Skygarden, the beloved Japanese trio consisting of Ryoichi “Ryo” Rivera Nagtsuka, Hiro Ozaki, and Iwaki “Iwa” Maegawa, officially joins GMA Music’s dynamic sub-label AltG Records.
The contract signing happened on July 28 with GMA Music Managing Director Rene Salta, Artist and Repertoire Manager and in-house producer Kedy Sanchez, and Skygarden manager Ruby Cuevas.
Since their debut in 2022, Ryo, Hiro, and Iwa have won the hearts of Filipinos with their infectious energy, creative ideas, and engaging video content. Their videos quickly went viral across social media platforms, amassing impressive viewership on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. This caught the attention of the Kapuso Network and led them to become contestants in GMA’s top-rating game show Family Feud.
“We all started as content creators. Our goal is to entertain our audience with the various challenges we take on. And of course, now that we are part of AltG Records, we also want to share our songs with the Filipinos and sana ma-feel nila ‘yung passion ng mga kanta namin,” says Ryo.
The trio’s unique blend of talents and cultural influences will be heard soon. They have been producing covers of popular OPM songs, adding their unique spin and Japanese touch. Their much-anticipated debut single “KOKOA” is now available on digital platforms worldwide. Written by Hiro, the song carries a profound message of love and affection.
The title was derived from the Japanese phrase “Kokoro kara Aishiteru” which translates to “I love you from the bottom of my heart.” It was inspired by Iwa’s experience in love and blends Japanese anime rock with Tagalog lyrics.
“We’ve always believed in pushing boundaries and bringing something fresh to our audience. ‘Kokoa’ is a testament to our dedication to authenticity and creativity. Our music, just like our content, is a reflection of who we are as individuals and as a group,” shares Ryo.