Karylle: Her time has come to shine

Inheriting the rare gift of song can be a double-edged sword.

While the birthright guarantees its heirs a formidable headstart, there remains the more daunting task of having to break out of their predecessors’ shadows. Such is the bane of the musically well-to-do whose legacies have been pre-ordained by reasons genetic.

Pop music history is replete with stories of celebrity scions who have, one way or another, attempted to wrestle their way out of their fortuitous anointment – a bleak and tumultuous journey that sometimes ends with disastrous results.

There’s Frank Sinatra Jr., who never managed to shake off the stigma of "just being another second-rate Sinatra." For her part, at least Natalie Cole, daughter of the late great Nat King Cole, established her own identity early on in her career. And as for Liv Tyler, daughter of Steven Tyler of the rock group Aerosmith, thank God she didn’t dare pick up from where her dad left off.

On the local front, there’s another celebrity scion making waves in the record industry, but she’s not overly concerned with the identity plague. Karylle, daughter of Zsa Zsa Padilla, has more things to worry about.

For starters, there’s her recently-launched debut album, aptly called Time to Shine. Released by Universal Records, her maiden outing features an eclectic mix of lilting and engaging ballads and infectious dance grooves.

"The album title delivers my message loud and clear," Karylle avers. All these years, I’ve felt that deep inside me, there’s this voice that’s been struggling to come out. And despite my fears, I’ve always felt that I was cut out to be a singer."

The title cut’s refrain affirms this all the more. "This time has come for me to shine ...I’ve been waiting for this all of my life ..."

Composed by Noel Macanaya (a.k.a. D.J. M.O.D.), It’s My Time (Time To Shine), stands out among the two other dance-oriented cuts (Can’t Live Without You) and (Lemme Be The One, composed by ex-NeoColours member Ito Rapadas).

Karylle also did a remake of I Was Looking For Someone To Love, popularized during the late ’70s by former teen heartthrob Leif Garret. Another highlight is her duet with international pop star Gil, titled Callin’. Gil composed the song for Karylle and recorded it in Manila early April.

"I’m doubly excited about my music video for Can’t Live Without You, which was produced by Cholo Laurel, " Karylle gushes. "We’re going to launch it this weekend at S.O.P. And I’m also going to do a string of mall shows starting July 7."

Surprisingly, the album took some time before leaving the drawing board. The idea was already hatched from the time she started rehearsals for her first stage musical, Little Mermaid, where she played Princess Sapphire. In between rehearsals for both the album and the play, Karylle managed to snag top honors as a Communications Technology major at the Ateneo de Manila University.

"I like dabbling in graphic design," she confesses. "If I didn’t pursue my singing ambition, I’d probably be doing graphics, or writing. I’m not really a writer. I write poetry, and I’d like to do graphic design for magazines."

Asked to cite her favorite reads, she cites her mom’s copies of In Style, but also professes fondness for teen-oriented mags such as Seventeen and YM.

For all her hard-earned accolades, Karylle keeps her feet on terra firma. "I’ve always been thankful for both my parents for being very supportive. Of course, everyone knows that my mom had a lot to do with paving the way for me, but I’d like to state that my dad has also been a very good coach, and a harsh critic," she emphasizes.

"He pushes me when I’m not doing well enough. Even if it hurts, I really value his snippets of constructive criticism," Karylle recalls. "That’ s how it is naman when they really love you, ‘di ba? They say things even if they know it hurts. I really like it when he does that."

Of course, Zsa Zsa, the doting mom, couldn’t be any prouder. "She’s has worked hard to be where she is now," the visibly-elated diva stressed during Karylle’s presscon. "I must say that I really envy what she’s done for someone her age. I wish I had the same support and guidance from the right people when I was just starting my career."

Perhaps Zsa Zsa has a point. But then again, it would be well worth remembering that adversity often brings out the best in people, and that despite the insurmountable odds initially stacked against her from the start, it was her sheer talent and gumption that eventually paved the way for her inevitable success.

For someone whose road has been paved from the start, Karylle should learn to wield that double-edged sword to her advantage, cutting through all foreseen trials and obstacles that are as much her birthright as her hereditary blessings.