Hannah Precillas: Singing talent isn’t just about ‘birit’

Hannah Precillas

With new singers and talent search winners constantly popping up, it’s important, Hannah Precillas said, to hold her own and always give her best effort. But it shouldn’t have to be a competition.

“You need to do your job properly, but not to the point of competing, and thinking, ‘I should do what the others are doing. It’s tough having that kind of mind-set,” Hannah said in a recent Zoom conference for “Sadly Falling,” her latest single under GMA Music. “There was a point in my life and career when I was like that, and I was the one who ended up suffering.”

But as the years wore on, the 25-year-old recording artist eventually learned how to handle the pressure.

“You have to focus on yourself. I don’ have to fake who I am. I have to examine the things I can improve, develop, and discover, so I can give people something better,” related Hannah, who won the singing contest “Bet ng Bayan” in 2014 and finished 2nd runner-up in the Indonesian tilt “Dangdut Academy Asia 5 “in 2021.

More personal

“Sadly Falling” is a toned-down ballad about “slowly losing feelings for a person once cherished.” “It talks about falling out of love, and unfortunately, I also went through that kind of heartache, which makes the song even more personal for me,” she said.

Curiously enough, Hannah related, she wasn’t heartbroken when she first heard the song from its writer, Njel de Mesa. That was no longer the case two years later, when GMA Music decided to give her the song for recording.

“I was actually happy that time but felt heartbroken listening to it. They told me the song suited me. And by the time I was set to release it, I already related to it. Because I, too, fell out of love. And that helped me, because it allowed me to execute and deliver the song better.”

“Sadly Falling” cover art

Unlike her past singles and theme songs she often records for Kapuso teleseryes, “Sadly Falling” has a gentler vibe with Hannah dialing down her powerful pipes until the bridge.

“I was actually happy to record the song because even if it’s toned-down, it still challenges you to make a connection with the listeners. Singing talent isn’t just about birit,” she said. “I’m also happy because I had more input in the song.”

Expressing herself freely

Nerves are inevitable when releasing a new song, but she’s comforted by the fact that her latest one allows her to freely express herself. “The pressure is there but not like how it was the first time I put out a song. Now I just want to inspire people through my talent and music,” she said.

While she’s open to exploring and experimenting with other genres, Hannah would rather make gradual changes. “It shouldn’t be a one-click change. You have to really think about what you want to do, because you can’t be half-hearted about it. It doesn’t mean I’m not willing to explore. I’m very open to trying new things,” she said.

With pandemic restrictions continuing to ease up, Hanna hopes to finally do shows to promote her new single.

“I have done a couple of corporate events and work stints for GMA Regional TV. It’s a great feeling seeing people in the crowd and hearing them cheer you on. You get to see their expressions and interact with them,” she said. INQ