MANILA, Philippines — Recording and releasing a Christmas song is not a new territory for Janah Zaplan, a StarPop artist. Her first was Sana Lagi ay Pasko in 2019, emphasizing the custom of giving and sharing associated with the season.
Four years later, encompassing the pandemic times and the new normal, Janah has recently released another Christmas tune, Pasko’y Nagbabalik, with Jonathan Manalo as a composer and producer.
“We wanted to bring back the joy and happiness we have during the Christmas season. I think that was our main motivation to do it,” said she in a recent brief chat with The STAR. “So, the vibe that you can feel is somehow kind of a Christmas song ID for a network, parang ganun yung feels niya as well as the beat, the melody and every lyric.”
“Since it’s Christmas, the feeling of longing that we want to spend it with all our loved ones is something the song wants to convey,” added she. “There are mga sana, like sana makasama ko ang mahal ko sa buhay, sana magkabati kami nito (some people have wishes at this time of the year such as ‘I want to be with my family or reconcile with this person’), but at the same time, (it) would bring back the good memories as well and kind of reminiscing memories of the past and creating new ones right now and the next year to come.”
Asked how thrilling for a singer like her to have Yuletide songs and about the experience of recording this particular genre of music.
“I wanted to convey how special Christmas is to me,” shared she. “Even during the recording session, you had to show how lively or happy you were for you to relay the (idea of) masayang pasko (the merry Christmas), laging nakangiti and just looking forward to the season (you know the feeling of always smiling and anticipating the arrival of the season).”
According to Janah, she and PopStar started to work on the song’s idea in the summer and had a meeting in July.
“We started to hear each other’s thoughts on what would be the song’s message (as well as the feel),” said she, and they all agreed to give Pasko’y Nagbabalik “the bittersweet feeling of Christmas.”
Christmas is around the corner, and weeks from now, we are ushering in the new year. The recording artist is ready to release new songs.
“I’m so excited to share new songs from me, which are somehow connected with my old songs. They are all about being an empowered person, not just only for females, but also for all genders.” It’s all about self-love, you know owning your own self and being unbothered basically with all the struggles and the questions and the obstacles that you are trying to go through in life,” said she, adding that the songs are perfect fit for the love month.
Aside from pursuing her singing career, Janah is a student, taking up Bachelor of Science in Aviation at the Air Link International Aviation College (ALIAC) in Pasay City. She does her flight training in Lubang, Mindoro.
“A lot of things,” said she about her interest in flying. “Every flight is a new experience, also the lessons that you bring every after flight, sobrang dami, may them be in flight or in your real-life, ma-a-apply mo talaga siya.”
“I just really want to test, you know, my capabilities as a person, and know kung hanggang saan talaga ang kakayanin ko dahil I want to trust myself more and have confidence in myself, especially in becoming a pilot, you have responsibilities also to yourself while carrying your passengers,” added she.
Janah will soon be part of the growing number of women in the airline and aviation industry who are making a name for themselves.
Her previous releases are Dancing On My Own, Di Ko Na Kaya, Maiba Naman, Himbing, Mahal Na Kita, and More Than That, and she’s happy with the way things are going in her singing career.
As a singer, Janah describes herself as a performer and a storyteller.
“It’s more of a danceable and good vibe music that will keep your feet up and dance to it,” said she of her music genre. “That’s what I want to share with everybody, but at the same time (the song) has a deep meaning, hindi lang siya pangkatuwaan (it’s not just for fun), but people can really relate to it when they listen to the lyrics more.”
“When it comes to my voice, hindi po kasi ako biritera (I’m not a belter). I’m more of alto but a bit husky,” she added.
(Janah’s Christmas song, Pasko’y Nagbabalik, is available on streaming platforms and follow StarPop on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.)