Xian: I’m in the right place right now

MANILA, Philippines - It’s easy to be skeptical of actors who go into recording by virtue of their popularity. But Xian Lim is different from your usual celebrity-turned-singer.

Before becoming an actor, the US-educated ABS-CBN talent played the piano as a young man and even dreamt of entering a music school, perhaps influenced by his piano teacher mother. Recently, he even performed with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under Gerard Salonga.

So it’s only natural for Xian to venture to music. XL2, his album released this month, is already his second attempt in recording. But for his sophomore outing, the 24-year-old went further by recording three songs he wrote himself.

“I believe in my work. I believe in the songs that I wrote. It’s a piece of me, this album, because I shared part of my life in the songs that I recorded,” Xian said.

This isn’t the first time Xian released songs he wrote to the public; his compositions have made its way to his TV shows, particularly in the 2011 soap opera My Binondo Girl, where his song Ako’y Sa ’yo Lamang was used as one of its theme songs. The actor said he’s been writing since he was 14 years old. This served as the impetus of his songwriting.

“Mahilig akong magsulat pero hindi ng kanta. Mahilig ako magsulat lang, mahilig ako mag-free write — kung ano yung nasa isip ko, sinusulat ko lang sa papel,” he shared.

Apart from the songs he wrote, XL2 contains four original songs, a cover of the ’80s classic Si Aida, Si Lorna, Si Fe and his version of the Zia Quizon hit song Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo (which is also the title of his 2013 movie with Kim Chiu).

The Bride for Rent star is anxious since releasing an album with mostly original songs is considered a risk these days. He is aware that doing a cover album, like what he did for his first album, would be easier. But Xian considers this project a challenge and an honor. Recording an original song is a privilege, he said, and being the first artist to breathe life into new creations is a process he cherished.

“They gave me the opportunity to set the bar. Syempre, gustong-gusto ko rin yung una kong album, but it’s more of covers. Ito, specialized yung mga kanta para sa akin. It was up to me to put emotion in my songs. Mas nakaka-inspire,” Xian explained.

The album also allows Xian to do a project on his own, without his perennial onscreen partner Kim. Their loveteam is currently on hiatus; Kim is doing the Ikaw Lamang with Coco Martin, Jake Cuenca, and Julia Montes while Xian will work on a soap opera with Jessy Mendiola (fans need not worry though, as they are slated to do another Star Cinema movie soon).

Yet Xian dismisses the thought of him needing to do something to emphasize the fact that he is his own artist.

“For now, siyempre natutuwa ako to be associated with Kim, I don’t mind,” Xian said. “Nasa mindset ko naman na kahit kailan, we’re not gonna be a loveteam na forever, so okay lang naman.”

Xian added, when asked if he feels his status in the showbiz industry as of the moment is, like his album name, also XL: “I feel like I’m in the right place right now. I feel really happy kung ano ang narating ko. I think that’s all that matters, if you love what you’re doing.”

XL2 is available in record bars nationals. The tracks can also be downloaded via iTunes, www.mymusicstore.com.ph and www.starmusic.ph.