Young JV sings about change

It is impressive when people choose to listen to their hearts over the voice of approval from others.

R&B/rap artist Young JV is one of those brave few. Although he could’ve easily become a soldier like his father, Col. Eduardo “Red” Kapunan (PAF Ret.), he has struck out into unfamiliar — if not unexpected — terrain.

He also could have been a dancer. While finding his way to enter showbiz, some people from the entertainment industry had wanted to mold Young JV into a dancer and were willing to back him up.

Or an actor. Young JV already has the advantages of good looks and connections.

But, no, the 18-year-old wants to become a recording artist. He recently released his self-produced debut album, Ready Or Not, a collection of 15 tracks that musically tell of his thoughts and aspirations.

Listening to the songs from the CD makes one realize that the military and the movie industry’s loss, is the music world’s gain. We had expected to just hear about the usual love stories and a teenager’s carefree life.

Instead, Young JV’s music talks about peace and love, and even about war. Matters of conscience and consequence, as my friend would say.

“I was moved by my father’s war stories when he was a combat pilot in Mindanao and when he took part in the EDSA One People Power revolution that brought back our democratic institutions after years of martial rule,” he said.

“These stories of conflict not only made my father stand tall but brought me closer to the sad situation of our Muslim brothers in Mindanao and countless women and children war victims.”

Like the late Francis Magalona, Young JV wants to be a catalyst of change. And it’s not as if he’s trying to fill in the big shoes of the Man from Manila known for such relevant, inspiring songs like Mga Kababayan Ko  and Halalan Na.

It’s just who Young JV is.

“I don’t want to write double meaning songs or drug use and similar stuff. I can’t relate to those things because I come from a wholesome background. If I write about things I don’t know about, people will know and they won’t listen to me. Hearing about truth is always more compelling than lies,” he said.

The first single of the album Ready Or Not is That Girl which has already received thousands of views on YouTube. That Girl is now No. 20 in Pinoy MYX Channel. The video of the song is directed by Treb Monteras and choreographed by Lenny dela Pena from Toronto, Canada. Other good tracks in Young JV’s debut are I Bet They Can’t Do It Like That, Don’t Know You and Kapayapaan (Give Peace A Chance).

“Many people say that many local hip-hop or rap songs are trashy. I hope that in my small way, I change that perception. We can be as good as international rap artists. We just have to believe in ourselves and work hard for us to stand tall in any endeavor,” he said.

Ready Or Not is produced by Doin’ It Big Production and distributed by PolyEast Records. Part of the Ready Or Not album sales will be donated to the education of children whose soldier fathers perished in Mindanao.

 For someone who has seen the world and has been shielded from the grim realities of life by his comfortable background, Young JV is not above serving the Filipino through music that matters.

JV visits 99.5 RT on July 15 at 3 p.m. His radio concerts include Mellow 94.7’s Afternoon Cruise on July 15 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 101.9 For Life’s Saturday Jamming on July 18 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bravo, JV!