Soul and Blues
Old Bank
rehearsals
Western Plains Cultural Centre
Rehearsals
Nyngan in a Paddock
Beats and fun
Old Bank
"First say to yourself what you would be;
and then do what you have to do"
Epictetus
If you're a Filipino (or in my family anyway) you WILL sing. It's non-negotiable! Haha. Most of the Filipinos that I've met LOVE to sing, and I am just a typical child of her environment.
Being in a big family, as a kid I was exposed to a variety of music.
My sisters used to listen to Celine Dion, The Corrs, Creedance Clearwater, The Eagles, Alanis Morrisette and Gwen Stefani.
Whilst my brothers would listen to The Offspring, Nirvana, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Rammstein, Metallica and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Mum would listen to Patsy Klein, Susan Fuentes, Pat Boone, Brothers Four, Pilita Corrales, Dulce Amor, Roy Orbison.
Dad, (who's now sadly not with us anymore) went to see Slim Dusty at the Dubbo RSL one year. Entrusting him with my diary he returned with Slim Dusty's autograph. I was stoked. Dad was a truckie, so he didn't listen to much music. The stuff he did listen to a lot - was Slim Dusty.
So when I was five I had the great idea of sending my Lola (grandma) in Philippines a song for her birthday. It was around the time when tape recorders were about as big as a brick and as expensive as a TV. My sisters had saved up to get one and we were testing it out. I sang my best Happy Birthday and recorded a message telling Lola Beta that I was turning five and was going to be a big girl.
So here we are going back to Kindergarten... well, year two to be precise.
Mrs May, (the head of infants school at the time) had taken our class one day and played good old Slim for us. Surprised by the fact that I recognised the song word for word (thanks Dad, love you!) she guided me towards the idea performing it.
Do you remember assembly in primary school?
At Dubbo South Primary School, the kindy, year one and year two kids would all meet in two opened up classroms.
At age 7, I was standing in front of my friends, peers and the teachers of the infants classes.
In my hand was the very first microphone I'd ever held.
Everyone was staring at me and the room fell silent.
The feeling of eyes on me had nervous and uncomfortable, but being frozen stiff - I didn't move a muscle.
The music started.
My mouth opened, and out came Slim Dusty's 'G'Day G'Day' tune.
I sang all the way through, and muddled some words up. Making up for it of course, with soft mumbles that seemed to (in my mind) trick the audience into thinking it was a smooth performance!
Fast forward to age 8.
The scene is a Filipino Association party in Buninyong hall.
The lights are bright and I'm standing all by myself on a big stage with a heap of people staring back at me.
I performed Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' Titanic song, and I started to realise something. At age of 8, my little head unkowingly had a lightbulb moment. It felt a little bit good to get up and sing in front of everyone. Fast forward to when I was ten and joined the Sing Australia choir. The words were all really grown up and I never really understood the songs actual meanings, but it was fun to sing in a group. The following year, the conductor of Sing Australia Choir and my year six teacher Mrs Nicholson, was organising the school play. I was dressed up as a little mermaid and at age twelve was given my second solo. Well, up on stage in front of a whole hall of eyes looking back at me - I sang "In my truuuuuuuue, blue lagooooooooooon. In the merrry mooooonth, of a Jupiter June" and went on to smilingly finish the song. So I was hooked. Fast forward to today, and that good feeling hasn't gone away. In fact, it's intensified.
Find what sets your soul on fire and do more of it ❤ It feels sooo good and geez does it make you happy. Mel
Mrs May, (the head of infants school at the time) had taken our class one day and played good old Slim for us. Surprised by the fact that I recognised the song word for word (thanks Dad, love you!) she guided me towards the idea performing it.
Do you remember assembly in primary school?
At Dubbo South Primary School, the kindy, year one and year two kids would all meet in two opened up classroms.
At age 7, I was standing in front of my friends, peers and the teachers of the infants classes.
In my hand was the very first microphone I'd ever held.
Everyone was staring at me and the room fell silent.
The feeling of eyes on me had nervous and uncomfortable, but being frozen stiff - I didn't move a muscle.
The music started.
My mouth opened, and out came Slim Dusty's 'G'Day G'Day' tune.
I sang all the way through, and muddled some words up. Making up for it of course, with soft mumbles that seemed to (in my mind) trick the audience into thinking it was a smooth performance!
Fast forward to age 8.
The scene is a Filipino Association party in Buninyong hall.
The lights are bright and I'm standing all by myself on a big stage with a heap of people staring back at me.
I performed Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' Titanic song, and I started to realise something. At age of 8, my little head unkowingly had a lightbulb moment. It felt a little bit good to get up and sing in front of everyone. Fast forward to when I was ten and joined the Sing Australia choir. The words were all really grown up and I never really understood the songs actual meanings, but it was fun to sing in a group. The following year, the conductor of Sing Australia Choir and my year six teacher Mrs Nicholson, was organising the school play. I was dressed up as a little mermaid and at age twelve was given my second solo. Well, up on stage in front of a whole hall of eyes looking back at me - I sang "In my truuuuuuuue, blue lagooooooooooon. In the merrry mooooonth, of a Jupiter June" and went on to smilingly finish the song. So I was hooked. Fast forward to today, and that good feeling hasn't gone away. In fact, it's intensified.
Find what sets your soul on fire and do more of it ❤ It feels sooo good and geez does it make you happy. Mel