SB19’s Josh Cullen Santos in an idea photograph for the “Misplaced & Discovered” album. Picture: Courtesy of Sony Music Philippines
When Josh Cullen Santos of SB19 debuted as a solo artist with “Wild Tonight” in February 2023, he declared that he’s happy with being the “driving pressure” behind his personal inventive imaginative and prescient.
This driving pressure prolonged to Josh’s first solo album “Misplaced & Discovered.” Launched on Friday, Sept. 6, the document is impressed by his “internal fact” whereas referring to themes of “ache and struggling, redemption, and the facility of human resilience.”
“Misplaced & Discovered is about my very own emotional actuality and is written with each authenticity and depth,” he mentioned in a press assertion. “In [the album], I sing in regards to the ache that by no means actually leaves us, the trauma that lingers lengthy after we consider our wounds have healed, and discovering energy inside ourselves.”
The album accommodates the tracks “1999,” “See Me,” “Silent Cries,” “Trustworthy,” “No Management ft. (e)movement engine,” “Lights Out (feat. Alamat Mo),” and “Sumaya.” It additionally consists of instrumental variations of “Silent Cries” and “No Management.”
‘1999’
Opening the album is “1999,” which is the singer’s tribute to his “youthful self.” Accompanied by guitar riffs, Josh expresses his rage for his 1999 self whereas permitting listeners to witness his “painful actuality.” The persistent beat, the intentional shift from rage- to soft-induced singing, and the lyrics—significantly “Kinakagat ang dila hanggang / Mawala ang sakit na dulot na realidad / And I do know I’ll by no means heal / ’Trigger this world desires to f*ck me / And I can’t change that”—is a piercing dive into his actuality.
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‘See Me’
In what gave the impression to be a hug to the album’s opener, “See Me” touches on Josh’s hope to “see me the best way that you just see me.” The observe—which allowed the SB19 member’s singing to take middle stage—confirmed his current self speaking to his youthful self, all whereas combining a fab beat and a sugary candy vocal efficiency.
‘Silent Cries’
Informal listeners would notice Josh because the fiery rapper and slick dancer of SB19. However “Silent Cries” reintroduces him as a vocalist, whereas permitting followers to see (not less than) a glimpse of his vulnerability, with “On this cycle, trapped without end / Shedding my thoughts / Is it meant for me to cry and hate my life” as one in all its most piercing lyrics. The observe confronts his internal demons whereas being a whiplash of what we undergo once they’re alone.
‘Trustworthy’
Combining R&B and ballad genres, “Trustworthy” is one other stunning showcase of Josh’s vulnerability, joined by guitar riffs and a subdued beat. The observe dives into the singer’s honesty by the lens of an grownup making sense of his goal on this planet. However regardless of his vulnerability, it nonetheless leaves room for himself because it ends on an open notice.
‘No Management ft. (e)movement engine’
“No Management” faucets into Josh’s knack for rock whereas serving as an empowering reminder that it’s okay to let go and run away from the chaos. The observe is one other providing of the singer’s “wild” aspect—which was first showcased in his February 2023 debut—however this track reveals him being untamed, however this time, as a method of comforting his listeners.
‘Lights Out (feat. Alamat Mo)’
Josh has all the time been referred to as the attractive member of SB19. However “Lights Out” is a show of what it means to be sensual—with the “lights out”—with out being too raunchy. Steering from the album’s rock-infused route, this track describes what it means to be drunk in dizzying pleasure within the comforts of a darkish room and swoops listeners in for an exciting journey.
‘Sumaya’
Launched in June 2024, “Sumaya” explores the pains of a relationship that ended, in hopes of the previous lover to be comfortable. The observe is one other trustworthy providing to the album’s purpose of being susceptible, all whereas displaying relatability and a glimpse of Josh’s maturity as a accomplice, as many breakup songs would normally finish on a bitter notice or the singer collapsing into some form of a sufferer mentality.