Ayen makes album debut

Ayen Munji could have taken any of the normally accepted routes to get her big break. Her musician father Emy Munji could have easily asked his friends to give his pretty and talented daughter a chance to record like Tito Sotto did for his niece Sharon Cuneta. She could have joined and won the grand prize in a popular talent show like what happened to Regine Velasquez in Bagong Kampeon. She could have been discovered while singing in a lounge like Kuh Ledesma when she was at the Kalesa Bar.

Fate though decided to postpone the climb to stardom and instead turned Ayen into a woman of privilege, a position some would be ready to kill for. That is where she is today. But because she still dreams of becoming a singing star, Ayen has not ceased trying. It seems like a dilettante stab at a career, a girl who has everything trying to be ordinary. Given her case, genuine talent and good looks will never be enough to get her to the top. So she has to fight for acceptance more than other singers do because people are aware that she can take or leave everything any time she wants to.

On the other hand though, this extra baggage also gives her the drive to constantly prove herself. The great thing about it is that she succeeds. Ayen can sing. Hers is a full, confident voice capable of a lot of expression. Her musicality is inborn and of the versatile sort. She goes from show tunes to jazz to sweet ballads. She also has her own style plus the ability to take any song and make it her own. All that she lacks now is to make music lovers aware of what she has to offer.

Hopefully, this will finally happen with the release of her first album. Titled Ayen, it was produced by Eugene Villaluz for Ayen’s SK Entertainment. It is a well-produced collection with just the right songs most people enjoy listening to and arrangements that allow Ayen to project her best. Speaking for myself, I can honestly say that the result is one of those albums you can listen to over and over again and not get tired of.

The first single is the lilting Bawat Gabi, a new composition by hitmaker Ogie Alcasid, who is certainly one of the most in demand songwriter in town these days with arrangement by Marc Lopez. An Ogie song did great things for Regine, Pops, Lea and others. Maybe it will do the same kind of hit magic for Ayen. Check out the music video which features a tragic love story set in a fishing village.

I have appropriated two cuts in the album as my favorites. One is the beautiful love song composed of Leslie Bricusse for the musical Dr. Dolittle, When I Look in Your Eyes. This is what might be considered a non-commercial cut but this is a song that should be heard more often and I am so glad that Ayen decided to include it in her album. Then there is the wistful Pag-ibig Lang written by the unlikely Gary Granada who it turns out, has a unique way with romantic ballads.

There are two duets. One is the Stephen Sondheim song from Follies, Not While I’m Around, which Ayen sings with friend Martin Nievera and Nasa Iyo Na, a new song by the Pagdating ng Panahon tandem of Moy Ortiz and Edith Gallardo, which Ayen performs with husband Franco Laurel.

The other songs in Ayen are One Last Goodbye by Danny Tan and Dodjie Simon; Here in My Heart by Nory Villena; Laging Mayroong Bukas by Jun Serino; the Santa Esmeralda classic You’re My Everything, No More Words again by Moy Ortiz and Edith Gallardo; Kailan by Mon David; Higher and Brighter by Reuben Laurente and Mark Luna; Nagkataon, Nagkatagpo by Danny Tan and Joey Reyes; Pain in My Heart by Ryan Cayabyab; and as a bonus track, there is Miss Kita Kung Christmas which Ayen recorded as a single release for the last Yuletide Season.

Speaking of Christmas, don’t you just find it unbelievable that it is now only 204 days until Christmas Day and 211 days until New Year’s Day? If that seems like a long way off, remember, the days start flying when we get to September.