VVINK: P-pop’s boldest underdogs step into their spotlight

In an industry built on reinvention, where glitter and polish often hide stories of struggle, the debut of P-pop girl group VVINK is a redemption arc years in the making.

Formed by renowned music production house FlipMusic, the five-member group — Angelika, Jean, Ayaka, Odri, and Mariel — is far from the typical idol collective molded by auditions and instant stardom. Instead, VVINK is a handpicked ensemble of artists who’ve spent most of their young lives reaching for the spotlight, only to have it slip through their fingers — until now.

No overnight success here

“We actively looked for people who were hungry,” Jeli Mateo, chief executive officer of FlipMusic, said. “Those who may have been overlooked before, but whose talent and fire were undeniable.”

And hungry they were. Collectively, the girls have auditioned for countless shows, trained for years, and been eliminated more times than they can count. Some had tasted fleeting fame — on The Voice Kids, Idol Philippines, and even in minor roles on TV — but none had secured a long-term foothold in the spotlight.

Instead of giving up, each girl chose to push forward. VVINK, as it stands, is not a group of overnight idols. It’s a story of five young women who never stopped showing up, even when the doors didn’t open.

The making of VVINK

The group began with Jean, originally signed as a soloist under FlipMusic. Her debut track, “Kalawakan,” was meant to launch her as an individual artist. But the chemistry among a growing pool of collaborators soon sparked a bigger idea.

Mariel, a former Voice Kids contender, was next. Then came Angelika, known in the industry as a budding songwriter whose first major writing credit was BINI’s viral hit “Pantropiko.”

Meanwhile, Odri, a professional dancer and choreographer, had helped stage some of her future groupmates’ music videos. The final piece came in the form of Ayaka, a former child actress who left the Philippines for Japan before being pulled back into the spotlight.

To solidify this sisterhood, the girls moved in together and spent two intense years training. “We’re all bunso sa pamilya (youngest in the family),” Mariel laughed. “So, living together felt like our first taste of independence — and our biggest dream.”

More than a group, a creative force

While most groups debut with a single track, VVINK took the riskier but more revealing route. Inspired by K-pop groups like Kiss of Life, FlipMusic released a pre-debut album with two solo tracks per member, showcasing each girl’s style and voice.

Angelika’s duality was on display in “Ningning” and “Alon,” swinging from electro-pop to 80s-inspired drama.

Odri, debuting as a singer, explored R&B in “Sa Iyo Talaga” and cute bubblegum pop with “Palagi.”

Mariel’s voice stretched across genres. Ayaka and Jean delivered both vulnerability and vocal strength.

“We were given full creative freedom,” Angelika said. “They encouraged us to interpret the songs our way, to add our ad-libs and style. It felt like we weren’t just performers, we were collaborators.”

Behind the production were FlipMusic veterans Bojam and John Michael Conchada, crafting tracks that stood toe-to-toe with the studio’s past hits for BINI, G22 and Calista.

Second chances, double victories

VVINK’s name itself is a quiet statement. Stylized with two Vs, it forms a mirrored “W” — a nod to double victory.

Their official debut single, “Tulala,” released on 10 July alongside a cinematic visual in Quezon City, is a sonic culmination of the group’s journey. The song, introspective and empowering, cements their sound as one driven by experience and emotion rather than formula.

Of course, early comparisons came, especially to BINI, another FlipMusic-produced group. But creative director Nolan Bernardino is unbothered. “BINI members are veterans and pioneers. We don’t see ourselves as a competition, but part of the larger conversation. The girls of VVINK are just getting started.”

Mateo agrees. “This is a love project. Talaarawan [VVINK’s pre-debut album] was our diary. This debut? This is our message to the industry: we’re here, and we’ve got something to say.”

Heart of VVINK

What sets VVINK apart isn’t just sound or visuals, it’s the members’ hearts and their perseverance that define every note they sing.

“I almost gave up,” Odri said, tearing up. “This is my second chance.”

“Na-burnout na ako sa pagkanta noon (I was burned out from singing back then),” Mariel added. “But when I got the message for VVINK… do’n bumalik ‘yung fire (that’s where the fire ignited).”

Angelika, once behind the scenes, now leads from the front. Jean and Ayaka bring gentleness and grit. Together, they remind us why the underdogs matter in P-pop: It’s real and ours.

The future is wide open

With VVINK’s debut now in full swing, what comes next is anyone’s guess. But if the past two years are any indication, this is a group built not on hype, but on hunger. In an industry as unpredictable as P-pop, that hunger might be the most powerful thing of all.

“VVINK is more than just a name,” Ayaka said. “It’s our promise. You’re not alone. You’re here. You’re seen. And we’re with you.”

In a world of polished debuts and instant fame, VVINK is proof that slow-burning dreams still have their place and that sometimes, all it takes is a second shot to win.