MANILA — Japanese boy band BE:FIRST is eager to see how Filipino fans will respond when it holds its first solo show in Manila on Saturday, October 3, following previous appearances in the country with P-pop group SB19.
In an interview Wednesday with ABS-CBN News and other entertainment media, the group said performing with SB19 during their first visit gave them a glimpse of the energy of Filipino audiences, but their upcoming showcase at New Frontier Theater will give them a chance to connect with fans on their own.
"When we were here for the first time, we were part of the show with SB19, so we know how it was, how it went. But it is our first time to have our own show on our own. So, to be honest, we absolutely have no idea what the crowd's response will be, and not knowing anything as well is something that's quite exciting for us," a member of the group said, as translated into English by an interpreter.
"The last time we were here, we were able to perform with SB19, and so, looking at that audience, that group, we already have an idea of how passionate and how energetic Filipino audiences are. And we actually admire very much that passionate energy of the Filipino audience. So now we're interested in how they see us. Of course, some of them may be coming because of SB19, maybe some likes boy bands. So, we're now interested in how they're going to respond to the 'Watch Me Global' EP and really see how they would, I guess, respond to how we perform," the group added.
Japanese boy band BE:FIRST. Handout
Just last month, BE:FIRST released their global EP "Watch Me," which features the tracks "Bruce Wayne (featuring Flo Milli and ATL Jacob)," "Watch Me (featuring BIA)," "Cagliostro," "Paper Scars," and "Dead Eyes Everywhere (featuring ATL Jacob)."
Asked of their message to their Filipino fans for their upcoming concert, Be: First shared: "This is our first time performing in this world showcase, and we feel that the audience who got to know us through SB19, maybe those who came to the show are also coming to our show, or those who've heard of us will be coming to our show. But we'd like for them to see where we are now in our fifth year, (and for them to see) our cummulative growth as Be: First, for them to see that Be: First on stage this time."
Tickets for "BE:FIRST World Showcase 2026" are available via ticketnet.com.ph and Ticketnet outlets.
Brand new collaboration with SB19?
Composed of Sota, Shunto, Manato, Ryuhei, Junon, and Leo, BE:FIRST debuted in 2022 and has steadily grown its following. The group currently has 995,000 followers on Instagram and 2.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Filipinos may recognize BE:FIRST from "Toyfriend," their collaboration with SB19, which appeared on the P-pop group's "Wakas at Simula" album.
READ: Distance not a limitation for SB19 in collab with Japan's BE:FIRST on 'TOYFRIEND'
The group also made a guest appearance at SB19's sold-out "Wakas at Simula" concert at the SMDC Festival Grounds in April.
In the interview, BE:FIRST said that if given a chance they are still open to doing another collaboration with the country's P-pop kings.
For the Japanese band, it will be more fun to do another project with the "Gento" hitmaker..
"Maybe with SB19 again, because we got to know each other more, so it would be more fun also to maybe collaborate this time around," BE:FIRST shared.
BE:FIRST said that they would love to create a music with SB19 from square one.
"We would like to create from scratch, create music together, the two groups. Previously, it was SB19's track that we were featured on. So this time around, how about like them (the SB19) join us. It will be our sound, we will the ones to initiate the collaboration. So were wondering what kind of sound or music we could produce if we would be able to do that together."