Stunning Stella

Sexy and sassy star Stella Ruiz once again does another stunning reinvention.

The sultry actress, who once made her grand debut as a screen siren, is now making waves in the lounge and bar circuits as an acoustic diva.

Not too many people are aware that Stella is a natural-born singer. She, in fact, has been singing since she was a young girl, polishing her pipes with the neighborhood church choir.

In the past, she has also performed in such hip venues as Hard Rock Cafe, Ratsky’s, and Big Bucket.

These days, she is the current headliner (and star attraction) in three first-rate nightspots: The Conservatory at the Manila Peninsula (every Tuesday), the Oyster Bar at the Rockwell Powerplant Mall (every Wednesday), and at the Synchopado in Malate (on Feb. 7, 21, and 28). In all her nightly gigs, she is accompanied by a violinist (Aldwin), percussionist (Eugene), and guitarist (Allan).

She is also revving up for a solo concert at the Hotel Rembrandt in Quezon City for Valentine’s night.

It wouldn’t be surprising if a recording contract would soon be in the works for the acoustic siren.

"Hopefully," she crosses her fingers. "I’m really working for it."

Needless to say, the girl works hard to hone her craft.

She vocalizes every day. "In the morning, upon waking up, while in the bathroom, I sing," she explains. "Basically, that’s what I do."

She also practices with her band at least once a week.

"We try to meet up every week, but since the month of February will be very busy for all of us, we’ll try to have one more day of rehearsals every week, so we can really perfect our entire lineup," she elaborates.

And Stella not only croons, she also strums the guitar.

"Some people thought I was a tomboy because I play the guitar," she chortles.

Indeed, it can be quite disconcerting watching a wily and willowy woman like Stella pluck the guitar and go mano a mano with the macho men who are currently lording it over the local acoustic scene.

For her craft, Stella even sacrificed wearing long Mandarin fingernails. "It would be hard playing the guitar if I had long nails," she quips.

She also spends a lot of time practicing her guitar-playing.

"I’ve already mastered 10 to 15 songs on the guitar," she relates. "I want to learn more. So that when listeners request for a particular song, I’d be able to play it with the band."

Whenever she is confronted with an unfamiliar requested song, she makes sure to handle such a tricky situation with charm and diplomacy.

"I’m glad that so far most of the requests are in my repertoire," she remarks. "But there are also times when the songs are too old for me. Whenever that happens, I just tell the audience that: ‘At least you have a reason to come back next week. I’ll try to study your song and I’ll sing it just for you next time.’ Or ‘since I can’t sing your song, I’ll do this song instead.’ "

Spoken like a seasoned show woman.

Without a doubt, she has realized lots of things about herself and about her craft, now that she has gone full-blast in the live concert circuit.

For one thing, she has learned to overcome stage fright and now relishes performing in front of a huge crowd.

"I find it very fulfilling," she pipes up.

It affords her a different kind of high. "It’s because you see the people’s reaction instantly. Unlike when you do movies or TV shows."

That was precisely the same kind of satisfaction she felt when she acted in her first stage production, the comedy play Charles and the Lady Dis, with Cris Villanueva.

"And my role in that play was such a scene-stealer," she recalls. "Very funny, very flirty. I only had four or five scenes in that play, so I made certain that every time I would go onstage I would create an impact, that the people would be laughing just by hearing my voice."

The crowd’s reaction was music to her ears.

"It was great," she reminisces. "It confirmed to me that I was doing a good job!"

She goes through the same intense emotions as a singer.

"On my first set, on my first three songs, I’m usually nervous still," she recounts. "But after four or five songs, I’m okay. Things are going smoothly na. By the second set, I’m already more comfortable."

She also subscribes to a tried-and-tested pre-show ritual.

"Right before a show, I pray that all goes well, of course," she volunteers. "And then I gargle warm water with salt. I also do breathing exercises."

But nothing beats singing songs that are special to her heart, tunes that comprise the soundtrack of her life, of her audience’s life.

She is partial to songs by Alanis Morissette, Lisa Loeb, Sting, Sheryl Crow, The Corrs, The Cranberries, Christina Aguilera, even such older hitmakers as Carole King, Angela Bofill, Tuck and Patti, and the great Annie Lennox.

"In my car, I’m listening to a CD my friend has burned for me," she chimes in. "I want to master that song Why by Annie Lennox and sing it in my next show. It’s so good!"

Truth be told: The actress in her feels every song that she sings.