A standout among the stars

TIME AGAIN for another exceptional concert with Canadian music maestro David Foster and his illustrious friends as the 2016 “Hitman” tour rolls into Impact Arena on March 16.

The producer-songwriter who contributed to the success of many stars, is this time bringing along Natalie Imbruglia, Peter Cetera, Richard Marx, Gerphil Geraldine Flores and former Spice Girl Melanie C.

Imbruglia is best known for the song “Torn” and Marx for the hits “Right Here Waiting” and “Now And Forever”. Melanie C was “Sporty Spice” and Cetera was the frontman for Chicago, the brassy powerhouse band just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

And Flores is a Filipino classical singer who finished third on “Asia’s Got Talent”. In Bangkok recently to promote the Hitman show, she wowed the assembled press with renditions of “Speak Softly, Love” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. It was a joy having a private chat with her. 

 

Congratulations on doing so well on “Asia’s Got Talent”!

Thank you.

 

WHAT DO YOU CREDIT FOR THAT SUCCESS?

Well, it was very hard because we were representing “Pilipinas Got Talent” at the same time. And most Filipino singers are members of groups. There are very few solo singers.

 

WHAT WAS IT LIKE ON THE REGIONAL TALENT SHOW?

It was wonderful! I learned a lot because there are so many different cultures represented. It was a real treat for me.

 

WHEN DID YOU FIRST TAKE AN INTEREST IN MUSIC?

I started singing when I was only two, which was very young, but my mum didn’t mind because she understood that kids can be very delicate. Usually kids only want to play, but they also love singing. Right up until I was 11 I was always telling my mum that I loved to sing. It’s really my passion.

 

HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DO YOU PRACTISE?

I practise all the time, but I spend 30 minutes just warming up.

 

YOU AUDITIONED FOR “PILIPINAS GOT TALENT” IN 2010 AND WERE ELIMINATED IN THE FOURTH WEEK. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO KEEP GOING?

Well, after that I continued studying for my bachelor’s degree in music, and then I saw small ad a newspaper about an episode of “Asia’s Got Talent” being taped in Manila. I just grabbed the opportunity because I knew this was way bigger than “Pilipinas Got Talent”. I thought, “This is an opportunity to represent my country in front of all of Asia and at the same time share my passion for singing.”

 

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE TELEVISED COMPETITIONS?

On “Pilipinas Got Talent” I learned that timing is everything. If you don’t make the final, you don’t win – it’s just not your time to win yet. But maybe another opportunity will come along, and for me that was “Asia’s Got Talent”. 

And I really learned a lot from that competition, mainly that it doesn’t matter how big your talent is. The thing is, you have to be thankful because God is using you as an instrument in your particular kind of craft. For me, it’s not really about me – it’s about doing my best with a God-given talent. 

 

YOU GOT YOUR BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES DILIMAN, BUT YOU’RE CONTINUING YOUR STUDIES.

I want a master’s degree in music and then, to share music with the younger generations, I’ll hopefully have my own music school.

 

WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL?

I want to make classical music and especially classical singing more accessible for the general public. By that I mean putting it in different contexts to make it more up to date.

 

WHAT PIECE OF MUSIC BEST DESCRIBES YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW? 

“Impossible Dream”, because I’m just an ordinary girl who stays home and watches TV – and watching David Foster on TV. I never thought that one day I’d get to sing with him on the same stage!

 

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THAILAND BEFORE?

This is my first time here, but my friends who’ve been to Bangkok told me I should try the local fruit, especially tamarind, which is very sweet here. And the mango is really tasty. So I’ve tried it all and I really have to agree with them!

 

WHAT’S THE PLAN AFTER THE BANGKOK CONCERT?

I’m going back to Canada for another tour there, and then we’ll be doing a show in Singapore.

 

NEVER-ENDING HITS

 

- Seats for the “Hitman” show with David Foster and friends at Impact Arena on March 16 cost Bt2,500 to Bt10,000 at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.