KZ’s debut album worth waiting for

Her voice is distinct, has a jazzy feel to it and can sometimes sound like Karen Carpenter. But X Factor Philippines champion KZ Tandingan is proudly a Filipino, as native as the air that blows over her hometown of Digos in Davao del Sur.

Although it took a while, KZ has also finally taken that important first step towards a mainstream singing career with the release of her eponymous debut album under Star Records. The album contains 10 tracks that include her version of Killing Me Softly (which got her noticed in X Factor Philippines) and Scared to Death, the fourth-place winning song that she interpreted during the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs competition. KZ formally launched the album in a press gathering held at the Big Shift bar in Makati where she also staged a mini-concert. It was a very proud moment for her, and the culmination of one of her dreams as a singer and performer.

It was something she didn’t mind waiting for. She had to wait several months after the X Factor finals before the recording got underway, such that some people were already starting to doubt whether she would release an album at all. But KZ was patient. She trusted that Star Records and her producer Jonathan Manalo knew what they were doing. KZ knew that eventually, when the time was right, the album would come out and that it would be wrong to rush things.“Yung pagkakaroon ng album di dapat minamadali,” explains the singer. “Pinagkakatiwalaan ko naman ang Star Records at alam nila ang ginagawa nila so ito namang album na ito, proud ako sa kinalabasan and masasabi ko na it’s really worth the wait.”

She confesses that she was nervous the whole planning stage of the album — and up to now, she still can’t believe it’s actually out. KZ says, “I’ve been waiting for this, but the whole time, I was saying to myself, ‘Sana ma-postpone muna kasi sobrang ninenerbyos ako, iniisip ko kung paano tatanggapin ng tao ‘yung album. Sobrang thankful at sobrang blessed ako, pero nandoon talaga ang kaba. Kasi sa dinami-dami ng tao na puwedeng mabigyan ng album, ako pa, di ba? Mas marami pa diyan na mas deserving, pero ako ‘yung nabigyan ng ganitong pagkakataon.”

As it is, KZ is very grateful to X Factor Philippines for being the venue to get her career off the ground. She’s been able to travel and perform in different venues, and because of this, she was able to finally have a home built for her family in Digos, and also bought a condo in Quezon City. The home in Digos is not yet finished; she is paying for that and the condo little by little. She has taught herself how to live on a strict budget and control her expenses so that she won’t have a problem paying for things.

KZ says, “Madami pong blessings, pero binu-budget-budget po. May napupunta sa ganito, sa ganyan, para at least siguradong may napupuntahan na maganda ‘yung pera.”

She is also grateful to her X Factor Philippines mentor Charice — who she calls “Madam” — for all the help given to her during her time on the show. And no matter what people are saying about Charice following her controversial decision to come out on the issue of her sexuality, KZ will always support her. To her, Charice’s sexual preference is a non-issue. They never discussed it during the show. She sees no reason to discuss it now. “Sa dinami-daming panahon na puwede namin tanungin, never namin tinanong sa kanya. Kasi di naman big deal sa akin ‘yung ganyan, as long as wala naman po silang ginagawang masama kasi meron naman po diyan mga ganyan na mas nakakatulong pa sa society kesa sa mga iba na walang ginagawa.”

KZ will always be thankful for the breaks she’s been given, and hopes to build upon that success even more.

This month, KZ goes on a tour with The Champions —  winners of the past three seasons of the OPM@PAGCOR nationwide singing search — Joyce Tañaña, Froilan Canlas and Karl Aris Tanhueco.

The Casino Filipino (CF) nationwide concert tour kicked off last Aug. 7 at the Airport Casino Filipino in Parañaque City. Other performances are tonight (CF Cebu), Aug. 21 (CF Davao), Aug. 24 (CF Olongapo), Aug. 28 (CF Bacolod) and Aug. 31 (CF Tagaytay).

For details, call PAGCOR Entertainment Department at   852-7760.

K-La in Addams Family

K-La has made a name for herself as the Princess of Musical Theater in the Philippines. After a star-turning performance as Nina in two hit runs of Atlantis Productions’ staging of In The Heights, wherein she was nominated for an Aliw Award for Best Actress in a Musical, she went to become the feisty Princess Jasmine in the hit production of Disney’s Aladdin last year, also staged by Atlantis Productions.

Now, K-La takes on a completely different role as the teen “Princess of Darkness,” Wednesday Addams, in Atlantis Productions’ upcoming season-ending family musical-Broadway comedy The Addams Family. She joins the previously announced Eula Valdes, who will be playing Morticia Addams.

K-La says of her new stage role, “I am so excited to begin work on The Addams Family.  The thing that excites me the most about playing Wednesday Addams is that I can’t wait to become a character that is so far from who I really am in real-life. The show’s music, the non-stop comedy and fantastic cast are all something I am really looking forward to, as well.”

Bobby Garcia, who directs The Addams Family and celebrates 20 years of directing this year, says of K-La, “When Bettina Aspillaga brought K-La in to audition for In The Heights, I knew I was witnessing something special. Not only does K-La have a wonderful singing voice, but she also has the charm and natural instinct that few young actors have. Her presence and focus really make her a natural for the stage. It is always a joy to come into rehearsals and work with her.”

The Addams Family runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 1 at the Meralco Theater, and concludes Atlantis Productions’ 14th season. Shows are now available for showbuying and fundraising opportunities. For details, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078.