P-pop newcomer AYO turns multicultural backgrounds into ‘collective advantage’

AYO — a Davao-based boy group composed of Justin, Renzo, GV, TJ, Enzo, Zack and Patrick — entered the P-pop scene with a goal to show how their multicultural backgrounds play a role in their artistry.

AYO, whose name is based on the Cebuano word “maayo,” which means talented or knocking on one’s door in English, introduced themselves through their pre-debut single “I’m Him.” Released last April, this hip-hop-infused track empowers listeners to rebel against expectations and embrace their true selves. 

“Within our group, we each bring different strengths and come from varied backgrounds. Instead of letting that highlight our individuality alone, we turn it into a collective advantage. ‘I’m Him’ represents our confidence in our individual strengths — but more importantly, it’s about expressing them together as one, in harmony,” they said.

The song is produced by Paolo Lofranco, known for creating hip-hop in the indie and mainstream scenes.

“We’re incredibly grateful to be working with [Paolo Lofranco] on this song. It is a song he already made even before AYO was formed. Undoubtedly, it captures the core of our DNA. Moving forward, we’re excited to create and write more of our music while continuing to explore different sounds and genres,” he said.

The P-pop group also shared that their music video was produced by ODS Productions, a production company based in Davao, which aligns with their goal to spread the word about the Mindanaoan creative scene.

“They were able to fully embody our vision as artists and translate it into reality with precision and care. It’s also a pleasure collaborating with a team that shares the same passion and drive that we have for creativity,” they said. 

“We look forward to growing this partnership further and building a stronger, more active creative community in Davao — and eventually across Mindanao,” they added. /ra