Photo Courtesy Of DIV9
Meet DIV9—the teen girl group redefining P-Pop with infectious energy, genre-blending tracks, and a down-to-earth charm that’s winning hearts from mall stages to viral screens. Pronounced “Divine,” blending catchy anthems like “Sheesh!” and “Bulalakaw”
In this interview, we dive into their journey as they share the challenges of balancing fame with school and their mission to make P-Pop a global contender. Plus, get the scoop on their sisterhood, and what’s next for this unstoppable squad.
Ready to stan? DIV9’s divine mix of talent, hustle, and authenticity is here to stay.
Formation Story: How did Div9 come together as a group, and what inspired you to pursue PPOP?
We came together through an audition. We were 2 groups merged into one. Although unfortunately, that group didn’t have the chance to work out, so we decided not to waste the opportunity already given and formed this group, now known as DIV9. Each of us had a different inspiration to pursue this path; for some of our members, it was the dream ever since they were younger.
For most of us, the moment we saw other idols perform on stage, we immediately wanted that experience to be able to make people and ourselves happy by performing and being able to showcase our talents.
What’s the meaning behind “Div9”? Does the name or your branding (e.g., logos, visuals) hold hidden symbolism or a message you want to convey?
Originally, the group formed through the workshop was called the Popstar Angels. We resolved on a group name related to this: From angels, we have evolved into something better, something greater than before; from angels, we have become divine. Now, for the spelling or logo of our group, we initially had 9 members; therefore, our group name is written as DIV9 with a 9. Eventually, over time, some members decided this path was not for them and chose to part ways.
As there are only 4 of us, we like to think that the remaining 5 stand for the 5 things we prioritize and inspire us in terms of our group, God, our fans and family, our inspiration, each other, and the bond we have created with them all.
What’s the story behind your debut single “Sheesh”, and how does it represent your style?
Our debut single tells a lot about who we are as a group. Simply put, it’s about us being us, to stay true to ourselves no matter the standards set or comments said.
Your second single, “Bulalakaw,” has been released. What’s the story behind this song? What inspired its creation, and how does it differ from your debut single, “Sheesh”?
Bulalakaw is a song that says a lot about us. It’s about not letting anyone put out the fire in our hearts and fighting for what we know is right. Bulalakaw is about owning your moment and not letting anyone else take that away from you.
We think personally that many might not vibe with our music as a first-time listener, it’s not something you’ll hear every day so we know that once you listen and really understand our songs and become a Halo, we have truly made a connection with the right people who will support us.
It’s not too different from our first song, Sheesh! but we think only the fact that Bulalakaw is focused more on taking action, saying your feelings and thoughts about the opinions of other people sets it apart from Sheesh! which delivers the message to continue living life your own way and not letting whoever may have bad opinions just say what they wish to.
How did it feel to win PPOP Idol of the Month, and what doors has it opened for the group?
It was very unexpected as we were with and against very talented, more experienced older groups. It was one of our first major achievements as a group, considering we had only just started, and we are very grateful to Halos, our fans, who supported us
Can fans expect an album or EP soon? What themes will your next project explore?
We are collaborating on a song with a singer-songwriter for our next single. We have gone through so much as a group and this next single will definitely be talking about that. Our bond, our love and our inspiration being each other.
How do you balance individual creativity with maintaining a cohesive group identity?
Individually, we have our own strengths, creativeness, weakness, and ideas. But we somehow manage to be as one, since we’ve known each other for 2 years now—now we know how to adjust for each other’s likings, leading us to come up with better ideas and results. Also, it’s not really hard for us to maintain a cohesive group identity, because we use the connection in our relationship as the foundation; being the reason for us to have neutral decisions.
What’s the biggest hurdle you’ve faced as a new PPOP
group, and how did you overcome it?
One big hurdle was managing our time and energy. As idols and students, we had to juggle school, rehearsals, content creation, and sometimes even work or family duties.
It is exhausting and sometimes overwhelming but the love and support from our fans definitely makes it worth it.
We overcame it by creating a better schedule, learning when to rest, and reminding each other to take breaks.
We also talked openly about how we felt so no one bottles things up. Support within the group really helped us stay grounded.
How do you engage with your growing fanbase, and what message do you want to share with them?
We connect with our Halo’s through lives, socials, and little behind-the-scenes moments. We want them to feel close to us, like family. Our message? Keep believing in yourself—just like how you believe in us. We’re in this journey together.
Which PPOP pioneers or OPM legends inspire your work?
Keilah:
We look up to many PPOP pioneers and OPM legends, but for me, SB19 has been the biggest inspiration. Their journey, hard work, and passion really pushed me to chase this dream and believe that it’s possible.
Weiszsa:
Most of the works that inspired me were Bini, and some OPM artists such as Lea Salonga and Moira Dela Torre. Their stories inspired me and helped me see that anyone from anywhere could be a star as long as you really want it and work for it. –
Carlly:
The OPM Legends that inspired me the most are Sarah G. and Eheads. They made me appreciate the meaning and the story behind every song—a story that can help and inspire many people. With their songs, I realized that I also want to be an inspiration just like them.
Weiszha:
PPOP pioneers and OPM legends inspire not only us, but others who have chosen the entertainment path, but a few that have inspired me were Bini and Moira Dela Torre. They are the people that have really built the foundation for PPOP and OPM, and I aspire or hope to do the same.
What do members enjoy doing outside of music?
Each one of us enjoys different kinds of Aspirations
We just love spending time together—whether it’s food trips, late-night talks, or just chilling after a long day. Those small things help us recharge and stay connected.
Where do you see Div9 in 5 years?
In 5 years, I see us still together—stronger than ever, making lots of unforgettable memories with our Halo’s. We’ll be producing more original music, growing as artists, and hopefully performing on big stages alongside the PPOP groups we’ve always looked up to. That’s the dream: to keep doing what we love, together.
Weiszsa: For me, in 5 years I truly believe we can reach our goals: Become one of the biggest Ppop groups there is, we have come a long way and slowly but surely we will get there with all the support from our Halos and family.
Keilah: In five years, I hope to see DIV9 reaching more hearts, not only here in the Philippines but around the world. We want to keep creating songs that people can relate to, and use our platform to inspire and give back. Our dream is that when people think of DIV9, they will remember a group that stayed true to who they are and to their Halo’s who have been with them all the way.
Carlly: I see our group in the future, not very different from now. I’m sure we still have the strong relationship, love, commitment and dedication that we have today. Whether our group works out or not, i am confident that we still have each other’s back. But of course, I’m hoping to see DIV9 on billboards and local or international big stages where we can perform our songs.
We want to achieve those with our Halos, because those dreams of ours will never happen if they weren’t there for us. Those are just my vision in 5 years, but me and my girls believe that God’s plan is always greater, so we’ll just let him do his thing. –
Weiszha:
In 5 years, I hope to see our group, our members still together, still doing what we love, and inspiring other people who watch and support us. We wish that by achieving our goals and dreams we not only make ourselves proud, but also our families and halo’s who were always there to support us.
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