MANILA, Philippines - Count Sabrina in among the Pinoy artists gaining fans in other Southeast Asian countries.
The acoustic singer’s I Love Acoustic album series under the recording label MCA Music, Inc., was released not just in the country, but also in other parts of Asia.
The first of the series, which came out in 2007 when she was only 18, was certified Gold in Thailand and Double Platinum in Indonesia. This spawned a follow-up record, I Love Acoustic Too, which again became certified Gold in Thailand, Double Platinum in Indonesia and did very well in Singapore. The third acoustic album turned Platinum in Indonesia and charted well in other Asian territories.
And she’s in good company: The Pinoy music artists who have enjoyed popularity if not released albums in other Asian countries include Christian Bautista, Rico Blanco, Jed Madela, Aiza Seguerra and of course, Charice.
“It’s very humbling to experience the appreciation of people from other countries,” says the now 21-year-old Sabrina.
Sometime mid of this year, she flew to Indonesia to meet her fans there for the first time. She also became a cover girl for the Indonesian glossy Eve and graced other mags like Cosmogirl. She recently went back to sing in a high-profile wedding. Indonesian fanpages have also been put up for her. “Lahat ng mga ka-tweet ko mga halos Indonesian. Ang laki ng support group ko dun,” she adds.
Sabrina also has a couple of Thai fanpages. “Sa Thailand kasi nag-No. 1 yung songs ko,” she explains.
Meanwhile, Sabrina will be returning to Singapore end of this year, as a follow-up to her successful promo tour late last year.
“I love it so much even if (a promo tour abroad) can be so toxic. I think the best thing about it is that I learn about other people’s cultures, including their fashion and food,” she says.
Sabrina has released the fourth installment of the series dubbed I Love Acoustic 4 and will be available in other countries. The album boasts of her interpretations of such international hits as Price Tag, Who Says, Edge of Glory, On The Floor, Moves Like Jagger, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), California King Bed, Hold It Against Me, Rolling In The Deep, The Lazy Song, Back To December, That Should Be Me, Marry Me and Rocketeer. On its first week of release last month, it went straight to No. 1 of Astroplus’ OPM and international album charts.
Sabrina says that among all the records in the I Love Acoustic series, the latest collection is which she can relate the most, it being a “clearer expression of who I am today, a girl slowly turning into a woman.”
The album also showcases a duet with Indonesian crooner Calvin Jeremy for a cover of Just The Way You Are and with Richard Poon for a version of the Jason Mraz/Colbie Caillat track Lucky.
Sabrina, who was named Female Acoustic Artist of the Year in last month’s Star Awards for Music, doesn’t mind if there are impressions of her being more recognized in other places, rather than in her home country. In the same way, she is positive that even if there is a general perception that the acoustic scene is not as alive as before, the genre is here to stay because “soothing and mellow music” will always have its slice of the music-loving market.
“What I love about acoustic is the emotions it brings to its listeners. It’s soothing to the ears and very mellow,” says Sabrina.
Her albums are all covers and fresh arrangements of hit foreign songs, but she hopes she gets to sing original compositions someday.
Born Roli Alexandra Orial, Sabrina is a Communication Arts graduate, cum laude, from University of the Philippines Los Baños. She grew up in a very musical household. Her father used to be a folk singer and she once formed part of a performing trio with her older brother and sister. In one of her gigs with her siblings, she was discovered by MCA Philippines executives, who let her grow up a bit and signed her up two years later when she turned 18. Bossa Nova was her first genre, but MCA big bosses deemed it more age-appropriate for her to sing acoustic numbers.
Sabrina says, “My family is very supportive and happy that I pursued music because this is also their dream.”