Spotlight on Beverly Caimen

Beverly Caimen. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

It is often said that a thousand miles begin with a single step. That is how I would like to describe the long journey to stardom of 21-year-old artist-singer-performer Beverly Caimen—a journey that has not always been “bump-free”—but one she has patiently and tediously trekked ever since she was a little girl. She has managed magnificently to hurdle challenges and trials. An example of this is that Beverly has joined hundreds of competitions (literally! her mom confided to me) since she began singing at the tender age of 5, most of which she would happily win. Over the years, she has accumulated awards and recognitions that now solidify her name, reliability and credibility among her peers.

This being the case, Beverly has caught the attention of numerous icons and popular OPM artists given her vocal prowess, old-fashioned work ethic and exceptional display of good moral character. She certainly possesses attributes needed to go far in her chosen profession. Further proof of this is that Beverly recently released under GMA Records her self-titled album, which CD I purchased last week.

I have to say that if ever there was a “checklist” of what it takes for one person to become a bona fide star in our local music industry, it seems that Beverly has already ticked off most of what’s on the list as she is now beginning to enjoy the fruits of her labor.

The young artists we have now are proof that we do not have to wait much longer for the new generation to finally make their presence felt. The future stars of OPM are already here—waiting in the wings—and indeed, one by one, they are making their appearances into the mainstream awareness of listeners, casual fans, music critics, music intellectuals, and music aficionados. Beverly Caimen is one of them. Her time has finally come!

I am thrilled that I am able to conduct a proper interview with her. Here it is.

***

What/who first inspired you to get into music?

It began when I was 5 years old, when my mother trained me to join school activities, that she found out that I had a talent in singing. She then allowed me to join a choir group in school at the age of 7. Since my mother was working, she had to find time to enroll me in voice lessons at the age of 9. That was also my age when I had my first singing competition in our barangay. I did not win because I was really nervous at that time. My mother said it’s OK because what mattered was for me to gain experience. So really my mother inspired me a lot to go into music.

What kind of music were you exposed to as a child?

Since it is our nature as Pinoys to listen to high-pitched ballad music, I had been exposed to this genre since I was a child. Every time I joined amateur singing contests, I enjoyed singing the songs of Ms Regine Velasquez.

You are in that phase of your young career where it is only natural that you are still experimenting with your sound or finding your true musical inclinations. What genres are you most comfortable with and which you feel are best suited for you?

Yes it’s true. It really makes a difference because in joining contests in the different barangays of Laguna and Batangas, I was used to belting out and I saw how the audience would be entertained. Now that I am in the professional music industry, I am still in the process of getting used to low notes so I can adapt to what will be required by my mentors. To be honest, I am more comfortable in pop and upbeat songs with high notes.

When did you write your first song and what was the title? What was the inspiration for the lyrics to your first original song?

I actually wrote my first composition in Japan but only the lyrics. When my mother and I were there in May 2015, my Japanese managers challenged me to do the lyrics for the melody composed by their musician. I was really pressured since that was my first time to compose. They just gave me hints of what must be the peg of the song. I made my mother as my inspiration and I was able to write the song “Mama Said.” It is now under revision for future release.

Beverly Caimen. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

When you are writing a song, do you follow any type of “writing technique”?

I had written only one song because I was challenged by my managers in Japan and I don’t have any formal studies about it.  They gave me the melody and I was able to deliver its lyrics.  I really don’t  have  actual knowledge about the writing techniques, although being one of the song interpreters of UNTV/ASOP, I learned from some of their judges, so I was able to apply a little of what I had learned. But if I will really pursue composing, I’d love to do trendy and catchy melodies, but I’d still do “classic” songs. Like one of the songs from my album, entitled “Maari Ba?,” composed by Mr. Vehnee Saturno.

What are your songs about? What specific themes do they cover?

The songs from my self-titled album released by GMA Records are about different kinds of love. There are happy, brokenhearted, sweet tunes and about God-inspired music themes. I am dedicating the songs in my album to people from all walks of life for I know they will be able to relate to the songs of maestro Vehnee Saturno, Joel Mendoza, and Louise Lyle Robles. I am thankful to them for entrusting me with their songs.

How do you describe your musical style to listeners who aren’t too familiar yet with your music?

My style is just simple, very typical, that can be easily appreciated by listeners. I really sing with passion and it can be very heartfelt even if people don’t see me performing live. My level of talent now has been molded by my vocal coaches Edwin of Cabuyao, Agatha Guinto of Banlic, Angeline de los Santos of Calamba, Hart Manara of Cabuyao and at present Francis Manset of Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

Do you plan to make music a full-time career?

Ever since I was a child, this has been my dream—to become a singer-artist. I still remember when I was in fourth year high school, it was really difficult to decide what course I was going to take up. Since a music course was really expensive and my parents could not afford it, I chose one that we could sustain. Now I am graduating with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Psychology in BSU, Malvar campus. I enjoy what I am doing now … I still continue singing … and I really want to make this my full-time career.

If there is one song—old or new—that perfectly encapsulates who you are today, in terms of your thought processes and how you approach life in general, what would that song be?

The song “One Moment in Time”… perfectly encapsulates who I am today because this song has always been my winning piece in competitions. This song also made me a world champion when I joined the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California, where I bagged the Senior Grand Champion Vocalist and Performer title on July 20, 2013.

Complete this phrase: “Ten years from now, I will be …”? 

A famous singer/artist.

Who is Beverly Caimen in a nutshell?

Beverly Caimen was born on June 20, 1994 in Calamba City, Laguna. The daughter of the late Ramon Vega Caimen and Leticia Valdez Lumbres, she has a brother and two sisters and she is the third child in the family. She resembles her grandmother on her mother’s side and relatives say she got her singing talent from her grandfather on her father’s side. Her ambition is to finish her studies and pursue her singing career because her dream is to provide for her family. She is very simple, friendly, thoughtful, and intelligent. She is confident in all of her performances.

Where can we your music, fan pages, etc.?

Please log on to https://www.facebook.com/beverly.caimen; https://www.facebook.com/hersongs; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007631299495; @beverlycaimen on Instagram and Twitter; email [email protected].