Sabrina was one of the singers who rode the so-called acoustic wave in the mid-2000s. But after 10 albums and almost 10 years of stripping down popular pop, rock and R&B hits to sweet, laidback tunes, she’s ready for new challenges.
“I’ve been doing acoustic covers for some time now, so I’m looking forward to venturing into pop. We’re in the process of waxing a new record that focuses on original songs—my own compositions,” Sabrina told the Inquirer in an interview.
The 26-year-old recording artist is raring to show off a different side of her musicality. In this regard, her label, MCA Music, is toying with the idea of giving her a new and edgier-sounding nickname.
“I’m excited, but I don’t want to expect too much. I hope to attract new fans, though,” said Sabrina, who started playing gigs when she was still in college at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
That’s not to say, however, that Sabrina would abandon acoustic music for good. “Believe it or not, the genre has a good market,” she said.
Her latest album, “I Love Acoustic 8,” which debuted at No. 1 on iTunes Philippines, features her take on 19 chart-toppers, including “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift, “Bang Bang” by Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj, “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding and “Sugar” by Maroon 5.
Yes, she has gotten her fair share of criticism for the kind of music she became famous for. But she has learned to take them in stride. “I don’t take things personally,” she said.
Sabrina likewise represented the country at the 2015 Asia Song Festival in South Korea, where she performed her original single, “Hypnotized,” and shared the stage with such acts as Exo, Red Velvet and BTS (Korea), NGT48 (Japan) and William Chan (China).”
E-mail apolicarpio@inquirer.com.ph