Spotlight on Marinel Santos

Marinel Santos (credit: Marinel Santos)

One of the promises I made to myself when I was young was this: One day, I will be able to write about popular music. I will interview local singers and bands who have left a lasting impression on me because of a specific performance I saw or song I heard. I would not forget to acknowledge them and let them know what their music had meant to me–whether they were still active or not when the time came. And as it was to happen, many years later, that time has come. What joy and honor it is for me to finally be able to fulfill a promise I had made to myself to reach out to these artists–as I have been doing in the past few years–because I believe genuine musical talent never gets “old” and does not fall and get locked in under some trend or phase in music.

Marinel Santos happens to be one of those artists in my list.

I can still vividly remember getting to watch Marinel Santos in the early 2000’s from the comforts of my own home as she did a series of outstanding performances in the duration of a major singing competition which was televised on national television in the Philippines. Here, Marinel Santos was one of the most promising singers, hanging with the best of them, and outlasting the majority of the competitors to take the third place position in the Grand Finals. The said show would become her “launching pad” to stardom which she enjoyed for a number of years before she quietly faded away.

I often wondered whatever had happened to her ? Because for me, her vocal skills were always highly impressive and even after her successful run at the show had ended, it appeared like she was at the brink of something big. But for some unknown reason she did not get to break through the proverbial “glass ceiling” to truly explore her fullest potential back in the early 2000’s. Yet, that should not have been the case because when you looked at her and listened to her voice… she had “star quality” written all over her. The big question here is: Why is it that someone that good is no longer visible here and her voice is no longer heard ?

Those questions and many more will be answered below in my no holds barred interview with Marinel Santos.

***

1) Question: What/who first inspired you to get into music ?

Marinel Santos: Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Christina Aguilera.

2) Question: What was the first song(s) you learned ?

Marinel Santos: “Boy” by Donna Cruz.

3) Question: Around how old were you when you realized that you wanted to have a career in singing and that this was something you were determined to pursue?

Marinel Santos: When I was 16 yrs old, I was watching singing contests on TV, and I thought: If they can join, well, I will try and join, too..

4) Question: You are in that phase of your young career wherein it is only natural that you are still experimenting with your sound. In short, finding your true musical inclinations. What genres are you most comfortable with and which are those you feel are best suited for you ?

Marinel Santos: I think R&B. Power Ballads fit my voice best.

5) Question: What are the reasons you have decided to perform outside of the country ?

Marinel Santos (credit: Marinel Santos)

Marinel Santos: Should be the money, I guess. And the fact that I wasn’t busy doing a lot of shows anymore and other stuff that a recording artist should do. In short, my time on TV was done. So, it’s time to do the next move.

6) Question: In what year did you leave the Philippines to explore outside opportunities and what were your thoughts when you made the firm decision to pursue a singing career elsewhere ?

Marinel Santos: That was 2009, I was 24. My thoughts were: OK, I can just chill and try working abroad as a singer. But the first time was really terrible emotionally because of my being homesick. Being alone in another country, out of your comfort zone. But it was good to be independent. I started being independent the moment I started working overseas as a singer.

7) Question: Have you tried to compose songs, too? If you have, which song are you most proud of? Why is that?

Marinel Santos: I don’t compose songs. I tried but it’s really not in me.

8) Question: Do you have any regrets… of things you were not able to achieve in the past but you honestly feel you could have done?

Marinel Santos: Regrets? I don’t know if it’s called regrets. I don’t regret anything I did in the past. Who I was before, what I did before, made me who I am today. I would say that at some point I thought of finishing college just for me to have a degree. But now, I’m thinking I don’t really need a degree to achieve what I want and to be happy in life.

9) Question: Looking back to the early 2000’s, when you were starting to make a name for yourself in the local music industry, were there any cases of “politicking” behind the scenes that you experienced or a scenario wherein you felt there was a proverbial “glass ceiling” placed above you, thus limiting what you could have done as an artist?

Marinel Santos: Yes… a lot of politics everywhere not just in show business but everywhere. But at the end of the day, it’s you and your talent that would bring you to good places, success and happiness, I guess. I can’t remember certain scenarios of politics at that time but I know that if you are under a good management, you can go places or the network would push for you more. In all fairness to ABS-CBN esp. ASAP, STAR IN A MILLION show, they gave me my fair share of exposure after the SIAM competition. I was on TV for 3 years doing TV guestings. Star Records also gave me a chance to have an album, so it’s all good. I just didn’t have a good manager at that time. That, maybe, was one of the reasons why I didn’t continue TV appearances or albums.

10) Question: When you were still performing in the Philippines, what was the one thing you are proudest of in what you had attained or achieved? Why?

Marinel Santos: I was proud of being one of the pioneers of singing competitions on TV. I know Sarah Geronimo was at Star for a Night and she won. But let’s all be honest. During that time when Star In a Million came out, it’s so famous and a talked about singing contest on TV than Star for a Night or Search for a Star. Everyone in SIAM was really well-known. Until now, in every country I go to, few people recognize me even at work here in Macau where there’s a lot of Filipinos working. So, yeah, I’m proud I was a product of Star in a Million.

11) Question: From where you are now, what do you think of the Philippine local music scene ?

Marinel Santos: It’s doing great. I see a lot of OPM artists doing a great job.

12) Question: Can we expect to hear a brand new album from you any time soon ?

Marinel Santos: Oh, I wish, yes. But right now, it’s a no. I am more focused on working here in Macau. But if there will be opportunities, why not.

13) Question: What do you think is your strongest quality as a singer that you know others do not possess?

Marinel Santos: That would be my whispery voice and belting techniques, I guess. I don’t have a high range voice and ‘birit’ techniques but I have my own style and I’m happy about it.

14) Question: What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?

Marinel Santos: That would be the time when I and my cousins were joining amateur singing contests in our barangay. It was so much fun. It was also fun joining singing contests in my school when I was 6 yrs. old until i was in college. Because I really like singing.

15) Question: Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

Marinel Santos: It should be cassette tapes. I had Sharon Cuneta tapes, Mariah, Christina.

16) Question: Is your family musical?

Marinel Santos: Yes, especially my Dad. Both my parents are singers and they worked together as singers in Japan. My sister sings, too. She has a Regine Velasquez type of voice.

17) Question: Around how often do you perform in public? Describe those occasions. Gigs, events, and concerts?

Marinel Santos: Right now that I’m working under a contract, I am singing six days a week. I only do contracts overseas. And when I am in the Philippines, I try to just stay home with my family. My fellow SIAM contestants were planning a reunion concert but I don’t know when it’s going to happen because of our individual schedules.

18) Question: How do you balance your music career with other obligations?

Marinel Santos: I am more at work everyday. If it’s work, then it’s just work. I’m a home-buddy. If there’s time to hang out with friends, I do it.

19) Question: 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?

Marinel Santos: It should be “Make It Happen” by Mariah Carey. I was just listening to that song recently and the lyrics really mean a lot, not just for me but maybe, even to others, too. Basically, the song is more likely how I see life. I don’t have an extravagant dream, I just know what I want. I work for what I want but I believe you should never forget to thank God and to ask for protection and help. No matter what happens, if that something you really want is meant for you, then it’s for you and it’s gonna happen.

The song goes like this:

“If you believe in yourself enough and know what you want
You’re gonna make it happen
And if you get down on your knees at
night and pray to the Lord
He’s gonna make it happen, make it happen”

20) Question: Who is Marinel Santos in a nutshell?

Marinel Santos: I am a strong, independent, fun-loving woman who has simple dreams and works for those dreams.