Guji rediscovers love for music

MANILA, Philippines – Looks like a happy married life is giving that cool aura to singer-actor Guji Lorenzana as displayed in his recent performance for a 4-in-1 concert held at the Music Hall in Ortigas. 

Titled Rediscover, the special gig allowed the teleserye actor to express his feelings for his wife and sound extra caring for the crowd. It was a rainy Saturday night (Oct. 15) and the threat of a big typhoon was right in everyone’s radar. 

He said, “I recall that instead of reciting my vow to my wife, I sang it to her. It’s good to be in love and feel the love of family. There’s a typhoon coming and I hope everybody get back home safe.” 

After singing Thinking Out Loud, Guji performed a couple of ‘90s Brit rock songs popularized by Oasis. He was in a way showing the crowd his band roots.

In a chat with The STAR, he said, “People see me in soap operas and they suddenly think of me as primarily an actor. Maybe I came out fine as a balladeer but my actual root is rock and I used to be a band frontman.”

After headlining the two-night Rediscover, Guji is gearing up to prove more of his worth as he comes out with an “international album,” a big phrase he uses to give a hint of what’s store in the future. 

Guji’s starring roles in soaps, movies and plays may have overshadowed his musical career. But looking deep into his background, the guy paid his dues and delivered the goods as a musician. In fact, he won a spot on apl.de.ap’s team during the first season of The Voice of the Philippines.  

Newlywed, the man is pushing forth as a singer with a sense of extra maturity. 

While Guji is apparently the most popular among the four, Rediscover boasted four talented singers each with considerable track record but with varying degrees of exposure. 

Jane Joseph, Marq Dollentes and Steven Ofori, all singer-songwriters who, in one way or another, have rediscovered their passion for performing and love for music, fit well on stage with Guji. On top of that, they all looked fabulous. 

Labeled as an inspirational balladeer, Jane, a voluptuous mother and businesswoman who sang her composition Himig Ng Buhay noted, “I know who I am and I want to share the music that I have. Music is the language of the world and it’s ageless. It’s never too late to do it.” 

Confident in her intact figure, she came out with her first album last year titled More Than Enough. The album’s content can be accessed through popular online music scores iTunes and Spotify. She’s following it up with a sophomore release to display her versatility as a songwriter. 

When told she may pass up as an R&B artist, she quipped, “I don’t want to be uptight. I am proud to be categorized as an inspirational singer but I don’t want to be boxed.”

For Marq who did his cool rendition of Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do, the two-night concert’s real weight depend on their individual strengths. The number featuring all four of them hyped up the crowd every bit. 

He shared, “Rediscovering for me is putting out your gifts na nakatago. This is surely a milestone for us, expressing ourselves in this moment of our music journey. Who knows where this road will lead us? We have learned a lot from this experience.”

Marq acts in the movie Alimuom ng Kahapon which is nominated for Best Picture in a Barcelona film festival. MYX Channel finds him an artist worth watching for with four of his music videos, including Gabay and Bagong Pilipino, earning strong rotation. 

On the other hand, Steven, now working on his debut album, is exposed to Filipino audiences in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. His version of No Woman No Cry really brought the house down.

Young singer Vanerie Rosales, whose voice rings like that of Up Dharma Down’s Armi Millare, served as an engaging front act for the four. Like any indie act with real potential, she has the talent just waiting for the big push and break.