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Filipinas looking to chase their P-pop dreams now have another company to turn to as 1Z Entertainment, the company founded by the country's top P-Pop group, SB19, has opened its doors to female trainees.

On the 1Z Entertainment website and social media, the company called on women aged 18 to 21 to apply to be a 1Z Entertainment trainee. While initially slated to last until the 29th of this month, the application deadline has been extended until July 12, 2024.

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Interested applicants must pass two screenings, with the first involving two-minute audition videos for both dancing & singing/rapping routines. Those who make it to the second screening will then go through a face-to-face audition involving performance reviews and interviews. 1Z Entertainment's audition team will then deliberate on the final selection.

In an interview with GMANetwork.com, 1z Entertainment Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pablo Nase and Chief Operating Officer Yani de Dios shared what they're looking for in the aspiring trainees and what they can offer as a company to make these trainees' dreams come true.

Willingness to learn

According to Yani, while skills in singing, dancing, and rapping are definitely needed, another important thing that 1Z is looking for from the trainees is their openness to learn something new.

“We're really looking at the willingness of these individuals to learn and also the innate talent that we have. We want to really unleash the potential na meron sila,” he said. “It's very difficult to identify so as long as we can see the willingness to learn, we'll help them and assist them to unlock the potential that we see.”

Pablo agreed, adding that the trainees can learn these skills along the way.

“Everything else kasi naman, all the skills, lahat 'yan matututunan. If we see something special sa person na 'yun, whether it'll be singing or kahit wala dun sa pinakitang need naming sa trainee, it's something we can work with,” he explained.

The pair have also explained why they chose to have the age range be limited to those between 18 to 21, something that A'tin - SB19 fans - have playfully complained about in the comments section of the 1Z Entertainment Instagram account.

“It's a very business decision, a very technical one. We're eyeing to train them for years and of course we want them, once na mag-debut na sila, they have a long journey ahead of them, more music. I think this age range kasi is more experimental, more open to learn,” explained Yani.

“If too early, okay lang din naman, pero we chose a little order para medyo nasa mature side na sila, they can decide on their own,” added Pablo. “The age bracket is very experimental, marami silang gustong matutunan. Kung ano yung pwede naming i-offer nila, mas madali nilang matutunan.”

What they can offer

There's no question that P-pop, and P-pop girl groups in particular, are experiencing a high this year, with groups even being invited to international shows like China's survival show Show It All. With so many companies now opening their doors to talented trainees looking to pursue their P-pop dreams, what does 1Z Entertainment have that should convince these trainees to choose them?

Yani thinks that it's the current biggest star of the 1Z Entertainment roster - SB19.

“Personally, we really have the core, the strength of our company, which is SB19. Our goal is really for them (the new girl group) to build their own legacy,” he said. “For the experience na meron sila (SB19), we want that to be the main core of the training din. We want them to learn from them and to be the better version of SB19.”

Pablo, on the other hand, shared that it is SB19's experience on both sides of the music and entertainment industry that proves invaluable to these trainees.

“As an SB19 member, I've experienced the industry as an artist. Sa business side, alam ko rin kung paano siya nagwo-work. To be able to survive in this kind of industry, dapat you have the balanced mixture of both of those,” he explained. “Maganda na nahohone nila 'yung talent nila, 'yung creative skills nila. They're able to create their own craft. At the same time, we're here to help them market those talents.”

What's in store

Both Yani and Paolo are honest about how long it may take before the new girl group debuts, with Yani saying that they're looking to train them for “years”. But they guarantee that this new girl group will have its own identity and will be self-sustaining.

“For this new girl group we'll be doing, it's a totally unique group din naman. They have their own identity, they have their own music, 'yung pinaka-goal naming talaga is for them to be self-sustaining. They can create their own music, they can choreograph on their own. They can stand on their own,” shared Yani.

The new girl group will also have five supportive big brothers in the SB19 members, whenever they debut.

“Syempre, hindi ko sila pababayaan. They are the baby of 1Z. They're the first group na talagang iho-hone namin. SB19 is self-managed but syempre, apart from SB19, they're the first group na magiging parte ng 1Z. Ibu-build namin sila lahat ng sama-sama. I'm hoping to create new songs for them,” said Pablo.