Following multiple awards, sold-out concerts and the recently concluded PAGTATAG world tour, Stell Ajero of SB19 continues to be “booked and busy.”
Ajero, the main vocalist and lead dancer of the global P-pop group SB19, said his co-members are all-out in supporting his solo gig as The Voice Generations coach despite their group activities.
In an interview with Boy Abunda during “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on 12 September, Abunda asked the singer-songwriter about SB19’s reaction when he was offered to be one of the coaches of The Voice Generations.
“Sabi nila sa’kin, ‘Stell, kapag hindi mo pa tinanggap ang project na ‘yan, hindi namin alam kung anong gagawin sa’yo (They said, “Stell, if you won’t accept this project, we don’t know what to do with you),” Ajero said. Before the GMA offer, he explained, he had been very selective in accepting solo projects because he wanted to prioritize group projects with SB19.
However, the 28-year-old vocalist told Abunda that all he needed was the push and encouragement from SB19 and his loved ones.
“With the help of my group, my team, my family, sila ‘yung nagpakita at nagparamdam sa akin na [I] really deserved that spot. ‘Kunin mo na. Binigay nila ‘yan sa’yo kasi alam nilang kaya mo at dapat mong tanggapin nang buong puso (With the help of my group, my team, my family, they made me feel I really deserved that spot. The project was offered to me since they knew I could do it, so I should accept it wholeheartedly).”
In a separate video, the four other members of SB19 — Justin, Pablo, Ken and Josh — were profuse in their praise for Ajero, attesting to his passion for excellence and fun but committed attitude toward work, which they said would be of immense benefit to the artists he’d be handling on The Voice Generations. “Yan ang Coach Stell namin! (That’s our Coach Stell!),” said SB19’s leader Pablo.
Despite coaching for The Voice Generations and the possibility of being offered more solo activities, Ajero vowed that SB19 will always be his main priority.
Asked about his mentorship style, Ajero said he wants to keep it simple and chill while also remembering his roots when he was starting out.
“I give them time to adjust at isapuso muna nila kung ano ‘yung sinabi ko… Ayoko po kasi nila maramdaman ‘yung pressure from me as their coach (I give my artists time to adjust and take what I said to heart. I don’t want them to feel pressured as their coach),” he said, explaining that he doesn’t want to stress his talents to be perfect from the get-go.
Viewers may tune in every Sunday to watch Ajero’s entertaining and substantive coaching in The Voice Generations, along with award-winning singer and dancer Billy Crawford, Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda and Asia’s Limitless Star Julie Anne San Jose as his fellow coaches.