SB19’s Josh Cullen Santos in a concept photo for the “Lost & Found” album. Image: 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 proud of being the “driving force” behind his own creative vision.
This driving force extended to Josh’s first solo album “Lost & Found.” Released on Friday, Sept. 6, the record is inspired by his “inner truth” while touching on themes of “pain and suffering, redemption, and the power of human resilience.”
“Lost & Found is about my own emotional reality and is written with both authenticity and depth,” he said in a press statement. “In [the album], I sing about the pain that never really leaves us, the trauma that lingers long after we believe our wounds have healed, and finding strength within ourselves.”
The album contains the tracks “1999,” “See Me,” “Silent Cries,” “Honest,” “No Control ft. (e)motion engine,” “Lights Out (feat. Alamat Mo),” and “Sumaya.” It also includes instrumental versions of “Silent Cries” and “No Control.”
‘1999’
Opening the album is “1999,” which is the singer’s tribute to his “younger self.” Accompanied by guitar riffs, Josh expresses his rage for his 1999 self while allowing listeners to witness his “painful reality.” The persistent beat, the intentional shift from rage- to soft-induced singing, and the lyrics—particularly “Kinakagat ang dila hanggang / Mawala ang sakit na dulot na realidad / And I know I’ll never heal / ’Cause this world wants to f*ck me / And I can’t change that”—is a piercing dive into his reality.
‘See Me’
In what seemed to be a hug to the album’s opener, “See Me” touches on Josh’s hope to “see me the way that you see me.” The track—which allowed the SB19 member’s singing to take center stage—showed his present self communicating to his younger self, all while combining a groovy beat and a sugary sweet vocal performance.
‘Silent Cries’
Casual listeners would note Josh as the fiery rapper and slick dancer of SB19. But “Silent Cries” reintroduces him as a vocalist, while allowing fans to see (at least) a glimpse of his vulnerability, with “In this cycle, trapped forever / Losing my mind / Is it meant for me to cry and hate my life” as one of its most piercing lyrics. The track confronts his inner demons while being a whiplash of what we go through when they’re alone.
‘Honest’
Combining R&B and ballad genres, “Honest” is another surprising showcase of Josh’s vulnerability, joined by guitar riffs and a subdued beat. The track dives into the singer’s honesty through the lens of an adult making sense of his purpose in the world. But despite his vulnerability, it still leaves room for himself as it ends on an open note.
‘No Control ft. (e)motion engine’
“No Control” taps into Josh’s knack for rock while serving as an empowering reminder that it’s okay to let go and run away from the chaos. The track is another offering of the singer’s “wild” side—which was first showcased in his February 2023 debut—but this song shows him being untamed, but this time, as a way of comforting his listeners.
‘Lights Out (feat. Alamat Mo)’
Josh has always been known as the sexy member of SB19. But “Lights Out” is a display of what it means to be sensual—with the “lights out”—without being too raunchy. Steering from the album’s rock-infused direction, this song describes what it means to be drunk in dizzying pleasure in the comforts of a dark room and swoops listeners in for a thrilling ride.
‘Sumaya’
Released in June 2024, “Sumaya” explores the pains of a relationship that ended, in hopes of the former lover to be happy. The track is another faithful offering to the album’s goal of being vulnerable, all while displaying relatability and a glimpse of Josh’s maturity as a partner, as many breakup songs would usually end on a bitter note or the singer collapsing into some sort of a victim mentality.