Derrick Monasterio: No studio editing of first album

MONASTERIO

One of the things young singer-actor Derrick Monasterio is proud of in his self-titled first album is that all seven songs in it were recorded with barely any studio embellishments or trickery.

“This album is 100 percent me,” he said in a recent interview with the Inquirer. “I told the people I was working with at GMA Records to not overly edit my voice. When I didn’t like the way I sounded, I simply sang the song all over.”

Thus, Derrick said, he has no worries about having to perform his material live onstage. “I am confident that I’d be able to replicate the way I sounded in the recording; the songs are going to sound the same live,” related the 20-year-old  Kapuso talent, who was part of the Kilyawan Boys Choir when he was in high school.

After all, he pointed out, singing is more than just hitting the right notes—it is about feeling them. “I believe that expressing how we feel is the essence of the art,” Derrick said. “Sometimes, when I am by myself singing, I find myself remembering something from the past, and crying.”

Derrick forayed into show biz with the goal of becoming a recording artist. But in a curious twist of fate, he ended up doing more acting projects.

And while he has released a few singles and performed TV series’ themes in the past, it was not until this year that he was finally given a chance to release an album.

“There was a point when I thought I would not be able to achieve this dream of mine… I  waited for quite a while, but it was all worth it,” who described the mini-album as a mixture of pop-rock and ballads. “I want to show the people I can take on different styles of music,” he said.

Among the songs in the record, which is a blend of originals and covers, are a revival of Ogie Alcasid’s “Kailangan Kita,” “Pa’no Nga Ba” and “Aking Puso,” which he sang with Julie Anne San Jose.

But if he could have it his way, Derrick said he would go the balladeer route, saying that he looks up to such artists as Josh Groban and Brian McKnight.

“It is a little old-fashioned of me… but it is the older music fans who have the buying power,” jested Derrick, who is part of the programs, “Hanggang Makita Kang Muli” and “Vampire ang Daddy Ko.” “But seriously, I hope that my younger fans support me, even if my preferred genre is not something they would readily love.”

At his age, Derrick, who is the son of former actress Tina Monasterio, is already the breadwinner of his family. But no complaints there.

“I don’t feel pressured. In fact, I just feel blessed and lucky to be in this business, doing what I want to do,” he said. “I was given a talent—and I hope to make the most of it.”

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