Nagsimulaang Filipino-German singer na si Juan Karlos Labajo, ang boses sa likod ng monster OPM song for 2019 na Buwan, bilang singer para sa The Voice Kids season 1 noong 2014.

After his stint in the singing competition, napasabak si JK sa pag-arte. Napanood siya sa ilang Kapamilya drama series, kabilang na ang A Love To Last na pinagbidahan ni Bea Alonzo noong 2017.

Ngayon ay nagpasya na si JK. Matapos maging matagumpay ang awitin niyang Buwan, this talented teen is now focused on music.

“Ang hirap pagsabayin ang acting at music. Ineed to focus on one for quality. Parang walang sense na sumali ako sa music competition (The Voice) then acting. So for now it’s music,” ani JK, sa panayam sa kanya sa David’s Salon headquarters sa Makati City kung saan inilunsad siya bilang Face of David Salon for 2020.

Mainit ang naging pagtanggap kay JK nina David Charlton, CEO, David’s Salon; his daughter Laura Charlton, David’s Salon artistic director; Marivic Aguibiador, VP for Finance; Malou Flores, VP for HR; Brenda Wy, assistant manager for marketing; JK’s Manager Rex Belarmino from Prima Stella Management Agency; at kilalang hairdresser ng David’s Salon na si Mother J Samonte.

Sa Pebrero, handa na si JK at ang kanyang banda na ilunsad ang kanilang debut album. “This is just an experimental album. Kami-kami lang ang gumawa. All original songs.”

Nang tanugin kung pressured siya na pantayan ang popularidad ng Buwan, sinabi ni JK na: “The dilemma is people expect you to write another hit song. But Idon’t want to be known as a one-hit-wonder artist. If Iwrite a song and it becomes a hit, then good. If not, OK lang. We’ll see.”

Sinabi ni JK na ipinagdiwang niya ang tagumpay ng Buwan sa pamamagitan ng pagtulog. Wish lang niya na mai-traslate ang 135 million views ng kanyang music video na Buwan sa Youtube sa P135 million cash.

“It’s not like that. If you have 135 million views on Youtube, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will also get P135 million. It’s not like that,” aniya.

Binura na ni JK ang awiting Buwan sa listahan ng kanyang favorite songs sa Spotify.

“Idon’t really enjoy listening to my own songs. Iplayed Buwan only once in Spotify. Just to get the feel of my song on Spotify. But to listen to it everytime, no! After that, ayoko na. It’s like watching yourself in a teleserye. Eeeewwww. Idon’t want to see myself acting on television,” ani JK.

Itinuturing niya ang mga aktor na sina Iza Calzado at Ian Veneracion na ilan sa kanyang malapit na kaibigan sa showbiz. “Igo out with seniors pa rin hahaha.”

Sa kanyang inspirasyon sa pagsulat ng kanyang mga awitin, sinabi ng 18-year-old singer na: “Most of the time, Icreate movies in my mind. Then Itry to write a score out of it. So basically that’s my process in writing a song. In real life din.”

Sa kabilang ng tagumpay ng Buwan, sa tingin ni JK ay hindi pa handa ang kanyang banda na magsagawa ng isang major concert.

“Idon’t want to force anything. Iwant everything to go well as planned. Istill want to have at least two albums and two successful albums. Kasi Ijust have one successful song. That’s not enough for me,” paliwanag niya.

Mahilig si JK na makinig sa musika ng mga higante ng OPM giants tulad nina Sampaguita, Asin, APO Hiking Society o VST and Company. Sa American music, paborito niya sina Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Ambrosia, at Toto.

“Idon’t know but Ireally enjoy listening to their music,” ani JK, na sa kanyang edad ay maaaring pumasa bilang television host dahil sa kanyang galing sa English language at mature thoughts and opinions sa maraming usapin.

Nang tanungin kung tungkol sa kanyang favorite foreign musician ngaon, sinabi ni JK na: “Ilike Harry Styles from One Direction.”

-ROBERT R. REQUINTINA