Jayda’s Christmas wish: A collab with Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran

Jayda. Photo from Armin P. Adina

Singer-actress Jayda will be spending the holidays in the country with her celebrity parents, Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza, unlike last year when the family celebrated in the United States. And if there’s one wish she would like to make this Christmas, it would be to collaborate with two of her musical influences.

“I would have to say Taylor Swift. She’s, like, my biggest influence of all time. I love Ed Sheeran, as well. Like, I think, those are two of my, you know, biggest influences as a singer-songwriter myself,” she told INQUIRER.net at the sidelines of a marketing brand last Nov. 30.

And for Jayda, this may not be too far-fetched now that she just signed up with a new label, Republic Records Philippines. “So, it’s been a really great time for me, I guess, like really tapping back into me being a musician and things like that. So, it’s really been focused on that, and live performances, and embracing my artistry,” she said.

The move was prompted by her desire for career growth, she said. “I guess with my vision for my career, it really aligned with Republic Records’ vision for me, and their willingness for this to be a collaborative process within the next couple of years, in terms of reaching my goals of wanting to eventually go global and be able to tap a wider market with my music,” Jayda shared.

The “M.U. (Malabong Usapan)” singer said reaching the global audience nowadays has been easy for local musicians because of streaming services, that allows listeners from all over the world to have access to songs from whatever country it may come from.

“But you know, so far, I’ve been working on the possibility of, like, collaborations with other artists and things like that. So, I think this is the start of the beginning of that journey, and me, you know, being really steadfast and determined with that goal in mind,” Jayda continued.

And the switch to a new label has also come with her resolve to accept more live performance opportunities this holiday season, prompting the family’s decision to celebrate in the Philippines, for a change.

But after the curtains have closed and she and her family have already bidden farewell to the audience, Jayda said she and her parents will have a “very low-key” observance of Christmas at home. “It’s all about spending time with our loved ones, and family traditions, just something simple as that. I mean, as long as we’re together, that’s the most important thing,” she declared.