SB19’s Josh reflects on ‘letting go, painful goodbyes’ in new single ‘Sumaya’

SB19’s Josh in a promo photo for “Sumaya.” Image: Courtesy of Sony Music Philippines

SB19’s lead rapper and vocalist Josh Cullen Santos has released the new single “Sumaya,” which centers around the “heart-wrenching journey” of letting go and eventual acceptance.

The track, which was released on streaming platforms on Sunday, June 2, is about coming to terms with a failed love while going through the patterns of “pain and sadness of moving on.”

“It’s a song that delves into the pain and sadness of moving on while still cherishing the good times you had together,” he said in a press statement. Josh also noted that one of its lines, “kapag naihatid ka / di na kita susunduin,” captures the essence of the track which is meant to be a final goodbye.

The single was coproduced by the SB19 member and Kael Guerrero, and was arranged by the music production studio Tribute Collective.

“We drew inspiration from our own life experiences and memories, which makes this song very personal and emotional for both of us,” Josh said of his creative process with Kael.

“Kael and Tribute are real gems in this industry, and their combined efforts helped achieve a sound that is haunting and melancholic, perfectly matching the theme of letting go and the sorrow that comes with it,” he continued.

‘Sumaya’ music video

The single was also accompanied by a music video that showed Josh waking up in a house full of memories from his past. In some parts, he was seen hugging a teddy bear while going through the stages of mourning.

“The house [is filled with the] most important memories of my life, memories of someone I love deeply. As I touch these objects, they disintegrate and I realize it’s because of me,” he said while describing the music video.

“As I continue, I find myself shifting between reality and the void, struggling to escape the overwhelming chaos and emotions happening all at once. I don’t ever want to forget these memories yet I know I have to accept and release what I can’t control,” he further added.

Josh is credited as one of the directors with Jonathan Placido. In the press statement, he also thanked digital artist Miko del Rosario for making the production fun.

“[Miko] stuck with me during those late-night editing sessions. Despite the tight schedule and having no sleep at all, it wasn’t as stressful as I imagined. We were having fun, and their passion and dedication made the whole experience incredibly rewarding,” he said.

Josh was earlier announced as one of the performers at the 2024 Round Festival at the KBS Busan Hall in Busan, South Korea this coming July.

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