What Shanne Dandan learned from Lea Salonga in ‘The Voice Kids’ season 1

Shanne Dandan | Image: Instagram/@shannedandan

Former “The Voice Kids” contestant Shanne Dandan shared that “singing with your heart” is the memorable lesson she learned from Broadway star Lea Salonga, which becomes essential now that she has ventured into professional singing by releasing her debut album “Kung Iyong Mamarapatin.”

During a recent media roundtable interview and listening session for her album, Dandan shared that joining “The Voice Kids season 1” was a significant experience in her journey as an artist.

“Yung natutunan ko siguro with Coach Lea is singing with your heart. Syempre si Ms. Lea grabe rin siya kumanta. Mafi-feel mo talaga ‘yung soul niya. I think ‘yon ‘yung pinakamemorable lesson ko from The Voice Kids. Nadala ko rin ‘yon with my own songs, na dapat lagay mo ‘yung puso mo sa bawat kanta na kakantahin o susulatin mo,” she said.

(Maybe what I learned with Coach Lea is singing with your heart. Of course, Ms. Lea also sang very well. You can really feel her soul. I think that was my most memorable lesson from The Voice Kids. I also brought that with my own songs, that you should put your heart into every song you sing or write.)

The indie-folk singer was only 12 years old when she joined the singing competition, and in her blind auditions she sang Up Dharma Down’s “Tadhana” and earned a nod from coach Bamboo Mañalac and Salonga. She ended up choosing the latter as her coach. She was in the same batch as grand winner Lyca Gairanod and runner-up Darren Espanto.

After her stint in “The Voice Kids,” Dandan joined TV5’s “Born to Be a Star,” and despite acknowledging her experience in singing competitions, the now 24-year-old singer underscored that she has today more “creative freedom” in her artistry than before.

“Before po kasi I used to follow lang po ‘yung mga tinuturo sakin. As a young person, ‘yung rules talaga kailangan mo siya [sundin]. ‘Yung mga technique, ‘yung singing ko rin non is very restricted rin, like dapat technique na ganito, ganiyan. So parang ngayon, I’m super free na to sing whatever I want to,” stated the singer.

(Before, I used to just follow what was taught to me. As a young person, you really have to follow the rules. The techniques, my singing is also very restricted, like the technique should be like this, like that. But right now, I’m already free to sing whatever I want to.)

Dandan also weighed in on the local stereotype that you have to be able to belt out songs in order to be considered good. “Compared po before na dapat pang contest lang parang may ganun po kasing culture sa Filipino singers parang kapag hindi ka bumibirit hindi ka magaling.”

(Before, there was something in singing competitions – a culture among Filipino singers – that you have to belt out your songs or else you’re not good.)

Dandan’s debut album, “Kung Iyong Mamarapatin,” explores her experience with emotional growth, pain and self-discovery. It is composed of 10 tracks including “Gemini” and “Iyakin.”

Dandan will officially launch her debut album on Oct. 25 at Sari-Sari Cocktails in Makati.