Dash: Five voices equal One Rhythm

Not many people know that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has been quietly grooming several talented singers over the past few years, but it has  and Bacolod-born Dash Camporaso, lead singer of the pop-rock group Dash as One Rhythm, is one such talent.

Dash came to the agency’s attention in 2011, when she joined the first season of the OPM@PAGCOR singing competition. She didn’t bag the top prize, but she didn’t go home empty-handed either. She made it to the competition’s Final 5 and received an offer to join the agency’s roster of artists. She became part of the PAGCOR 5 in-house singing group that performed at Casino Filipino branches all over the Philippines. Their shows were very well-received by Casino Filipino patrons, and it was because of the group’s success that the agency decided to relaunch Dash as the frontwoman of her very own band.

Aside from Dash, the other members of the band are Elijah de Vera, Walter Abad, Ian Dumaplin and Jon Pintor.

Dash has been singing since she was a toddler, and her journey has taken a lot of twists and turns since she first picked up a mic. “Actually, nag-start ako nung three years old ako. Kumakanta ako sa church. Hanggang sa nag-start na akong mag-compete sa mga amateur singing contests, tapos sumali ako sa banda. Naging part rin ako ng ABS-CBN Bacolod. Marami na rin akong napagdaanan,” she says.

She inherited her musical talent from her mother — who was a choir directress at the same church where Dash received her first voice lessons — and her father, who got it from his own father. “Lolo ko actually yung singer talaga,” she explains. “And then namana ng papa ko. Singer siya sa amin nung kapanahunan niya. Tumutugtog din siya, may pwesto-pwesto din siya noon.”

Dash received some classical training from her mother to sing gospel songs and hymns, but her biggest influence at the time was another female singer from Visayas that her mother encouraged her to listen to. “Nung sumasali na ako sa mga singing contests, mom ko yung naging inspirasyon ko. Pinapakinig po niya sa akin yung mga kanta ni Dulce. So, si Dulce po naging inspirasyon ko when it comes to vocal power, yung way niya ng pagkanta, and the technique and all. Every time nakikita ko siya or naririnig ko siyang kumanta, napapanganga talaga ako. Hindi niya kailangang magpabongga kasi boses pa lang niya, sobrang ganda na.”

Because of Dulce’s influence, Dash grew up to have a big voice with great range, which enables her to take on songs from different genres easily. Whenever she performs with her band One Rhythm, Dash introduces herself as PAGCOR’s resident pop-rock artist, but denies she isn’t versatile. “Total performer po ako. Siguro part of me is parang Beyoncé na may Yeng Constantino, tapos may konting Angeline Quinto kasi bumibirit din naman ako.”

Dash can sing anything from classical to pop to R&B to rock, but has a soft spot for classical music because she feels her training in that genre sets her apart from her peers. She believes it was her versatility — not to mention her bubbly personality — that convinced PAGCOR that she has what it takes to lead her own band. “Although nasa PAGCOR 5 kami, may sari-sarili kaming strengths. Siguro yun yung nakita ng management, hanggang sa sinabi nila na kaya ni Dash mag-solo, hanggang sa nag-conceptualize na sila ng bagong group at nabuo yung Dash as One Rhythm.”

She says the most important thing she has learned as a PAGCOR artist is to never take anything for granted. “Be thankful for all the things na binibigay sa ‘yo. Kasi kung hindi ka thankful, ibig sabihin nun hindi ka happy at satisfied. Pero kung thankful ka, kuntento ka na sa lahat ng blessings na na-re-receive mo, kaya magiging happy ka na. Stay positive, good vibes!”