Angelina Cruz
Like most celebrity offspring, budding recording artist Angelina Cruz admitted that having famous parents does weigh on her shoulders.
But, while other people’s expectations can indeed be a burden, she still believes that being Sunshine Cruz and Cesar Montano’s daughter is more of an advantage.
“Of course, you can’t help but feel pressure. But at the same time, I have a head start, because I know what they do, and I already have an idea about what’s it like to be here in show biz,” she told reporters at the recent launch of her self-titled EP.
Angelina, 16, was discovered by Universal Records last year after her cover of the Elvis Presley hit, “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” went viral. “The label called my mom. She was happy but quite hesitant. But she eventually allowed me to go for it, as long as I knew what my priorities were,” she said.
“My dad is also OK with it,” Angelina added.
While she wants to carve a name for herself on the music scene, Angelina said she can’t do it full-time until she finishes her studies.
“School is my No. 1 priority. I have had to turn down television appearances and gigs, because I can’t afford to miss tests,” related Angelina, who’s currently in Grade 11 at De La Salle-Zobel. “I don’t want to stop studying or get home-schooled, because I prefer being in a school environment with friends.”
Angelina gravitates toward acoustic music. She bought herself a ukulele and taught herself how to play it by watching tutorials on YouTube. “That’s how I discovered that I could sing. I then began making covers and uploading them online,” said Angelina, who cited the likes of Yeng Constantino, Moira dela Torre, H.E.R., Daniel Caesar and Rex Orange County among her favorite musicians.
She also loves OPM classics—the influence of her parents who had both dabbled in music and recorded albums in the past. “‘Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko’ is one of my favorite Filipino songs. I also grew up listening to my mom’s playlists, so I’m also fond of ‘older’ music,” she said.
Angelina’s all-original EP contains six tracks, which include the single “Kaya Mo Ba” and “Paraiso,” a duet with Iñigo Pascual.
“The songs in my EP are about love, and I can relate to them, because I’m always surrounded by it, whether it’s from my family or friends,” she said, adding that age isn’t necessarily a hindrance to interpreting songs with such a theme. “I believe there are other ways of expressing it.”
None of the songs were penned by her, but she has been “experimenting” and would love to try it in the future. “I don’t want to force it. Maybe it’s something that comes with more experience and inspiration,” surmised Angelina, who uses “Cruz,” instead of “Montano” as her screen name, because the Cruz family “is known for singing.”
She’s not closing her doors to acting. But first, she must improve her Tagalog. “I’m open to new opportunities.”