SB19 Ken Felip Suson featured in Vogue Philippines
Vogue Philippines is amazing, isn’t it? It didn’t take long for them to notice SB19’s Ken Felip Suson. I’ve been wondering when fashion magazines would take notice of Ken; he’s serving us looks. I mean, all the members of SB19 know how to dress well, each with their own style, and they all deserve a feature. But for the sake of this review, I visited the Vogue Philippines website and the title reads “Move Maker.”
The title is powerful, I have to agree. When I think of Felip, I don’t think of anyone else. There’s no “he looks like this” or “is styled like this.” He dances to his tune. Vogue quoted Ken saying, “I’m just being myself. There are things natural to me that may seem different to other people.
But I know who I am. I like to take risks and I like to raise the stakes.” And this is so true. I’ve been observing Ken’s music videos and merchandise, the song lyrics; he’s the kind of artist who stays true to himself. That’s difficult in an industry where there’s constant pressure to please people — releasing music videos is a gamble. One music video, “Rocksta,” where his face is covered, I believe is a song about telling the audience to focus on the art, not just on the face. He can cover his face, and you’ll still feel the power of the song and the artistry. When he sang in Bisaya, he showed that the Filipino listeners are ready. He doesn’t treat the listeners as though they won’t understand. Instead, he challenges the norm here, and he’s received massive success because of it. Ken can sing, rap, dance, and all this time, even serve us poetry in his movement and the way he dresses up. My gosh, definitely a treasure. And that’s just one member of SB19.
One thing this artist is not afraid to do is to pray. I’ve seen videos where he is open about his faith. It’s challenging to enter the music industry and express these things; many opponents and people are trying to pull artists like him who want to put their hearts out there. He’s usually criticized for being a bit grumpy, not always serving the press what they want to hear, but just because you’re famous, does that mean you have to change your entire self to please others? Felip is taking an honest stand on who he is, and if you know yourself, those who appreciate it will learn to understand and appreciate it. That’s how I see it.
Felip is guided. In the Vogue article, it’s stated that he grew up in church and was a worship leader. You still see this level of worship in his songs like “Kanako.” Even at this level of fame, he strives to tell people we can have a direct relationship with God through prayer. I’m surprised that he was inspired by Don Moen, but he also likes to listen to Metallica and Slipknot; there’s so much range in Ken. And of course, like any person would, he has undergone insecurities and challenges. We know for a fact he’s not wealthy, and the success he’s achieving right now is truly a blessing from God. He also profusely thanks the A’Tin, the fans.
Right now, Ken is also keen on exploring more Bisaya-written songs and doing collaborations with Bisaya artists. As a 27-year-old, he’s full of feelings and expressions, from anger to sadness to joy, and he shares them in an honest way that one cannot help but appreciate. It’s not just in his songs or dances but also in the way he dresses up; it exudes something special. No wonder Vogue picked up on his energy. Thank you, Vogue, for this refreshing, honest, and powerful write-up that didn’t need to change anything about Ken.
There’s something about Vogue Philippines that’s so ahead of its time as well, something other Vogue magazines can incorporate — there’s soul. The May 2024 issue is definitely something to look forward to, and I’ll be buying a copy. You should too!