CinemaBravo

There’s a new boy group in town called SKYGARDEN, and they are extraordinary in being a unique addition to the roster of GMA Music’s dynamic sub-label AltG Records. Meet the Filipino-Japanese trio composed of Ryoichi “Ryo” Rivera Nagtsuka, Hiro Ozaki, and Iwaki “Iwa” Maegawa, and welcome to AltG!

They met the entertainment press during a mediacon last September 30 in a restaurant in Quezon City. When asked if they want to pursue acting career aside from being singers, they mentioned that they already guested in the now-defunct Kapuso sitcom Daddy’s Gurl. with Vic Sotto and Maine Mendoza. They have already participated as contestants in Dingdong Dantes’ latest iteration of Family Feud Philippines.

In terms of joining other Kapuso shows, they want to be part of sitcoms like Bubble Gang, noting how “sobrang funny” Kapuso comedy genius Michael V is.

They also showed interest in being part of a remake of Encantadia, without knowing beforehand that Sang’gre: Encantadia Chronicles is in the works with Bianca Umali as the lead actress playing the role of the only child of Sang’gre Danaya (played by Sanya Lopez in the 2016 remake-sequel). They were left in disbelief and in awe upon knowing this upcoming show.

One of their dreams was to be part of the soundtrack of Voltes V: Legacy. “Sana maging opening or ending ng Voltes V.”

If they could turn back time, they could also have been part of the ‘Voltes V: Legacy’ soundtrack and have sung the opening or theme song of the hit primetime show. Julie Anne San Jose and Matt Lozano ended up taking the credits for the two popular songs, respectively.

Here are some snaps from their fun-filled media conference.

The contract signing happened last July 28. They were graced by the presence of GMA Music Managing Director Rene Salta, Artist and Repertoire Manager and in-house producer Kedy Sanchez, as well as SKYGARDEN manager Ruby Cuevas.

Since their debut in 2022, the SKYGARDEN trio of Ryo, Hiro, and Iwa have won the hearts of Filipinos with their infectious energy, creative ideas, and engaging video content. Their videos quickly went viral across social media platforms, amassing impressive viewership on Facebook, Tiktok, and YouTube. This caught the attention of the Kapuso Network and led them to become contestants in MA’s top-rating game show Family Feud.

“We all started as content creators. Our goal is to entertain our audience with the various challenges we take on. And of course, now that we are part of Alt Records, we also want to share our songs with the Filipinos and sana ma-feel nila ‘yung passion ng mga kanta namin,” says Ryo.

The trio’s unique blend of talents and cultural influences will be heard soon. They have been producing covers of popular OPM songs, adding their unique spin and Japanese touch. Their much-anticipated debut single “KOKOA” is scheduled for release in September 1. Written by Hiro, the song carries a profound message of love and affection. The title was derived from the Japanese phrase “Kokoro kara Aishiteru” which translates to “I love vou from the bottom of my heart.” It was inspired by Iwa’s experience in love and blends Japanese anime rock with Tagalog lyrics.

“We’ve always believed in pushing boundaries and bringing something fresh to our audience.

‘Kokoa’ is a testament to our dedication to authenticity and creativity. Our music, just like our content, is a reflection of who we are as individuals and as a group,” shares Ryo.

Listen to SKYGARDEN’s debut single “KOKOA” below.