Music talk with Solenn

CEBU, Philippines - Not many people know Kapuso actress Solenn Heussaff had originally wanted to become a singer. This, she revealed in an interview during one of her regional trips with GMA Network.

Solenn, who instantly became a fan favorite on GMA’s then reality show “Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown,” easily won the hearts of Kapuso viewers following her silent but scheming struggle as a runner-up in the said contest.

Being the type who always has a go-with-the-flow attitude, she decided to give showbiz a shot after “Survivor.”  “I said, okay I’ll try. And when I said I’ll try, gusto ko lang naman talaga na kumanta lang para sana kapag matanda na ako, sasabihin ko sa mga anak ko na ‘Hey, may album ako dati.’ Kahit isa lang, happy na ako,” she said.

But she admitted joining the industry wasn’t really part of her plan. “Actually, ayoko talaga mag-showbiz. Wala talaga sa plan ko ‘yun. But then, nabigyan ako ng chance na mag-Survivor. Designer ako dati tapos umalis ‘yung boss ko noon, so wala akong trabaho for two months. Sabi ko, okay, for fun, sasali ako. Then 'yun, nakapasok ako tapos naging part pa ng top two. After that, maraming opportunities ang dumating sa akin,” she said.

To date, Solenn already earned for herself not just one, but two top-selling albums, both produced under MCA Music Inc.—the first titled “Solenn” and the second named “SOS.”

“For me, mas personal ‘yung second album. ‘Yung first album kasi na ‘Solenn,’ ayaw kong mag-title kasi dalawa lang ‘yung originals, so parang I don’t really own it, that’s why ‘Solenn’ lang, it’s simply an introduction of me as a singer,” she explained.

“The second one, ‘yun ang mas peg ko. Ako ‘yung nag-decide sa cover, sa theme, sa styling, so mas personal siya. Kasi di ba, when you get to know someone better, tinatawag mo siya sa nickname niya and ‘Sos’ ‘yung nickname ko since bata ako,” she added.

With her albums’ success and the positive feedback she’s been getting from her supporters, would she rather wish to be noticed more as a singer than an actress?

“I’m happy with how it’s going on. Siyempre gusto kong mag-improve sa singing at sa acting ko. Pero para sa akin, every step is a learning experience. I really wish na sana may voice ako na tulad nang kay Rachelle Ann Go pero I know I’m not born with that, so kung ano lang ang kaya ko, ‘yun ang gusto kong gawin,” she said.

Looking back, a shy, introvert, young Solenn would normally hate it when her mother would force her to sing in front of their guests. But now, she said, it’s different. “Now, it has changed. Mas confident na ako. Still, I want to improve pa rin dahil after three songs, napapagod na ako. So I have to learn pa how to sing from here (points to her diaphragm).”

Ever wondered what’s her favorite song and who’s her preferred singer? The French-Filipina celebrity shared, “Two of my favorite Filipino songs are ‘Anak’ by Freddie Aguilar and ‘Oo’ by Up Dharma Down. Kapag nakikita ko sila dati, hindi ako makapagsalita.”

Her attachment to the song ‘Anak,’ she explained, goes way back to her childhood years. “Favorite song ‘yun ng dad ko. Dati pinapakinig niya sa akin. French ‘yung dad ko and ‘yun lang ang alam niya yata dati. So I heard it all the time noong bata ako, nag-overplay yata sa bahay kaya ayun, naging favorite song ko rin siya,” she said.

If given the chance to produce her own album, Solenn said she would rather go for a slow, jazzy type of music—one that would aptly describe her personality.

“Kung choice ko talaga, gusto ko parang Amy Winehouse or Nora Jones. Dito kasi sa Philippines, mas gusto ng mga tao 'yung mas pop.

Pero if I were to describe myself, gusto ko ‘yung slow. Sana one day, ‘yung next album ko, ganoon na, ‘yung relaxed,” she shared.

Having achieved so much at the age of 28, does she have any regrets in life? “Happy naman ako. But siguro ‘yung only regret ko ay ‘yung hindi ko pagsasalita ng Tagalog since bata ako. Sa bahay kasi French and English lang. So I was telling my mom, ‘Why didn’t you talk to me in Tagalog when I was a kid?’ Kasi ngayon nahihirapan ako sa lines ko. Tapos kapag may mga iyakan na scene, hindi ko ma-process ‘yung emotions kasi sobrang concentrated ako sa Tagalog so mahirap mag-emote. ‘Yun lang ang regret ko. Pero I guess ‘yung nangyari sa akin, it’s just the right timing. Dahil noong pumasok ako sa showbiz, mas mature at mas may drive na ako,” she ended.

Solenn is currently part of GMA-7’s Sunday noontime variety show “Sunday All Stars” and co-hosts with Isabelle Daza in “Taste Buddies,” which airs on GMA News TV every Saturday evening.