HEART TO HEART WITH KYLA

Another darling of the OPM industry is a 'princess' living in her castle of fame and fortune is the R&B Princess Kyla. A multi-awarded singing diva who's vocal beauty entices some foreign artists alike such as Fra Lippo Lippi, Ronan Keating, Too Phat and others. She has made collaboration with them once or maybe twice and looking forward. And all these years that she has been in the industry, she just couldn't get enough. She's on for something more, such as her seventh album “Heart To Heart,” that we will be grilling later on.

Just a bit of her, Kyla is the third of the four siblings. Her real name is Melanie Hernandez Calumpad. She made her academic accomplishment graduating Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication at the Philippine Christian University.

Her early recognition started during her younger years, perhaps singing with her mates on schools and fiestas. Nonetheless, her formal singing engagement was with Civil Service Commission Christmas Party till taking a big leap on time, she find herself crowning a prestigious MTV Video Music Awards as 2001 MTV's Southeast Asian Viewers Choice Awardee.

As dubbed “Soul Princess” or “R&B Princess” of course a masculine contemporary takes the other crown, and it takes two to tango. Her vocal tandem with the “R&B Prince” Jay-R casts the segment “Souled-Out” on GMA-7 Sunday show.

Fresh and bubbly, she shed few hours for our usual pictorial and interview sessions, this time with her and of course the other lasses on their way. Kyla sits with us for somewhat a heart to heart talk with her drawing few questions and positing few answers from her.


ALBUM TALKS HEART TO HEART

Most of Kyla's musical blends include the major components R&B and Soul with a pinch of Pop and Jazz. She's been challenge to describe her album to worth the tag and the audience, “beautiful 'yung songs, inspiring, challenging, sexy and full of soul.”

For her personal styles on music is uncompromising as long as you give it a full blow – and the rest will follow. “I experiment and mix a lot of different sounds. It depends on my mood and experiences. We are not sustained to do what we want we just follow on what we are being told. Kung ilalabas mo 'yung 100 % artistic style mo they have to give you the freedom to do whatever you want.”

At the spark of her career, Kyla secludes herself to her generic genre, R&B. But then shes, pouring out time and effort foretasting other kinds of music. “Before kasi hindi ako open sa ibang kind ng music like my very first album it’s all pure RnB tapos next few albums naging mas open na ako sa mixture ng Pop and Ballad kasi dati ayaw ko gusto ko Jazz lang and Soul. I'm open to all kinds of music siguro ang 'di ko na lang nagagawa ngayon Country music at saka Rock.” Being open actually gave her more leeway for growth and maturity. Hear her, “and also mas nai-express ko na ang sarili ko ngayon when it comes to music I've grown in terms of writing songs and composing.”

Kyla express his welcoming attitude towards camaraderie and interpersonal relationship towards individuals who work for her. “Naku lahat naman sila e talagang nag-enjoy akong makatrabaho. Actually lahat naman sila e kaibigan ko 'yung iba nga e kumare ko na so lahat sila nag-enjoy akong katrabaho.” Though, her experience when she's grilled for the recording are potpourris of pain and pleasure by frame of mind. She notes, “love and hurt. Iba-iba kasi eh its all about love and pain. It's actually a sequel of heartfelt.”

How much pressure do you feel to follow up the success of 'Heartfelt'?
Medyo kasi 'yung 'Heartfelt' when it came out in a week nasa top of charts na siya agad even before it came out 'yung “Love Will Lead You Back” nag-hit na siya agad and also when it came out sa market mataas agad 'yung sales n'ya kumbaga maingay siya. Nu'ng sinundan namin ng “Heart to Heart” medyo may konting pressure na mapantayan. Although in my opinion 'yung mga songs dito sa 'Heart 2 Heart' and the way we have delivered the songs I think this one is much better than “Heartfelt”.

If you could cover one song from the past, which would you choose?
Ako gusto ko 'yung kantang “A House Is Not A Home”. I would really love to record that. I have been begging 'yung dati pa naming boss ng EMI if I can record that song. They think its too old for me and masyadong mataas. I don't see it that way kasi when it comes to songs and music. You can always make it sound fresh and sound you it all depends on how you deliver the song and the arrangement. 'Yung song na 'yun ang dream ko talagang mai-record.

What did you learn from your early experiences making music, and how did that inform this album?
Siguro 'yung mas maging open ka at s'yempre makikinig ka din doon sa mga boss mo. They know better than you. They know the market. They know how it works. You have to listen 'tsaka kailangan hindi ka masyadong tutok d'un sa gusto mong gawin hindi mo sinasatisfy 'yung sarili mo lang but 'yung mga bibili ng album mo in the future. You have to consider all the aspects.

How do you think you are evolving?
There is a difference when you're a singer and a performer. I have to learn a lot of things pa when it comes to performing din. It's not just about the music it's also about the visual kasi 'yun na ang uso hindi lang 'yung boses mo ang pinapakinggan importante 'yung what they see on stage. I guess nag-eevolve pa.

Do you have any particular favorite tracks on the album?
“Written In The Sky”, “Tahan Na”, “Stay Away”, “You Make Me Feel” and 'yung duet namin ni Jay-R “Back in Time”.

What are your preparations for this album?
Medyo mahaba 'yung preparation namin sa album. Namili pa talaga kami ng mga songs on what will really work for me.

Are there any other new instruments that you experimented with on the new album?
Oo kasi ang sarap mag-experiment. You learn also kung sino ang ka-collaborate mo. 'Di ba magkaiba kayo lagi ng takbo ng isip and styles. In the future, I would love to do more collaborations.

What inspires you to write songs?
Kasi fulfillment siya e iba kasi when you write your own songs tapos kunwari nag-hit siya parang you feel proud kesa d'un sa kakantahin mo lang at saka iba kung ikaw ang nag-compose alam mo kung saan nanggaling 'yun.

How did this new record challenge you?
Sa mga songs medyo challenging siya kasi mga 80s siya e. Napressure ako kung paano ko siya ide-deliver.


FROM THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART

Kyla casts her hearts spell on each question we ask. On the onset, she feels strongly about some Filipinos or say artists who gives more second attention to foreign artists that the local ones. “Kasi sila they believe in what they do eh. I think thats it kasi tayo they feed us. Tayo we follow them. They are confident on what they do. Feeling ko kasi tayo kung gagawa tayo ng isang bagay kailangang confident tayo at gagawin nating maganda ito 'pag nakita naman nila the way we handle ourself , the way we project ourself, 'yung confidence natin sa sarili kahit hindi masyadong maganda 'yung song your still feeding them your song. We have to learn how to feed our audience/listeners. We have to set our own style. And what we need talaga is the support of everyone. Kung ano ang nakikita ng tao iyon ang tinatanggap nila e.” Nevetherless, locally she admits to be star struck by few other fellow artists, she admits, “Oo marami. Actually 'yung mga medyo nauna sa amin the people whom I look up to up to now – Si Regine kahit katrabaho ko siya I'm still not that comfortable in the sense na you look up to her talaga and you feel like wala ka pa sa level niya. More on respect talaga. Si Gary V. din kahit ilang beses ko na siyang nakasama minsan nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. Pero nakaka-inspire sila.”

She drew a shrugging gesture on the obvious duality of music and the artist's image. Oftentimes it’s hard for some individuals to accept the (extreme) polarity of the image and the music. Some musicians have uncompromising vocal acumen but are facially challenged. She asserts, “The image of the music kasi 'yung personal image mo will follow e. 'Di ako naniniwalang may pangit na singer kasi 'pag naayusan na 'yan gaganda 'yan depende na 'yan sa damit, sa sapatos, sa buhok. Nadadala lahat iyan sa imaging. Dito sa Pilipinas kasi 'pag pangit hindi masyadong pina-patronize. Mayroon kasi tayong mentality na hindi masyadong maganda na kapag sariling atin hindi masyadong tinatangkilik o sinusuportahan pero kapag foreign artist we support them. We sing their songs and we dance to their music. Sa atin mismo parang we put ourselves down. Nawawalan ng kumpiyansa 'yung artist dito eh kung hindi nakakakuha ng suporta sa mga mismong kababayan natin or konti lang mas na-appreciate natin 'yung mga foreign artists. Nakakalungkot kasi s'yempre marami rin namang magagaling na artists’ dito e parang kulang, or hindi napapansin at hindi nabibigyan ng importansiya.” It's somehow self-defeating to give much regard on foreign platform while our own lays unflattered.

Are you conscious maintaining a clean-cut image?
Oo naman kasi kailangang concious ka kasi kung 'di ka conscious parang wala kang pupuntahan. Every time I do an album, I want to make sure na there is something new din.

Does the reality of being a celebrity live up to your expectations?
Personally, I really want to get my hands dirty when it comes to producing the song but unluckily I'm a co-producer kasi sa akin kapag celebrity ka or actress or singer you should be more into the music you make. You should be hands on and you should concentrate. Right now hindi ka masyadong free kasi you also have to consider kung ano ang gusto ng boss mo. You have your own boss too to follow and to listen to.

What has been the your most important professional accomplishment to date?
Nu'ng naka-receive ako ng Merit for MTV Best Video for Asia 2001.

What new fall trends are catching your eye?
Summer kasi kaya iniisip ko 'yung mga masasayang tunog Reggae ganyan. Hindi kasi ako ma-gadget masyado e basta meron akong basic mayroon akong camera, laptop, cell phone okay na ako d'un.

Do you guys still shop for fashion bargains?
Oo naman.

What's the most you've spent on one thing if you're treating yourself?
Siguro 'yung bags. Gusto ko lang talaga 'yung bags.

Is there always pressure to look good?
Oo naman kasi iyon 'yung visual e iyon ang nakikita nila. Kahit 'di ka maganda basta naka-ayos ka lang.

What's the worst thing ever written about you?
Siguro 'yung recently lang sabi nila I'm pregnant daw. Dati kasi may nagsabi na ako raw iyong nawawala niyang anak. Sobrang nakakatawa talaga.

Biggest misconception about you?
Suplada raw ako. Hindi naman totoo, tahimik lang kasi talaga ako.

What's the fun side of being a celebrity?
In terms of work mas enjoyable kasi ginagawa mo 'yung gusto mo. Sometimes you have shows out of the country you get to enjoy, travel different places and meet a lot of people.

What are the disadvantages of being a celebrity?
Yung rumors and intrigues. 'Pag minsan kahit pagod na pagod ka na kailangang smile ka pa rin lagi. Bawal ang nakasimangot.

How long would you like to stay in this industry?
Forever as long as I could sing pa ng maganda, perform and deliver.

Have you ever downloaded anything illegally?
Siguro lahat naman siguro oo wala ditong inosente. Mga songs lang naman pero foreign lang 'di ako nagda-download ng local.

What's your take on piracy?
Stop piracy. Stop producing our CDs illegally kasi your putting the industry down. Buy original copies pero ngayon p'wede ka ng bumili ng album sa internet e.

If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
Piracy and 'yung pagkakaroon natin ng colonial mentality.

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