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One struggled with addiction and years of personal chaos before finding his way back to music. The other nearly landed a GMA management deal that quietly stopped progressing after a series of meetings.

Despite taking completely different paths toward the industry, Bogs Ardiente and Bjorn Morta are now beginning a new chapter under the management of Rams David and Artist Circle.

The two artists were formally introduced to members of the entertainment media, including CinemaBravo, during an intimate media gathering held in Quezon City on May 13, 2026.

Bogs Ardiente recalls life before music pulled him back

During the interview, Bogs candidly reflected on the difficult years that shaped him long before Artist Circle entered the picture.

“Ang daming naging kuwento ng buhay ko. I dropped out [of] school, nag-drug abuse ako. Yeah, I’ve used drugs, ta’s pina-tattoo ko ‘to,” he said while showing part of his chest tattoo. “’Cause I do believe that marijuana is a recreational drug, for me. But, it gets worse, di ba?”

(There were so many stories in my life. I dropped out of school and got into drug abuse. Yeah, I’ve used drugs, and I even had this tattoo done because I believed marijuana was just a recreational drug for me. But it got worse, right?)

What started as recreational use eventually began affecting both his mental and emotional state.

“It gets worse, parang naging ano ako, alam mo yung mini-schizoprhenic. Naging dalawa yung personality ko, kasi parang hindi na ako happy kung hindi ako nakakahithit.”

(It got worse. I became somewhat like a mini-schizophrenic. It felt like I had two personalities because I wasn’t happy anymore unless I was smoking.)

Bogs also shared how growing up away from his mother left a lasting impact on him.

“Like, I thought yon yung way na para maibsan—kasi lumaki ako, walang nanay e! 17 years kaming hindi nagkita. So, parang ang gulo ng naging buhay ko.”

(I thought that was my way of coping because I grew up without my mother. We didn’t see each other for 17 years, so my life became chaotic.)

He eventually moved to Canada, where he spent years juggling different jobs instead of returning to school.

“And then, pagdating ko sa Canada, 7 years kong tinapos yung college ko kaya hindi na ako nag-aral ulit. Kasi pag [sa schooling sa] Canada kasi, kailangan mong bumalik ulit from the start para i-pursue yung, ano, yung career o yung aaralin mo do’n.”

(When I got to Canada, it already took me seven years to finish college, so I didn’t study again. In Canada, you have to start all over again if you want to pursue another career or field of study there.)

Before fully pursuing music, Bogs worked in construction, restaurants, and factories abroad.

“Ang first job ko do’n, [sa] construction. Naging waiter ako, naging factory worker ako.”

(My first job there was in construction. I became a waiter and a factory worker.)

The performance that changed everything

Despite the instability in his life at the time, Bogs said one experience eventually shifted his direction completely.

After meeting musicians and watching a live performance, he experienced what he described as a eureka moment — enough to make him leave his job and finally pursue music seriously.

Today, he describes his sound as “cultural modern ethnic,” a style that blends modern genres with cultural influences.

“We can do R&B, we can do pop, we can do love song, we can do rap, we can do rock, but we the taste of cultural sound.”

Growing up, he listened to artists such as Jim Croce, America, The Beatles, and Bob Marley. Among local acts, he cited Ben&Ben as one of the artists he currently listens to.

“I walk with Christ now.” — Bogs Ardiente

The singer also spoke openly about trying to leave his vices behind, crediting both his brother and his faith for helping him change his lifestyle.

“Of course, with the help [of] my brother, napakalaking tulong. Like, right now, I walk with Christ na. I walk with Christ, like I stopped my vices: I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t gamble…”

(Of course, with the help of my brother, it helped me a lot. Right now, I walk with Christ already. I walk with Christ, and I stopped my vices: I don’t smoke, drink, or gamble anymore.)

When asked how long he has been clean, Bogs gave an honest update about his progress.

“Sa smoking cigarettes, 1 year. For drinking… hindi na yung tulad ng dati na almost every day. Like [occasionally na] lang. But, right now talaga, I’m clean. Siguro mga 4 months. Marijuana, mga 2 months, 3 months.”

(For smoking cigarettes, it’s been one year. For drinking, it’s no longer like before when it was almost every day — now it’s only occasional. But right now, I’m really clean. Maybe around four months. For marijuana, around two to three months.)

For him, spirituality eventually became a major part of his transformation.

“Kasi if you walk with Christ and if you read your Bible, you know what to do.”

(Because if you walk with Christ and read your Bible, you’ll know what to do.)

Bjorn Morta looks beyond his ‘Tanghalan ng Kampeon’ win

While Bogs spoke about rebuilding his life through music and faith, fellow Artist Circle talent Bjorn Morta reflected on the opportunities — and missed ones — that came after winning a national television singing competition.

Bjorn first entered the television scene when he joined the Kapuso reality singing competition The Voice Generations in 2023, the first GMA Network adaptation of the global “The Voice” franchise. He became part of Chito Miranda’s team during the competition, although he did not win that season.

Two years later, Bjorn returned to the competition stage and eventually emerged as the 2025 grand champion of “Tanghalan ng Kampeon,” the singing contest segment of the GMA Network program TiktoClock.

His victory earned him P500,000 along with a home appliance package worth P75,000. It also opened doors to guest appearances on both “TiktoClock” and All-Out Sundays.

Among Bjorn’s biggest influences is Michael Jackson — although he laughingly admitted that dancing is not exactly his strongest skill.

His winning performance during the competition was Jackson’s classic hit Rock with You.

Bjorn also recalled having meetings with management groups connected to GMA before things eventually stopped progressing.

“I only had a meeting with Sparkle, tapos yung sa GMA Music po yata. Hindi po natuloy. Yung na Sparkle po, natuloy po do’n, nagka-meeting kami, then after that [wala na].”

(I only had a meeting with Sparkle, and I think also with GMA Music. It didn’t push through. With Sparkle, we were able to have a meeting, then after that, nothing followed.)

Since his television breakthrough, Bjorn has started building his music catalog through the upcoming releases of his original compositions ‘Hiling’, ‘Lilim’, and ‘Hinahanap Kita’.

Now officially under Artist Circle, both Bogs and Bjorn are preparing for more performances, music releases, and future projects as they continue carving out their place in the local music scene.