‘Queendom’ divas and the singers they look up to
For musical groups composed of powerhouse vocalists, sapawan—or the act of singing over each other—is an issue that inevitably gets brought up by fans. And the Divas of Queendom, a singing ensemble formed in the GMA 7 variety show “All-Out Sundays,” isn’t immune to that.
But thankfully, members Rita Daniela, Thea Astley, Marian Osabel, Jessica Villarubin, Hannah Precillas and Julie Anne San Jose know better than to let such intrigues get to them.
“We’re all close. We’re friends. We even have a group chat. That’s why I find it funny when people say there’s sapawan, because it couldn’t be farther from the truth… We come from different backgrounds, but we listen to each other and appreciate each other’s talent,” Thea, first runner-up in “The Clash” Season 2, told the Inquirer in a virtual conference.
Their closeness goes beyond the cameras. And that genuine bond ultimately translates to their chemistry onstage. “Sometimes, we go out together and hang out. And that helps us because there’s no tension onstage … because we know that we can depend on one another,” said Hannah, who placed third in the Indonesian talent search “D’Academy” in 2019.
“If we can open up about our problems and personal life with each other, what more with our performances?” she pointed out.
On the big stage
Collectively, the Divas of Queendom are known for performances that fuse powerful belting and lush harmonies. Now, they’re set to perform on the big stage via their first concert, “Queendom: Live,” which will be held tonight at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
While big singing is their common denominator, the six girls still have different styles and approaches—shaped by the music queens they look up to. And the show, presented by GMA Entertainment and Synergy, is conceptualized to highlight just that.
Rita is a big fan of Lani Misalucha. “I buy tickets to her shows. I wait in line to have posters and albums signed by her. Ganung level ako! And she’s a big part of the way I sing… I have been into soulful music since I was young,” said Rita, who also loves Barbra Streisand and Nancy Wilson.
Julie Anne looks up to Regine Velasquez, Beyonce, Rihanna and Lady Gaga for “their musicality and artistry.”
Hannah loves her divas. “I used to sing a lot of Regine songs. She’s one of my biggest influences. I also love Rachelle Ann Go,” she said. “On the international scene, I love Whitney Houston and Diana Ross. I don’t stick to just one artist. I listen to as many as I can, because I want to be a more versatile vocalist.”
InfluencesMariane and Jessica used to compete with Sarah Geronimo’s original songs and the hits she popularized in singing contests.
“Sarah G influenced my genre and the way I perform. In the first contest I joined, I sang ‘Forever’s Not Enough’ and I won! I have been singing her songs ever since. Grabe siya mag-perform. She transforms when she’s onstage,” said Mariane, who won the fourth season of the “The Clash.”
“The Clash” Season 3 winner Jessica Villarubin recalled: “I remember the first song I did was Sarah’s take on ‘To Love You More’ (by Celine Dion). That was the time when she started to really become popular.”
“As I grew up, I also fell in love with Regine. I used to watch all her videos and was in awe of her range. She makes me want to try the songs she performs. I also love Beyonce because she’s a total performer. It’s my dream to be able to sing and dance,” she added.
Meanwhile, Lady Gaga, specifically her “Artpop” album, helped Thea through a rough patch in her life.
“That’s when I finally understood that music can help you so much. I would listen to the album on repeat. I began learning more about her life, about how she used to do shows with just one or two people watching. Her schoolmates put up a Facebook group that says she would never be famous,” she said. “But here she is, doing different genres like pop and jazz. She’s an actress. Her story is so inspirational to me.” INQ
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