Songs that heal

Carla Martinez was the Inspirational Diva of the ’80s, long before the public bestowed the title to Jamie Rivera in recent years. Carla endeared herself to musically-inclined Pinoys with her hit Changes and first Christian, post-Edsa album, Just In Time.

As the lyrics of her first single go, changes... so many stages in life, so it is with Carla’s life.

The pop-turned-gospel singer has made a 180-degree turnaround with her life and career. For the past years, she has traveled the US and Asia to fulfill her Christian calling of touching and inspiring the lives of others through her music. On top of that, Carla is a wife, mother and grandmother all rolled into one.

The artist in Carla has also ventured into other related fields of performance. She has acted on stage (Larawan, The Sound of Music, Footloose) and TV (Buttercup). She also recorded and guested in the albums of various artists.

Carla has come full circle as a person and as an artist.

After a hiatus from the recording scene, Carla is making a comeback through her latest Christian album, Full Circle.

She says the album is a far cry from Changes, genre-wise. Changes, the first concept album in the country, has a storyline which complements songs in the album. Boy meets girl and they fall in and out of love. The album is a fusion of blues, rock, jazz, R ’n B and ballads. It is somewhat a recorded concert. Full Circle, on the other hand, has a more specific niche, just like Carla’s Just In Time.

"The album is not about me. It’s about Him," Carla says of her latest recording. "I’m just an instrument."

Thus, listeners will hear purely inspirational songs which can heal spiritual wounds and satisfy their yearnings for things divine.

The songs Tanging Bituin, Stubborn Love, Hindi Ko Kayang Tumbasan, Changes, Papuri Medley, Talaga, and the carrier single Full Circle will ease one’s cares.

Although all the songs sound and speak of things Christian, Carla spices them up with upbeat tunes she became known for in her debut album. She even recorded an Avril Lavigne-inspired song to reach out to the younger generation. The song was so challenging Carla had to re-orient her mind and adjust her vocal cords. After all, it’s been a long time since she did something like this.

Carla, who collaborated with her producers, arrangers and composers from brainstorming to finalizing the cuts, considers Tanging Bituin the perfect praise song. It describes her one and only star that never ceases to shine on her life: God.

Aside from recording, Carla will still be busy doing musical theater – her other passion. Indeed, if theater can bring food to the table and pay the bills, Carla would love to concentrate on it.

"Music is my life," Carla says. "It’s in my blood. I can’t remember not singing when I was young. Pagdidikitin ng mga kaeskwela ko yung mga upuan. At yon ang gagawin kong entablado. I’ve always been a performer."

This is why Carla is excited about and grateful for her new album. She thinks it’s manna from heaven.

"It’s a gift from Him," Carla believes. "It’s my gift for Him."

"If people will know and love Him through this album," Carla concludes, "I’ve fulfilled my purpose."