Also featuring One Click Straight and jikamarie, the event celebrates meaningful connections through music

Hundreds of fans braved the heavy Ber months traffic on a Friday night to meet and jam with their Filipino ults— Josh Cullen of P-pop royalty SB19, pop band fave The Juans, all-rounder girl group KAIA, alternative standouts One Click Straight, and the dreamy pop-R&B star jikamarie—at the second edition of Backstage Pass Live, an exclusive gig hosted by Rakuten Viber at the buzzy Brooklyn Warehouse.

The talented Pinoy acts treated fans to an electrifying night showcasing a mix of genres and talents, from R&B to Pinoy pop to indie rock. These select lucky fans got the chance to interact with their faves and scored passes to the intimate gig all for free through the Backstage Pass Chatbot, a unique feature of the superapp’s popular music and entertainment hub Backstage Pass Channel.

Now with over 1.8 million subscribers, the Channel gives fans a virtual backstage experience through exclusive content and updates directly from their favorite artists to their chats. It offers access to exclusive giveaways, ticket discounts, and even the chance to chat with the artists themselves through in-person events like the Backstage Pass Live.

During their set, the five artists expressed their appreciation for Rakuten Viber for the opportunity to get closer to their fans online and in person through the Backstage Pass ecosystem. “Thank you to all the fans who joined me here tonight, and of course to Backstage Pass Live by Rakuten Viber for making this event possible,” shared Josh before ending his set. “We are here today, thanks to Backstage Pass Channel, which is definitely a great platform for us artists to bond and interact with our fans.”

The Juans delivered an electrifying performance of their new single “Rebound” during their recent live event. The song, described as an emotionally engaging anthem, captures the relatable experience of longing for unrequited love. Its catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics resonated with the crowd, who sang along passionately, turning the venue into a hub of energy and excitement.

Beyond the live musical performances, guests this year were also treated to games, giveaways, and even special surprises that made the night truly special. The Complete the Lyrics game had fans singing their hearts out on stage, finishing their idols’ top hits, while the Dance Challenge let guests show off their moves to KAIA’s popular songs. Signed merchandise from the artists was up for grabs, adding to the night’s thrill.

Another highlight for ZAIAs aka the official fans of KAIA was the exclusive backstage access for a meet-and-greet session with the girl group. Lucky winners got to chat with their faves and score selfies, taking the stan life to the next level.

Filipino actor and Rakuten Viber’s first-ever brand ambassador Gabbi Garcia who’s also a music lover joined in the Friday fun and surprised the guests by personally handing out the prizes for the games and giveaways.

“This is only the second year of Backstage Pass Live, but we’re happy to see so much passion and enthusiasm for it already, especially as this is our priority initiative in engaging with our young Filipino users,” said David Tse, Senior Director for APAC at Rakuten Viber. “With now over 1.8 million subscribers on the Backstage Pass Channel and counting, it shows Filipinos want a new and dynamic way to connect with their idols. We’re happy to provide a platform for that and create more of these unforgettable experiences for Filipinos.”

Don’t miss out on more chances to connect with your favorite artists and score exclusive content! Subscribe to the Backstage Pass Channel on Rakuten Viber and stay tuned for exclusive updates on your favorite artists, giveaways, tickets, and promos to exciting future events.