Sitti: Spreads the Bossa love

PM's bossa babe has finally set her feet in Cebu! Bossa Manila's "IT" girl Sitti Katrina Navarro Baidin, or simply Sitti, recently wowed Cebuanos with her jazzy, hip swaying and feet-stamping bossa nova contemporary songs. Fresh from her first major concert at the Music Museum last Friday, she graced the SM City Cebu Entertainment Plaza last Sunday afternoon for her Café Bossa Album Tour.

She put the audience in awe and solace as she began singing Sergio Mendes' "Mas Que Nada." It is a cup of chill. To the few who hardly listen to this kind of music, it was an afternoon to be acquainted with the phenomenal sound of Sitti Navarro. She rendered 8 bossa nova songs, which are part of her album. Other tracks in Café Bossa include Bong Penera's "Samba Song," Jobim's "One Note Samba," Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me To The Moon," Mendes' "Close To You/Half A Minute," Emil Pama's original "Para Sa Akin," to name a few. The album recently hit Gold, with over 15,000 units sold. The gig venues she's been to in Metro Manila are starting to overflow with bossa nova, jazz and pop standards fans, oh-so worthy of the bossa babe title.

About Sitti

Listening to Sitti's version of the well-known "Girl from Ipanema" by Carlo Jobim, one would think she's Portuguese. She is, however, purely Pinay who happens to sing Portuguese songs before actually learning it with a language teacher.

Sitti means "princess" in the Muslim dialect. Her father is Muslim but her mom is a devout Catholic, whom she really grew up with. This 21-year old fast-rising singer has a degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines - Diliman. During her high school days, she was both the editor in chief of the school paper and the valedictorian with numerous distinctions and awards such as the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Award, the Gerry A. Roxas Leadership Award and the Jose P. Laurel Academic Excellence Award.

Sitti said that she was never serious about singing or even stardom; she was more focused into her studies. But things changed when she started singing at lounge bars, one of which is Stonehouse in Quezon City - where she's staying at present, renting a space from her manager Garrie (with discount, of course) to escape the hustle of travel from Las Piñas.

Up Close With Sitti

The Freeman Entertainment had the chance to meet this stunning young lady the night before her album launch at Neo Neo Grill Haus with her affable manager, Garrie Trinidad. We got rid of the formal interview routine, and had a chit-chat instead with Sitti - simple and without make-up, ever glowing and candid.

After taking a sip from her mango shake, she started the conversation on the tasteful mangoes of Cebu. She confessed that although shake is a no-no for her, she just had to buy one for herself since she's in Cebu, and it doesn't happen everyday. "I don't drink sodas and cold drinks. Some singers drink salabat but I drink water. May baon talaga akong tubig. Minsan nga pinagtawanan ako nung staff namin sa concert kasi dati nagdadala lang ako ng maliit na bottle ng mineral water, eh kulang lang talaga, so nagdala na ako ng malaki!" she laughs, after which, she asked for a "not-cold" bottled water from the waiter. This is how she takes care of her delicate voice. After all, she has a minimum of three gigs a day to attend to. Quite a superwoman, huh! In fact, she finds it less stressful than traveling from place to place to perform. "On a regular gig, I usually sing 20 or more songs. Pag nasa tour kami, I sing 8 songs lang plus with all the traveling period, nakaka-stress talaga pero nawawala naman when you get a positive response from the audience."

On her music

You might be surprised why she sounds so vintage when she's still in her early 20s. She's the first Pinay artist to go for bossa nova; so rare a genre that only the elites and the "oldies" could relate to. But with the changing musical tastes of Pinoys, her music has reached the yuppies and the age bracket where she belongs to. "Nakakatuwang isipin kasi na ka-age mo lang sila tapos alam nila yung jazz, bossa nova...and they don't only sing my songs but also, they're familiar with the songs of other jazz singers."

She was not exposed to jazz until she started singing at Stonehouse. Being an MTV baby, of course, she was more into mainstream music. But since she mostly sings in lounge bars, people would request for jazz standard songs and she was initially forced to do it. The management finds bossa nova apt for Sitti's voice. And bang! That was the start of her attachment to bossa nova.

In the recently concluded MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards, Sitti, who counts Nora Jones, Jane Manheit, Verni Varga, Ella Fitzgerald and Asrud Gilberto among her influences, was named Favorite New Artist in a Video category for her Para sa Akin video.

On over-exposure and the fans

"Ayaw ko talaga ng masyadong exposure. Ayaw ko lang talaga," she candidly said. For a person who appeared on TV, joined a talent search and a beauty contest, this is an odd statement to say. Yet, she doesn't always want to be in the limelight.

But her talents have inevitably drawn people to her. Stonehouse, meanwhile, has never been the same since; it's always packed with Sittizens (it's how they call Sitti's fans). Sitti slowly influenced the Filipinos to love bossa nova. And most of her male fans have been courting her. "May nagpapahiwatig," she laughs. "Di naman talaga maiiwasan yan. Meron talagang ganun na mga fans. Nakakatuwa sila." One member of her yahoo group even posted a message asking her hand for marriage. "Natuwa ako dun sa kanya. Talagang 'will you marry me?' ang sabi niya. Aba, malay natin di ba? So yun ang sinagot ko! Ha ha!"

Future projects

She's now working on her sophomore album together with her band still under Warner Music Philippines (she has a two-album contract with Warner). "I wrote a song for the second album, pero wala pang title," she mused. "Kinanta ko sya 'nung concert naming sa Music Museum."

She's one of the hosts of "Pinoy Dream Academy" on Studio 23, together with Bettina Carlos and JC Quadrado. She shared that it was only during the time they were shooting the teaser ad that she bonded with her co-hosts. Suddenly, her tone lowered while being asked how many times they'll go live on TV. "Every Saturday, live kami or when the need arises. Sa August 28 live din kami, yun yung pilot episode namin. But they (referring to Warner or her Manager) can still pull me out after to perform as long as it's not on a Saturday. I'll have gigs later on after the show na."

The former beauty pageant holder (Miss Visayas 2001 in the Miss Travel Girl Pageant and Miss Silka first runner-up) dreams to collaborate with Gary Valenciano. "He shared a lot in the music industry, aside from sharing his music to everyone. He has attained a lot in his career. Most of all, I'm amazed with his relationship with God and it really comes out from his music." She was supposed to have a duet with Gary V on ASAP '06 for "Mas Que Nada," wherein he will do the rap, as in the Black Eyed Peas version. Unfortunately, her schedule was canceled due to prior engagements.

On her favorite place in the Philippines

As Studio 23's former TV host of "The Travel Show," she was able to travel to different spots in the country. A trip to Malapascua two years ago for a conference tops her island hopping experiences. "It's close to Boracay but my experience in Malapascua is the best! Ang ganda talaga ng Malapascua, grabe! Pero mas gusto ko talaga ang Bohol! Ang Panglao!" Seems like she has never gotten over the trip as she rattled off Loboc River, Chocolate Hills and the famous tarsiers as the other memorable attractions of Bohol.

Fans-wise, she also adores people from Bacolod who watched her performance during her album launching. "Nakakatuwa kasi they were about my age at yung nirerequest nila are bossa nova songs from my album. Naaaliw sila sa 'Mas Que Nada' at yung mga jazz songs sa album. Nakakausap ko sila about Bossa Nova. Ang ganda ng sound system nila."

Though the audience that Sunday afternoon was a bit shocked and surprised over the music being introduced by this fabulous bossa babe, staying with her throughout the show is a clear picture that Cebuanos are ready to embrace this new taste, new tune.

Sitti embodies the total bossa nova performer. She has the flair for the upbeat samba-salsa dance steps, the first-rate voice, the right attitude, the beauty and the brains - truly the perfect package for an artist. As the Philippine music industry continues to produce promising performers and artists, SITTI is definitely one of those who can go global and share the stage with international artists.

After her successful first SOLD OUT major concert, she's scheduled to take on the concert stage again in September. To know more about Sitti, log in to www.sitti.stonehouse.ph