‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ is next for Matty Juniosa after ‘Britain’s Got Talent’

Before “Britain’s Got Talent” reached its grand finals with The Hawkstone Farmers Choir as the winner, finalist and eventual fourth placer Matty Juniosa had been booked and blessed as he was announced as part of the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the West End.

Matty will be playing the role of Annas, a Jewish priest and father-in-law to Caiaphas. He will convince the latter to put Jesus Christ on trial.

Prior to this stint, Matty studied musical theater in the UK and finished his degree last July. He then worked on different levels for “Lost in Love,” “Oscar at the Crown” and “Ne Zha.”

For the Filipino singer, Annas fits his vocal range.

“I’m very happy that I got Annas because it’s the perfect casting for me, my vocal type, my vocal range and my performing style,” Matty told The STAR in an exclusive interview.

“Sobrang grateful ko because in my head, I kind of limit myself. You know how they say, you are your own inner saboteur and all that. So, it really happened for me in that sense that, hindi ko makukuha ‘yan, masyadong malaki ‘yan,”

“Everything that could go wrong was going through my head. But when I got it, I genuinely was just so shocked that I was able to do what I did. So, sabi (ko), ‘I’ll take it. I’ll do whatever I need to do. I’ll do my best kasi pinagkatiwala na ni Lord. Sobrang grateful ko na lang,” he added.

“Jesus Christ Superstar” will run from June 20 until September at the West End in London.

A grateful Matty says he felt ‘the love’ of Filipino fans ‘so much every step of the way’ of his ‘BGT’ journey.

Juggling between two worlds

During the interview, done prior to the “BGT” finale, Matty admitted that he was not taking a break: “So, I have not had the chance to rest. Gladly, though, because I’m doing my dream, basically. I’d rather be tired from doing all of this.”

Matty said that he was preparing himself physically and mentally as he was doing two things at once.

“So, I’m just trying to be mentally stable and trying to be physically apt as well for the demands of being on a musical and then also being on a TV show. So, my brain is going a little crazy lately because I am thinking of a lot of things. It’s dividing two parts of my brain into one world of doing music and another world of performing,” the Filipino singer shared.

“I’m trying to keep myself sane, keep myself focused and balanced. I’m trying to keep myself healthy most of all because it’s so physically demanding to be doing all of these things. My break time in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ is my rehearsal time for ‘Britain’s Got Talent,’” he added.

Matty was just so grateful that he was making his dreams come true.

“I’m just trying to make the most out of it. It’s kind of like when it began, it feels like it’s such a long way to go,” he said.

“And now that it’s about to end, and there’s another chapter that will open after that, I’m trying to make the most out of everything. I’ve just started out ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ now, so, there’s a long way to go,” Matty shared.

“We’ve got six months of doing this show. But then another chapter will close by this month, and we will, fingers crossed, know if I will be the winner. Fingers crossed.”

He stressed that all of these were fruits of his labor.

“I wasn’t given these on a silver platter. I worked my ass off just to be able to get these things. I am so grateful that they happened,” he said. “At the same time, it’s so unbelievable to me that that is possible. Sometimes, you doubt yourself that maybe hard work isn’t enough or maybe my talent is not enough. But then you realize with the things that have been happening to me and the blessings that I’ve been receiving that everything will pay off eventually.”

“And you just really have to keep going, work hard for it,” he continued. “Which is why it feels so surreal because I’m on the other side of things now. I’m on the other side of the doubt, of the fear, of like, am I going to get it? Am I not? I’m on the other side of it now. But also that entails, now you’re going to have to do what you have to do and do your responsibilities.”

The singer during one of his TV guestings in the UK.

Gratefulfor Filipino fans

Ahead of the finale, Matty expressed his gratitude for the Filipino fans.

“Sobrang salamat po sa inyong lahat, sa pagmamahal tsaka sa suportang ibinibigay po ninyo. I’m trying to do my best from all the way here. You guys are giving me all the love. The numbers speak for themselves. Grabe, it’s outpouring,” the singer said.

“I can’t even believe what reality can be. Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng nanood at sumusubaybay.

“I feel the love so much every step of the way. And I’m so grateful,” he added.

For Matty, among the notable moments of him on the show was telling that had not watched “Star Wars,” saying that he’s too gay for it. His queerness made him memorable on the show.

Back in the Philippines, he admitted that he was not being authentically himself when he was pursuing a career in music.

“I think it’s from years and years of trying to hide it... all my life I’ve been a people pleaser, and I’ve shadowed myself under other people’s perception of me. I’ve molded myself to be what the industry wanted me to be. I’ve tried to get the idea of what queer people looked like for people back there,” he said.

“As much as I am queer, I’m also a specific kind of queer person. There’s such an array of queer people. We have Vice Ganda. We have Bretman Rock. We have these different types of people, Tito Boy and all that. But then, the more that I was trying to pretend to be one of them or the more that I was trying to pretend that I’m not one of them, the harder that my life became,” he added.

Coming to the UK, Matty had a fresh start to be himself.

“So, sabi ko sa sarili ko, when I moved here, it gave me an opportunity to start with a blank slate. Dito, no judgment. And dito, whoever you are, so be it.”

“We’re all living our lives. And life is so much easier when you’re not pretending to be someone else. And I owed it to myself. Na sabi ko, buong buhay mo nagtatago ka, buong buhay mo, pi-ni-please mo ibang tao. Paano naman ikaw?” the singer shared.

“So, sabi ko, from now on, whether you like me or not, which back home, kaya din nahirapan ako before to appreciate what I was offering, because people didn’t like me back home, but I’ve turned myself in. So, sabi ko, ‘Whether you like me or not, I’ll deal with it,’” he added.

Matty said he is just glad that people are embracing his queerness.

“I’m okay because in reality, the people who actually know me, they love me enough. So, ganun. I’m very appreciative of it. Sobrang saya ko na ‘yung reception ngayon... because genuinely, I’m just trying to be who I am. If you think I’m putting it on, that’s on you.”

“I’m just so grateful na ‘yung reception ng tao because whether I’m queer or not, I think what matters is that I try to be kind. So, if that’s what people see, then, so be it,” he added.

Matty was all fired up during the interview, and after the victories of Sofronio Vasquez III in “The Voice” USA, Jessica Sanchez in “America’s Got Talent,” he was determined to win “BGT” for the Philippines.

“I think we have established in the world that the Philippines is the land of the singers. So, there is that pressure there. Tsaka siyempre, if ever I do win, I’m completing the trifecta of global winners.”

“Sofronio, Jessica Sanchez, and, fingers crossed, I’m the third one, you know? So, there is that pressure. Pero iniisip ko na lang, whatever happens, my God, you’re walking away from ‘BGT’ with two golden buzzers. Wow. That in itself is a miracle enough for me. Pero, yes, of course, there’s so much pressure there,” the singer said.

“And I know I’m holding up a standard for the Filipino people. And I really hope I deliver. If anything, what matters more to me is to be consistent,” he added.

Matty chose Nothing Compares 2 U, a classic ballad, as his final piece. In the interview with this paper, he described it in one word: puso.

“I think for the last two rounds, you’ve seen me give vigor, fire, drive, and like buga,” the singer said.

“So, for the first time, I’m going to reel it back and give you heart and soul. I’m just going to bear it all there. Just me and my voice,” he added.