Drastic change unnecessary for Yasmien to reconnect with fans

YASMIEN Kurdi

As a contestant in the first season of the GMA 7 reality talent search “StarStruck,” Yasmien Kurdi’s singing ability was one of the things that made her stand out.

When she renewed her contract with the Kapuso network this month, she saw to it that recording her long-overdue third album would be one of her priorities this year.

“I miss singing. My sophomore album, ‘Love is All I Need,’ came out in 2007—that was too long ago. Singing doesn’t pay much, but it makes me happy,” she told the Inquirer in a recent interview.

For the 28-year-old celebrity, singing is a good way of reconnecting with fans. And given the chance, she said she would focus on doing love ballads—no need for a drastic change in style and image.

“Love songs were what I related to. Besides, I believe there are many hopeless romantics out there!” said Yasmien, who, in 2005, scored a radio hit with the breezy tune “I Know,” from her debut album, “In the Name of Love.”

One of her idols in music, she related, is Lea Salonga, who never fails to make Yasmien nervous. “I’ve already met her a few times. She’s my favorite, so I can’t help but shake in front of her. She just laughs when she sees that,” she said.

While she consistently lands lead roles on television—like “Sa Piling ni Nanay,” which ended last Jan. 27—the same can’t be said for her movie résumé. Her last film was the romantic drama, “Loving You,” in 2008.

Yasmien hopes to change that. “Fingers crossed,” she quipped, adding that she’s willing to try independent movies.

As for her personal life, Yasmien said she and her husband, pilot Rey Soldevilla, are entertaining thoughts of having a church wedding in the future.

The couple married in civil rites in 2012, and has a 4-year-old daughter, Ayesha, whom Yasmien doesn’t plan of giving a sibling anytime soon.

“Having a second baby is not in our immediate plans right now because we’re both busy,” said Yasmien, who dated Rey for six years before they tied the knot.