X8 begins new chapter with new song ‘SAGOT’
Not gonna lie, P-Pop music has got everyone dancing. Filipinos proved once and for all that we are not just good at singing. But also at dancing because synchronizing every beat of music with proper footwork is truly pure talent.
As newer batches of P-Pop artists make their mark globally, XLR8, an eight-piece group that helped define the genre’s early days, entered the scene in 2010 as the country’s first P-Pop boy band. Similar to what other artists and groups had also gone through, XLR8 also went through auditions and training. They also appeared in several TV guestings, performed in mall shows, and even sang the jingle of the first Filipino phone brand.
Although the group was initially expected to ‘accelerate,’ everything was new and uncertain for them. But with passion for their craft, in music, and with maturity that shaped them over time, the boys are back, all grown up now, as X8.
Now a four-piece boy band, Carlo Lazerna, Kiko Ramos, MM Magno, and Caleb Santos are ready to bring new stories and perspectives not just to their fans but also to P-Pop listeners.
The comeback, now as ‘X8’
The possibility of a comeback has lingered in the background for years. While the opportunity to talk and align was occasionally present, something felt incomplete.
Carlo revealed, “We’ve actually tried to come back several times over the years, but something always felt incomplete, whether it was timing, direction, or where we were in our lives.” For Kiko, back then, it was a clear indication that the comeback wasn’t meant to happen yet.
Individually, they faced setbacks, built lives, learned and honed their skills, and discovered who they were beyond the group. With a decade apart that gave them space to grow above and beyond the version of themselves, the turning point arrived unexpectedly. It was during the Valentine’s Concert of Hazel Faith, the lovely wife of Caleb.
He recalled, “I invited the boys to serenade her mid-show with one of our original songs, ‘I’ll Be There.’ Seeing the audience applaud and feeling that energy again as a group allowed us to see our old selves and the passion we had for performing during the XLR8 days.”
Without any rehearsal and amidst all jitters, the boys sharing one stage for the first time in over a decade felt natural. In that moment, MM realized, “Our story wasn’t over yet.”
What was meant to be a one-time appearance reignited something deeper than nostalgia. Carlo shared, “After the show, we had a long conversation. We realized we weren’t just feeling nostalgia. We still had the passion, and we still have more to say as artists.” This moment narrated by Carlo has led to the comeback of X8, a group that now represents evolution rather than acceleration. They are returning not with urgency but with intention, and are now more focused on creating music with purpose.
In solidarity, they proudly said, “We know who we are now.”
A light in the dark, the beginning of a new chapter
Following the release of ‘ENCHANTRESS’ and ‘Kasama Ka’ featuring Hazel Faith, X8 released ‘Sagot’ on February 23, a song about a subject the group admits they once might have hesitated to speak about: mental health.
X8 shared that ‘Sagot’ is a very personal and emotional song for them. Carlo shared, “It talks about facing depression and those moments when everything feels heavy and uncertain. We wanted to capture that feeling of being lost, but also the quiet strength it takes to keep going, even when you don’t see the light yet.”
While the thought of releasing such a heavy and personal song may come off as too much for a comeback. For X8, releasing ‘Sagot’ in their new era signals something bigger. They are no longer just performers who dance at every beat of music. They are now storytellers willing to be vulnerable.
In Caleb’s words, “We’ve grown from being just performers to being storytellers who want to remind our listeners that they are never alone.”
With X8’s music releases starting from last year to today, their new chapter is just about to unfold. During their debut era back in 2010, much of their focus was on proving themselves in an industry that had yet to fully embrace P-pop. Today, they return with clarity and intention.
In a P-pop landscape that has grown stronger and more globally visible over the past decade, X8 sees itself situated not in trying to fit in, but in continuing the story. They describe themselves as seasoned voices, still here to compete and create, but also to mentor and collaborate.
Because for X8, it’s not about ‘acceleration’ or speed anymore. It’s about evolution, maturity, and being more intentional in creating music.
X8’s newest song ‘SAGOT’ is now available at all major streaming platforms.
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