Xonara opens up on the making of debut song 'Tabi'

Xonara is making waves with their debut song "Tabi," which they first performed in April and officially released on Friday.

In a press conference during their launch event on Saturday, the new P-pop girl group shared more details about the track that they earlier said they wrote themselves.

According to Eurekah, the song began as an assignment for them while they were trainees.

"Hindi po namin akalain na ito po pala 'yung magiging debut track namin so s'yempre gusto po namin na maging special 'yung debut track po namin," she said.

She said it was a long process to write the song and shared her experience while writing the second verse with fellow rapper Tin.

"Sobrang daming revisions, sobrang daming drafts," she said. "Umabot po kami sa point na walang-wala na po talaga kaming maisip like wala na talaga."

"Umabot sa point na umiiyak na po talaga kami," she added, saying that they had to get the approval of their coaches.

As for the title "Tabi," it is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable instead of the second. Tin said it has several meanings.

"Sa Bisaya is 'tabi,' like 'magtabi,' it means na it’s something na to talk about. And 'tabi' in Japanese, it means journey. Because we have a Japanese member here, half-Japanese," she said, referring to Megumi.

"And s'yempre po Tagalog 'tabi' means tumabi kayo diyan or puwede bang tumabi kayo kasama namin," she added.

The song itself is a blend of hip hop and R&B, which Eurekah said they will focus on for now but they are open to exploring other genres, like ballad, in the future.

Xonara is the first girl group of 1Z Entertainment, the company founded by SB19 members Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin.

It is composed of seven members: Eurekah, Tin, Dominique, Ella, Namie, Lei, and Megumi.

Before their official debut, Xonara performed at SB19's "Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Finale" concert and the Aurora Music Festival. —CDC, GMA News