KAIA finds strength in their fans and each other to keep going

P-pop girl group KAIA in a concept photo for their single “Walang Biruan.” Image: X/@KAIAOfficialPH

KAIA wants to remind listeners that they are all-rounders. After displaying a charismatic persona in “You Did It,” “Walang Biruan” shifts into their feminine side and celebrates female friendships.

The first scene of the UK garage track’s music video is a glimpse of their bond—Angela, Charlotte, Sophia, and Charice urge Alexa to chat up her crush. But the latter accidentally sends a message to them, with her bandmates giggling to support her sudden move.

According to the P-pop girl group, the scene didn’t have a script. It was them simply joking around and enjoying each other’s company.

“We don’t want to box ourselves into just one concept,” Angela told INQUIRER.net in a one-on-one interview weeks after “Walang Biruan’s” release. “We want to be diverse. We’re trying different things to grow as artists and find what’s perfect for us.” The group’s leader also noted that the single is a reminder that there’s power in embracing their girly and feminine side.

While KAIA has always been hands-on with their releases —“dumadaan ’yan sa butas ng karayom (it goes through a tedious process),” as Alexa and Charice pointed out—their recent single is a glimpse of their future releases.

“Walang Biruan (no joke), we want to show that we’re all-rounders. We’re very passionate about our work,” Angela said before taking a moment of silence. “We don’t have to be told to do something. We do things because we love what we want to do. We have an initiative to do things for our craft.”

“No joke, we’re very hands-on with what we do. All of our releases go through us. Everything must have a touch of KAIA,” Alexa pointed out.

Hopeful, but kind to themselves

As they navigate their journey, the quintet finds joy in declaring they “will make it.” They also enjoy declaring their dreams in public, such as posting on social media or saying at events, “sana sumikat na ang KAIA (I hope KAIA becomes famous)” or “KAIA sikat (KAIA is famous).”

These acts of manifestation are some of the group’s ways of harnessing their dreams into reality and remaining hopeful. “Of course, we’ll break down first,” Alexa joked when asked how they go through struggles. This moment allowed the group to reiterate that being vulnerable is okay, as long as they remember their goal to “empower people through songs and stories [they] tell.”

“People believe you need to do and be at your best every day. But sometimes, it’s not feasible,” Charice said. “You need to take a rest. You need to take care of yourself. You need to reserve energy for yourself.”

KAIA’s Angela, Charice, and Alexa in a concept photo for “Walang Biruan.” Image: X/@KAIAOfficialPH

Sophia agreed with her bandmate’s remark, noting that phones need to be charged. “Rest is part of success. Growth is part of success. You can’t keep on going all the time.”

Mutual support has always been a key factor in their journey, with the members being aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. “We fill each other’s gaps,” Angela said, noting it’s a habit of the group to keep tabs on each other at all times. Sophia, on the other hand, noted that “they came a long way” while following up with, “What haven’t we experienced together” with a knowing smile.

“In terms of our performances, we know when someone is best for a certain part. We trust this person,” Charice said. “At the same time, we know if a certain member can only exert this much. This is where we come in. I guess this is how we achieve our goals as a group.”

“We make sure that we’re here for each other,” Charlotte said, chiming in. “No one is left behind. We have to be there for each other. We have to be together. We can’t leave one behind.”

Looking back at their journey, the members felt they truly had each other’s back while preparing for their first concert in December 2023. At the time, Angela said it was a tough time for the group, with the members even wondering if they could still push through

“Before our concert, there was a time where we’re asked if we can still do it,” Charlotte added. “To be honest, we had moments where we thought if we should stop. But when the girls are then asked about it, we want to keep going. This makes me want to always rely on my members. If they still want to keep going, I will keep going.”

Aside from finding strength in themselves, KAIA relies on the support of their fans (or ZAIA). “We always think of our ZAIA. Even if 10 of them are left, it’s okay for us. Because they can multiply. And we’ll keep on performing even if one of them will be left,” Angela said.

The concert was eventually sold out and KAIA performed for thousands of fans. For Sophia, it was a moment that gave them a “new sense of motivation.”

“We would sometimes wake up thinking if we’re going to be successful. There are days when we wake up feeling unmotivated and we want to give up. But what makes it easier is we’re in a group,” Sophia added. “If one of us says that we can do it, the remaining members will follow. We get strength from each other.”

KAIA’s Charlotte and Sophia in a concept photo for “Walang Biruan.” Image: X/@KAIAOfficialPH

Being real

KAIA also believes in the power of being authentic. This includes being true to themselves and addressing issues that matter, such as reminding fans and casual listeners to “be kind.”

“We have to take care of our fans. They are a reflection of us, of who we are, and our character,” Sophia said. “All P-pop idols have a goal of making P-pop bigger. Let’s not create problems out of something that’s meant to be a problem in the first place. We hope to celebrate each other because one group’s success is success for the P-pop community.”

Aside from “creating awareness and allowing themselves to be authentic,” Angela hopes KAIA will be remembered as a girl group that empowers fans to keep pushing for their dreams and celebrating who they truly are.

“We realized that we became KAIA because we have the strength to move forward despite the challenges. We can power through if we’re together,” she said. “We receive messages from fans saying, ‘Because of your music, I can do my best.’ For me, KAIA is not just a group. It is a connection with our fans. We have a clear vision and message that you can do it.”

KAIA in a concept photo for “Walang Biruan.” Image: X/@KAIAOfficialPH

While her bandmates nodded in agreement, Sophia emphasized that they want to be “accepted for who they are.” For KAIA, they had several mistakes throughout their careers, but these moments didn’t hold them back from powering through. “I used these to motivate me. It made me who I am. I always return to my mistakes as a way of seeing them as a stepping stone.”

Touching on the lyrics of their debut song “Kaya,” Angela reflected that every day is a new beginning—a message she hoped fans will always remember.

“Don’t let other people box you or tell you you can’t do it because you can make it,” she reflected. “And KAIA will make it. We want to be famous in the sense that we want to influence and inspire more people, rather than just thinking that we have to be on top.”