Not too long ago, Russu, Asi, Ishiro, Drei, and Mathew were just five young dreamers chasing the same spotlight –sometimes on their own, sometimes in competition with one another.
All five once stood on the “Dream Maker” stage, a survival show where aspiring idols fought for a shot at recognition. For many, rejection was the end of the road. For them, it became the beginning of something else.
“Lahat po kami dumaan sa rejection,” Asi recalled. “Iba-iba man ‘yung naging simula namin, pare-pareho kaming hindi sumuko sa pangarap. Pinili naming ituloy ‘yung gusto talaga naming gawin, ang maging idol at mag-perform sa stage.”
That persistence eventually brought them together as WRIVE, a name that now carries the weight of two years of relentless training, rehearsals, and preparation.
The group first hinted at their potential in 2024 with a pre-debut single, “Hollywood,” performed at the New Gen Champs Concert, followed by a soundtrack stint with “Color Clash.” But 2025 marks the official turning point: WRIVE’s debut digital single album, featuring “Ooh La La” and “Señorita.”
“Ooh La La” is playful, assertive, a statement-making single set to drive WRIVE onwards and upwards in the ever-growing P-pop landscape.
They doubled down on that message with the release of a performance video on ABS-CBN Star Music’s YouTube channel, where fans could see not just the polish but the hunger.
Musically, WRIVE is shaping an identity that fuses Filipino sensibility with hip-hop edge.
“Sa music po namin, very Pinoy, hip-hop, swag, and sexy, pinaghalo po namin siya,” Russu explained. “Sa looks naman, may angas and very streetwear.”
Like most newcomers, they’re still at the stage of “firsts”—their first single, their first music video, their first round of fan interactions. But already, they’re looking ahead. A full album is in the works for the end of 2025.
“‘Yang ‘Ooh La La’ at ‘Señorita’ ay patikim pa lang,” they teased. “Sam ga darating na araw, dadalhin namin kayo sa iba’t ibang destinasyon.”
Their journey is only beginning but with every beat, every verse, every step in sync, WRIVE’s story is unfolding.
