I wanted to create a stronger presence for the LGBT community in relevant social spaces so our messages of hope, love, acceptance, and equality can be heard loud and clear. This inspired me to venture into songwriting and produce a six-track extended play (EP) project in partnership with Star Music.
The songs in this LGBT-themed OPM album, Say It Clear Say It Loud, are now available on several audio-streaming sites. This is the first LGBT-themed EP in the Philippines.
I’m grateful for having LGBT artists Raven Heyres, John Mark Saga, and Anton Antenorcruz as part of the album.
Vocal coach Jerwin Nicomedez was instrumental, so I could meet these three excellent singers who lent their amazing voices and brought the lyrics to life. It was great seeing Raven, John Mark, and Jerwin again after the album’s media conference when they guested in an episode of “The Interviewer” on my YouTube channel.
Raven and John happily shared that their family and friends are singing Bilang, one of the tracks in the album. It’s inspiring to know that people support and celebrate the music with us. Jerwin added, “May mga ganoon, Tito Boy. Iyong sa ABS, may mga nakakasalubong ako biglang kinakanta. Ganoon kalakas iyong recall niya.”
I gaped in awe the first time I met and heard John and Raven sing. How do they take care of their voices? Raven has to sleep 10 hours to sing flawlessly. “Di naman po factor iyong malamig, iyong mga matatamis. For me po talaga ‘pag kulang sa sleep.”
Aside from getting sufficient sleep, John also prevents taking anything cold an hour before and an hour after a performance. “Matatamis hindi rin ako mahilig. Maaanghang, hindi ako kumakain before kumanta.”
Both singers joined the “It’s Showtime” segment “Tawag ng Tanghalan.” Raven performed with flying colors despite not being fully prepared the first time she competed on “TNT.” Raven previously appeared on the music game show “I Can See Your Voice” after Jerwin sent her a message, asking if she was interested in joining. “Kinabahan po ako kasi that time, pandemic pa iyon. Nagdadalawang-isip ako kung tutuloy kasi feel ko mahirap talaga. Pero tinake ko na iyong risk kasi sayang iyong opportunity.” It’s a good decision for Raven to seize the chance because she emerged as the winner in an episode of the game show.
John was a contestant of “Little Big Star” and part of “Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman.” He joined “TNT” Seasons 2 and 3 after college.
John was initially uninterested but finally agreed when his mother urged him to audition for the second time. The promising singer was hesitant because he was insecure and was used to believing what other people said about his looks.
“Naniwala po ako until nag-post ako sa Facebook ng cover and then nag-viral siya. Possible pala iyon na they will look beyond kung ano ang nakikita nila and just listen to my voice.” John has now become more confident as a performer.
As a vocal coach, Jerwin talked about singing the same song several times in rehearsals and on stage.
“Minsan mahirap kumanta ng parehas iyong kinakanta kasi nagkakaroon ng song fatigue. Lalo na ‘pag nasa contest ka, ‘pag palagi kang nagpa-practice tapos same song lang. Minsan ‘pag nasa stage ka na, wala ka nang passion sa song na iyon kasi naumay ka na kaka-practice.”
It is essential for Jerwin to establish an emotional connection with his pupil so he could improve the style and learn more about the person’s strengths and weaknesses as a singer.
Each song in the album is a love letter to the world that may lead to significant and timely discourse on various issues. It is our collective wish that our deepest sentiments would reach everyone and reverberate inside and outside the LGBT community.