Josh Cullen (musician) explained

Josh Cullen
Birth Date:22 October 1993
Birth Place:Las Piñas, Philippines
Years Active:2018–present
Module:
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Instruments:Vocals
Current Member Of:SB19

Josh Cullen Santos (born October 22, 1993) is a Filipino singer and songwriter. He is the lead rapper[1] and vocalist[2] of the Filipino boy band SB19 managed under 1Z Entertainment.

Early life

Cullen was born on October 22, 1993, in Las Piñas, Manila, Philippines.[3] He has one older sibling.[4] He revealed on a YouTube vlog that a single mother raised him and he never met his biological father.[3] In the same vlog, Cullen revealed that he was a victim of domestic violence by their nanny while their mother was at work.[3] Cullen and his family struggled financially leading to his intermittent schooling, and graduated high school at a later age. After graduating, Cullen worked as a computer technician and a call center agent prior to auditioning as a talent.

Career

2016–2018: Pre-debut

In 2016, South Korean entertainment company ShowBT branched out in the Philippines and opened a talent audition for Filipinos aspiring to become professional performers.[5] Santos, among the participants, was chosen later on for a 5-member boy band. Santos started training which is a common practice for K-Pop bands prior to debut. Voice and dance classes, body conditioning, personality development, and the like were trained.[6] On several accounts, the SB19 members recalled how rigorous the sessions were wherein hours of nonstop and unpaid training daily while juggling with their work. But more than the training, it was the threat of failing their weekly evaluation and the possibility of being eliminated. According to Santos in an interview,

During his training, he drew inspirations from Filipino hip hop artists Loonie, Gloc-9, Shanti Dope, and Smugglaz. He also admired the styles of Bigbang's G-Dragon, and BTS.[7]

2018–2022: Debut as SB19 and breakthrough

See main article: SB19. On October 26, 2018, Santos debuted with fellow members Pablo, Stell, Justin, and Ken as P-Pop group known as SB19. Their debut single "Tilaluha" was written by fellow member Pablo, but its success was not widely acclaimed.[8] [9] With a message centered on heartbreak and unrequited love, the song was intended to introduce the band and their powerful vocals in which it debuted poorly to charts. The initial poor reception for the group and their singles almost led to the band's disbandment.[10] SB19's second single "Go Up" was released on July 19, 2019.[11] They described the song as their "last shot" because they had decided to disband if their career would not progress after.[12] The group had gained public attention after the dance practice video of the song went viral due to a tweet of a fan account.[13] Opportunities opened and the group started to appear in multiple radio and television outlets, both local and internationally.[14] On 2021, SB19 became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian act to be nominated in Billboard Music Awards for Top Social Artist along with BTS, Blackpink, Ariana Grande, and Seventeen—which BTS won.[15] [16] It marked the first-ever appearance of a Filipino artist in the Billboard Music Awards.

In 2022, Santos joined his independent musician cousins Ocho the Bullet and Carrot Mayor on their track "Sofa (Remix)", released on YouTube and Apple Music.[17]

2023–present: Wild Tonight, debut as solo artist

On February 24, Josh Cullen made his debut as a solo artist, releasing a single called "Wild Tonight". He co-produced the material with Ace Santos, his cousin.[18]

Discography

See main article: SB19 discography and List of songs recorded by SB19.

As lead artist

List of singles showing year released and album name
TitleYearAlbum
"Wild Tonight"2023rowspan="4"
"Pakiusap Lang
"Get Right"2024
"Yoko Na"

Production credits

All song credits are adapted from the Tidal, unless otherwise noted.[19]

YearArtist(s)SongAlbumLyricistComposer
CreditedWithCreditedWith
2020SB19"Go Up"Get in the Zone[20] [21]
2022Ocho the Bullet"Sofa" Remix[22]
2023Josh Cullen"Wild Tonight"[23]
SB19"Crimzone"Pagtatag!

Videography

See also: SB19 videography.

Live performances

See main article: List of SB19 live performances.

Awards and nominations

See main article: List of awards and nominations received by SB19.

Award ceremony! scope="col"
YearCategoryNominee(s)/work(s)Result
Awit Awards2023People's Voice Favorite Male ArtistJosh Cullen[24]
Nylon Manila BBB Awards2022Favorite Viral Game StreamerJosh Cullen Santos[25]
PPOP Awards2023Top New Artist of the YearJosh Cullen[26] [27]
Tier One Entertainment2021IRL People Choice AwardJosh Cullen Santos[28]
Wish Music Awards2024Breakthrough Artist of the YearJosh Cullen[29]
Wish Hip Hop Song Of the Year"Wild Tonight"
Wishclusive Collaboration of the YearJosh Cullen (with Ocho the Bullet and Angela Hermosa) - "Sofa"
Wishers' ChoiceJosh Cullen
Spotify Philippines: Mr. Up Down Up Down AwardJosh Cullen

Notes and References

  1. Web site: March 15, 2020. The boys from nowhere: SB19, Filipino pop idols, on their rise. October 6, 2020. South China Morning Post. en. March 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200315070750/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3075058/phenomenal-rise-sb19-philippine-answer-k-pop-groups-who. live.
  2. Web site: SB19. April 1, 2021. Spotify. en. February 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210219003206/https://open.spotify.com/artist/3g7vYcdDXnqnDKYFwqXBJP. live.
  3. Web site: My Painful Experiences Before SB19 - Josh Cullen (Q&A) . YouTube . September 5, 2022.
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTzHB1e6BrQ, retrieved August 13, 2023
  5. Web site: July 24, 2020. SB19's continuous growth is my fave underdog story. August 21, 2020. Scout Magazine. en-US. August 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200825193031/https://www.scoutmag.ph/music/sb19-interview-get-in-the-zone-debut-album-roginl-20200724. live.
  6. Web site: SB19 Proves How Filipinos Are Talented in the Kpop Industry . www.allkpop.com . AllKpop . September 23, 2022.
  7. Web site: Want to be an A'TIN?: A beginner's guide to SB19 . www.rappler.com . Rappler . September 23, 2022.
  8. Web site: October 26, 2018. WATCH: SB19 debuts 'Tilaluha' MV feat. BNF's Harang and Ms. Korea Philippines 2018 KStreetManila. March 11, 2021. en-US.
  9. Web site: September 5, 2019. Jacinda A. . Lopez . What You Need To Know About SB19, The Pinoy Boy Group The Internet Can't Stop Talking About. March 11, 2021. COSMO.PH. en-ph.
  10. Web site: Losa . Rogin . SB19 on their new album and why "Go Up" is so important . scoutmag.ph . Scout Mag . September 7, 2022.
  11. Web site: Orio-Escullar. Honey. SB19 is newest P-pop idol in town. November 16, 2020. The Philippine Star. December 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201222014316/https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2019/08/25/1946072/sb19-newest-p-pop-idol-town. live.
  12. Web site: Why SB19 is the Pinoy boy group to watch out for. May 8, 2021. cnn. en. June 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609160927/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/entertainment/Music/2020/2/19/sb19-profile.html. dead.
  13. News: SB19, all-Pinoy boy group who trained in South Korea, goes viral . August 5, 2020 . ABS-CBN News . September 4, 2019 . November 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101113349/https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/09/04/19/sb19-all-pinoy-boy-group-who-trained-in-south-korea-goes-viral . live .
  14. Web site: Why SB19 is the Pinoy boy group to watch out for . February 19, 2020 . June 9, 2020 . CNN Philippines . Gloria, Gaby . June 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200609160927/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/entertainment/Music/2020/2/19/sb19-profile.html . dead .
  15. Kaufman . Gil . the Billboard Music Awards 'The List Live' Livestream . . April 29, 2021 . April 29, 2021 . April 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210429143428/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9564452/2021-billboard-music-awards-finalists-livestream-watch/ . live.
  16. BTS Accept the Top Social Media Artist Award at the Billboard Music Awards. May 29, 2021. Billboard.
  17. Web site: LISTEN: Josh Cullen of SB19 Trends Worldwide! . www.onemusic.ph . OneMusic . September 23, 2022.
  18. Web site: SB19's JOSH CULLEN reinvents himself as a Pop Star with debut single "WILD TONIGHT". villagepipol.com . Village Pipol . February 24, 2023.
  19. Web site: John Paulo Nase - Credits. March 11, 2021. listen.tidal.com. en.
  20. Web site: July 26, 2019 . Go Up by SB19 . July 26, 2019 . Sony Music . Tidal.
  21. Web site: エラー画面 J-WID. March 11, 2021. www2.jasrac.or.jp.
  22. Web site: July 8, 2022 . Sofa feat. Josh Cullen & Carrot Mayor . July 8, 2022 . Sony Music . Apple Music.
  23. Web site: February 24, 2023 . WILD TONIGHT by Josh Cullen . February 24, 2022 . Sony Music Philippines. Apple Music.
  24. Web site: Awit Awards. List of Nominations at Awit Awards 2023. Facebook. September 10, 2023.
  25. Web site: Bautista. Rafael. June 24, 2022. Big Winners Big Bold Brave Awards 2022. June 24, 2022. nylonmanila.com. en-US.
  26. Web site: Still the Kings: SB19, sweeps the 8th PPOP Awards 2023 by Jia Bote. Daily Tribune. December 2, 2023.
  27. Web site: Complete list of winners at the 8th PPOP Awards 2023 by Jonathan Hicap. Manila Bulletin . December 2, 2023.
  28. Web site: December 12, 2021. Tier One Entertainment IRL Awards 2021. June 24, 2022. tier.one. en-US.
  29. Web site: January 14, 2024 . Full List Of Winners Of The 2024 Wish Music Awards . January 14, 2024 . Billboard Philippines.