Jessica: The face of int’l Pinoy talent

MANILA, Philippines - The long wait for her post-American Idol album should be soon over. Jessica Sanchez revealed that she already finished her debut album, with the first single scheduled to drop this month and the entire album slated for release in May.

“The album will be more authentic, more youthful,” the 17-year-old Fil-Mexican AI Season 11 runner-up said in a presscon hosted by Smart (she is the telecom brand’s youth ambassador) at SM North EDSA’s Skydome yesterday.

In an interview with Billboard, the petite singer was quoted as describing her new album as “dance-y and something that I could definitely see being remixed and in the clubs,” with the overall feel leaning towards R&B-pop-urban.

The producers she had worked with on the album reportedly included the guys behind the albums of One Direction, Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.

There are still ballads though, which she was most identified with during her AI stint, and during the presscon, she admitted that “I’m definitely going to sing a lot of songs about love…(And) it’s something I’ve never really experienced in my life.”

But giving these songs the right emotions shouldn’t be a problem and she’s gleaning inspiration from other things, and that love isn’t confined to a boyfriend or significant other. “I love my family, I love God,” she said.

Also making the year exciting for Jessica is her forthcoming Glee appearance via a multi-episode story arc.

“I’ve never acted before. I’m excited and it’s something new… (I thought) let’s do this,” she said. 

Jessica is in town for her first solo Philippine concert on Feb. 14 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with fellow Season 11 finalist Colton Dixon as guest. She was first here September last year with the rest of the finalists including winner Phillip Phillips.

Prior to yesterday’s presscon, Jessica led a storytelling and group singing session with first and second grade students of Epifanio de los Santos Elementary School in Singalong, Manila. The school is one of Smart’s beneficiary schools under the Smart CommuniTeach Program. Jessica also did a music video about youth empowerment for the telecom brand titled Jump In with Fil-Am Black Eyed Pea apl.de.ap.

 Jessica said she counts her joining AI as her empowered moment as she plunged in and followed her dreams of becoming a singer.

 â€œWhen I was a young girl, I got bullied a lot in school. It is always my dream to be a singer, but I experienced being looked down…I got picked on, (I was told) that I wasn’t good enough.

“I’m not perfect. I have flaws, but I’m just trying to live life, live my dreams.”

And one of her dreams also is to become a face of the Filipino talent in the international entertainment scene. 

Jessica, whose Pinay mother is from Bataan, said, “I’m very Filipino...I’m still making my way in the music business, but I want to represent the Filipino.”