Noela Amparo
For newbie pop-rock singer Noela Amparo, releasing her debut single “Sandalan”—a song she can finally call “my own”—is both humbling and gratifying.
“But it shouldn’t stop here. I’m just getting started. I found myself looking back at my past insecurities. But I no longer have to compete with anyone to prove that I can sing and perform. This is something I’m proud of, but I know I have to continue doing better and giving my best,” she said in a recent virtual conference.
“Sandalan,” written by writer-musician Yugel Losorata, focuses on “bravery” and “dedication”—two qualities she believes she embodies as an artist.
“When I heard the song’s message and flow, I felt like it reflects my personality. I’m someone people can run to and give you the love you need. I can help you deal with heartbreak. I will try to make sure your loved ones will never be sad again. That’s what I can offer,” she said.
‘Learning process’
She also hopes to use her music as a way to remind other girls that they can express themselves however they want, regardless of their perceived imperfections. “I want to inspire girls who have insecurities. If you know that you’re valid and happy, you don’t have to worry about what others think,” she stressed.
Noela grew up listening to pop-rock music and started performing in local fiestas at the age of 7. It was in high school that she realized that singing could be a career path for her. She joined and won a singing contest in “Eat Bulaga!” a couple of years ago.
She didn’t have formal voice training, but instead focused her efforts on improving her showmanship. “You really have to build confidence in order to perform. There are a lot of talented singers, but sometimes, it’s the confidence that makes the difference,” she said. “It’s a learning process.”
While pop-rock is her comfort zone, she managed to expand her repertoire after her stint as a lounge singer in China.
Bold and powerful
“I was used to pop, rock, birit-style of singing. I’m comfortable with those genres and they suit my voice well. But the audience wasn’t really into those. So I had to adapt and learn to sing more easy-listening tunes, songs by artists like Natalie Cole, Fatima Rainey and The Carpenters,” she related.
“Now I want to present myself as someone who can be bold and powerful, but also versatile when it comes to singing,” Noela added. “I wanted to challenge myself and learn more genres of music. And it’s always good when you realize that you discover something new about yourself.”