Jayda on P-pop and why it’s a good time to be an ‘original’ artist

MANILA, Philippines — Jayda Avanzado belongs to the new crop of young Pinoy singer-songwriters who define and shape the ever-evolving Filipino pop. It’s not surprising since her parents, Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza, have trodden the same path, craft- and genre-wise.

Dingdong is dubbed “The Original Prince of Pinoy Pop,” while Jessa is the “Phenomenal Diva and Jukebox Queen of the ‘90s.”

Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

“For me, it’s always about figuring out what you want to say,” Jayda gave everyone a sneak peek of her creative process in a virtual interview with The STAR for the concert of her dad, “Dingdong Avanzado: The Original Prince of Pinoy Pop,” on July 19, 8 p.m. at The Theatre at Solaire, in which she is one of the featured guest artists.

She also believes that there is no concept that’s always a 100-percent original, “like everyone always writes around the concepts of love and heartbreak… and all of these subjects that are so universal,” added she.

“That’s really impossible to be 100 percent original in that sense… and the challenge for us (songwriters) is how do we find new ways to say things.”

Her recent single, Right Lover, Wrong Time, is a product of such a process, described as concept-based.

“I wanted to write about the concept of right lover, wrong time, that is, you know, a subject that a lot of people talk about a lot. I thought it was something really relevant to me at that time because I did experience it,” recalled she.

“When I was thinking about it, it’s not really just about the love that you shared (with) that person, it’s about the person who made an impact on you. That’s why it’s called Right Lover, Wrong Time.”

According to Jayda, she is a kind of songwriter who writes organically “and from scratch.”

“So I like to write with my piano or guitar. I play both. So I’d try to find the chords that represent, you know, what I feel and I just kinda build from there,” added the singer.

Part of the approach is asking herself what she wants to convey and put across in every section of the song. “My favorite thing about concept-based songwriting is that when you have a strong concept, the chances of you finishing the song are higher,” she explained.

“And you know completing it, because you always have somewhere you can go back to, meaning may babalik-balikan ka… at hindi ka mawawala sa landas mo (you have something you can return to and you won’t deviate from your core),” added Jayda, who considers it “a purposeful songwriting” and holds on to it whether she may endeavor a commissioned or original work.

“I always try to keep the same mindset… I give it my all every time,” she stressed. “There’s something about writing authentically from your heart and from your experience.”

Jayda thought of songwriting as “a beautiful thing” that allows her to articulate her thoughts and put them into words and music.”

She writes about her experiences, but Jayda writes for the listeners to connect with them.

During the interview, Jayda also shared that before one can become a good artist, one has to be human first and experience things.

From the conversations between the father and daughter, one could say that Jayda and Dingdong have learned from each other about Pinoy pop from then to now.

“He turns to me and he does ask me questions. So, I’m glad that he values my opinion in that way,” said she about her role in updating dad on the latest pop trends. “I guess I’m his easiest access, in terms of, you know, what’s current, and you know, what’s modern, well, Pinoy pop or P-pop as we call it now. It just so happens as well that I genuinely am a fan of P-pop.”

“With the way OPM is evolving, I think it’s a good time to be an artist right now, an original artist. Parang ang masasabi ko yung market is just so vast, people are into so many things,” continued she.

“You can’t really just confine Pinoy Pop to, like, a single thing. Yes, there’s a sound that is being associated with it. I think it’s just really beautiful that I’m an artist during this time.”

Asked what the public can expect from her as a recording artist and performer, Jayda said, “For me, I would say that I made the conscious decision that I really want to, you know, put music first. It’s always been my first love and I’m with Republic Records right now, which has been such an amazing opportunity. I think it’s almost been a year since I signed with them.”

“I think right now I’m at the time where I’m just really enjoying being in the music industry,” added she, who reaches out to the music community and meets different artists and creatives. “You can definitely expect more music from me and you know announcements would come very, very soon.”

For now, let’s watch Jayda grace “The Original Prince of Pinoy Pop,” with dad Dingdong taking the spotlight.

(Tickets for “Dingdong Avanzado: The Original Prince of Pinoy Pop” at Solaire can be purchased online at the Ticketworld website.)