune. Their fresh, upbeat sound delivered such joyful energy that even their saddest songs seemed strangely lighthearted and uplifting. Which is why it is a source of no small regret that their unique sound will perhaps never be heard again.

No doubt with just two remaining, the switch will be somewhat jarring, but each being accomplished musicians on their own, there is more than enough hope for a transition to a beautiful new tone.

Praise for the Band

We first saw The Juans sa isang bar sa Quezon City… May mga nagsabi na rin na may bagong banda, magaling tumugtog and very current ang sound… Nagustuhan namin yung nakita namin the first time we saw them. Strong point ng banda is nakakatugtog sila ng maayos, and at the same time they have the looks for it kasi. (We first saw The Juans in a bar in Quezon City… There was some talk of a new band that played well and had a very current sound… We liked what we saw the first time we saw them. Their strong point is they can play well, and at the same time they have the looks for it.)

Yung pagiging pursigido nila in what they do and yung camaraderie among them makikita mo kasi matagal na sila kahit even before we signed them up matagal na silang natutulong-tulong to reach that same goal. (You can really see their persistence in what they do and their camaraderie because they’ve been together for a long time. Even before we signed them up, they’d already been helping each other for some time reach the same goal.)

– Civ Fontanilla
Record Producer
Viva Records
We Are The Juans Episode 5: Juan Behind the Cam

Listening to the six-song set “Umaga,” we were not surprised the Carl and Japs duo still sounds full. In fact, Carl (lead singer, keyboardist) and Japs (guitarist, lead singer) make moving forward look effortless.

From an organic, live-band sounding fare now comes a more electronic bent for The Juans. And it’s a sound full and brimming with tunefulness. Starting with the hopeful, electro-tinged title track (“Umaga”). Japs and Carl seem to be invigorated by the challenge of taking their music to its next level as evidenced in the pop-dance track “Panaginip.

– Punch Liwanag
Manila Bulletin – AUDIO JUNKIE: OPM binge overload

Contact

Bookings

Listen

iTunes – The Juans

On Instagram

Trivia

  • All five original members of the band once lived together under one roof.
  • Japs joined The Voice Philippines in 2013 and landed a spot in Lea Salonga’s team.
  • Aside from his talent for music, Japs also has skills in the visual arts; he paints.
  • Jiad took the first runner up spot of It’s Showtime’s 2014 Gandang Lalake segment.
  • From singing contests to reality shows, Daniel, but his own admission is a veteran at auditioning. He eventually won an acting contest in Eat Bulaga which paved the way for a teleserye spot in GMA’s Saang Sulok ng Langit.
  • Daniel interpreted the song Kesa in the first Philpop Music Festival in 2012 which would later earn him the 2013 Awit Award for Best Performance by a New Male Artist. Also in 2013, he joined TV5’s Kanta Pilipinas singing contest.
  • Carl was a finalist in GMA’s Ride to Fame.
  • Before he became a recording artist, Carl got his early break as a performer in musicals Kelly Kelly Ang Hit Na Musical, Batang Rizal, Lola Basyang and Peter Pan.
  • Jason is the son of OPM legend Rico J. Puno.
  • Like Carl, Jason also took roles on stage in Ibong Adarna and Saranggola ni Pepe.

Posted: October 30, 2018

Profile photo used with permission from Hope Jemimah.