Photo Courtesy of BEETZEE Inc
Meet RAKS, the 23-year-old P-pop soloist from Dumaguete City making waves in the Philippine music scene. From winning six medals at the 2018 World Championship of Performing Arts to releasing his debut single “Me, Myself, and I”, RAKS has been pursuing his dream of becoming an idol since the pandemic inspired his love for K-pop and P-pop.
Now signed under BEETZEE Inc., he’s performed at major events like SILLIMUSIKA 2024 and V1BE Fest Manila, sharing his music online and preparing for his next big release. In this exclusive interview, RAKS talks about his journey, inspirations, and life as a rising P-pop artist.
You started performing at just six years old—what first inspired you to step into the spotlight?
My passion for performing inspired me and the dream to be on a bigger stage someday.
Growing up in Dumaguete, how did your hometown influence your passion for music and performing?
I think it was my fellow artists in Dumaguete who truly influenced me. Performing and competing alongside them in local competitions taught me so much.
My love for music and performing kept growing as I realized that, in Dumaguete, I could use every stage I was given to improve and start building my career. I’m very grateful to the local scene for giving me those opportunities.
In 2018, you represented the Philippines at the World Championship of Performing Arts and won six medals. How did that experience shape your confidence as an artist?
My whole experience representing team PH in WCOPA 2018 greatly shaped my confidence as an artist. Seeing how my team and artists from other countries gave their all in every category was really inspiring.
Their amazing artistry made me want to step up my own game and It made me aware that every second of your performance matters.
From the very start to the end, you have to show the absolute best in yourself every time.
You also joined Idol Philippines in 2019—what was the biggest lesson you took from that journey?
The biggest lesson I took from my time on Idol Philippines was patience. After what happened in my audition, it took me time to gain back my confidence in performing. I learned that success is a long and continuous process, but it is worth the wait.
It took time to fully recover, but that recovery happened at the perfect time. That whole experience taught me the value of trusting the process and continuing to work, even when things are difficult.
During the pandemic, you discovered K-pop and P-pop. What about those genres inspired you to become an idol?
-My inspiration to be an idol came from more than just the music. It came from my biases, artists like Jackson Wang, KATSEYE, ITZY, SB19, and BGYO. Seeing them perform and their content pushed me to be like them someday.
In 2023, you started writing your own songs and released your debut single “Me, Myself, and I.” What story were you trying to tell through that song?
The story behind ‘Me, Myself, and I’ begins right after I didn’t make it into a survival show. I was worried about my career at the time, and I realized I had to step up for myself.
My friend and I wrote the song as a message of self-love and motivation. The story tells listeners that I realized I can do this, too. I can release my own song and promote it independently.
It was about finding my own power to be my own director. It also helped me connect with people who were willing to help me. In the end, the song’s message is simple: trust yourself, love yourself, and know that you are capable of being independent.
Your song “Care to Spend the Rest of the Night with Me” earned 2nd runner-up in a songwriting competition. What was the inspiration behind that piece?
When I saw the post for the songwriting competition, I immediately decided to join, but finding the right sound was a long process that involved many drafts and concept changes. The major inspiration came from Jackson Wang’s Magic Man album. Listening to it helped me commit to a new genre. This song became a challenge for me because it was far from my debut single, as I was taking a risk by venturing into a more mature and sexy sound for the competition.
Congratulations on your latest release, “Unsaid Just For You.” Can you tell us what the song is about and what inspired you to create it?
Thank you. My song, ‘Unsaid Just For You,’ is all about unsaid feelings. The song tells the story of a man who plans to share his feelings but is too afraid to confess.
My friend suggested I try this new sound, and that is what pushed me to make the song. My team and I wrote it to help other people relate to that feeling and my main inspiration, as always, is my love for music and the goal to be able to find my own sound someday.
How does “Unsaid Just For You” reflect your growth as an artist compared to your previous releases?
Compared to my previous releases, ‘Unsaid Just For You‘ reflects my growth because I feel like I finally found the sound that suits me best now. This song feels like what I was hoping for back then but couldn’t quite reach.
While making it, I was thankful to have better guidance from people in the industry. The process had challenges, but everything I learned along the way helped me step forward as an artist.
You’ve had memorable performances like SILLIMUSIKA 2024 and V1BE Fest Manila. Which performance stands out the most to you and why?
I’d say SILLIMUSIKA 2024. This performance stands out the most because it’s where I debuted my stage name, RAKS, and introduced it to everyone. It was a very important moment of self-introduction.
It became truly memorable because of the huge support I got from everyone who was there that night.
How has signing with BEETZEE Inc. helped you evolve and prepare for your next steps as a solo idol?
Signing with BEETZEE Inc. was challenging at first, but in a very good way. I had to introduce them to how the ppop way of promotion works, which was a unique start. I’m happy because they are very open and supportive of my own path and branding as an artist.
To answer how they helped me evolve, they’ve been key in all my preparations. It’s truly a collaboration with everyone, and that feels like being part of a family. They have given me the necessary support and resources to prepare for my next steps as a solo idol.
What can fans look forward to next—are there any upcoming releases or live performances we should watch out for?
-Yes, there is a lot to look forward to! I will be releasing a lot of promotional videos leading up to my next single release.
They should definitely watch out for my very first live performance of the song, which is coming up on the 14th. It’s a special event: a concert for a cause for Canlaon, who were recently affected by Typhoon Tino.
Beyond that, I really hope to promote this song in many other places and reach a lot of new people with my music.
Lastly, what message do you want to share with your listeners and supporters who’ve been part of your journey since the beginning?
To my supporters from the beginning up until now and the new ones, thank you all so so much. We still have a long way to go, but I truly hope that this new music will take us to what we dreamed of together. Thank you for your patience and for waiting for this release. I appreciate you all so much; you have been my constant cheerleaders, always showing support, even on my social media posts.
You are one of the main reasons why I continue to pursue this dream and passion. Let’s keep fighting for our dreams! I will be cheering for you, too. Please also take care of yourselves, especially with the upcoming typhoons. I love you all!!!!
Keep up with RAKS and his journey as a rising P-pop soloist! Follow him on all his socials:
🌐 Facebook Page: RAKS
👤 Facebook: Rakhim Tahir
📸 Instagram: @raks.tar_
🎵 TikTok: @raks.tar_
🐦 X (Twitter): @RAKS_Offcl
▶️ YouTube: @RAKS_Offcl
Don’t forget to follow BEETZEE for more music and updates:
🌐 Facebook: @beetzeecreatives
📸 Instagram: @beetzee_creatives
🎵 TikTok: @beetzee_creatives
▶️ YouTube: Beetzee
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