Julie Anne San Jose
Regine Velasquez used to be someone Julie Anne San Jose got to watch only on television; someone whose songs she used to perform in contests and school programs.
“I still get starstruck every time I see her. I watched her a lot, growing up. And when I got asked to sing in school, going for her songs was almost a given,” Julie Anne told reporters at a recent press conference for the concert series “3 Stars, 1 Heart,” which she topbills with Regine and Christian Bautista.
For the 23-year-old recording artist, sharing the stage with Regine never ceases to be a nerve-wracking experience.
“There’s pressure, yes, but in a good way. Singing with her is a dream come true. I’m just so happy to finally be given a chance to work with her,” she said of her idol, who instilled in her the value of “professionalism and humility.”
“She advised me to just be myself, especially with the people I work with—and to cultivate friendships here in the biz,” Julie Anne added.
Organized by GMA Entertainment Content Group and GMA Regional TV, the next local leg of “3 Stars, 1 Heart” will be on April 14 at the CSI Stadia in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. Directed by Paolo Valenciano, it will have Julie Anne, Regine and Christian doing solo spots, duets and group numbers.
“We’ll have our own moments… But one of the numbers will have us singing each other’s hits,” she added.
This year has been shaping up to be a busy one for Julie Anne, in terms of music and acting. She is currently working on a new album, and is seeking to explore other types of genres.
“I want to go deeper into R&B. I haven’t done classical music yet… I listen to a lot of indie artists, both local and international, for inspiration,” she said.
Julie Anne has also begun shooting “My Guitar Princess,” a coming morning series on GMA 7, which, according to her, constitutes about “40 percent music.”
“It’s about being discovered online. I used to make YouTube videos, so this is very relatable for me,” said Julie Anne, who will be working with Gil Cuerva and Kiko Estrada.