KZ bares strategy to take it far on 'Singer 2018'
Published Mar 6, 2018 09:01 am
KZ Tandingan is in it to win it on “Singer 2018."
KZ Tandingan
In an interview, the Filipino singer revealed part of her extensive preparations to keep her A-game on.
The musical arrangement of her assignments on the show will be dealt with like rocket science.
“’Yun talaga ‘yung pinaghahandaan ko kasi lahat ng kinakanta namin (nasa show), lahat puro cover (songs),” she said. “So kailangan talaga namin paghandaan ‘yun kasi hindi pwede ‘yung bira lang ng bira, kumbaga kailangan ng strategy talaga.”
In an effort to “show respect to the Chinese audience and Chinese culture,” KZ is learning Chinese. She has a stirring Mandarin medley most previously on "Singer 2018."
The singer has a Mandarin-speaking coach both in China and in the Philippines to help hasten her mastery of their language.
“I guess, mas na-a-appreciate nila (Chinese audience) kapag kumakanta ako in Mandarin. So ang pinaka-malaking parte ng preparations ko talaga is learning how to sing in Mandarin,” she said. “Mayroon akong Mandarin coach para magamay ko kung paano pino-pronounce ‘yung mga words kasi gusto ko kapag nagpe-perform ako, memorize ko (‘yung lyrics) para kusang lumalabas ‘yung feelings hindi ‘yung parang nagbabasa lang ako.”
KZ began her journey on “Singer 2018” early February. In the show’s fifth episode, she bested seven other international singers including her idol British superstar Jessie J. She did so with her incredible rendition of “Rolling In The Deep.”
In the eight episode aired March 2, KZ placed fifth with her performance of “Real Gone” from the animated movie, “Cars.”
The ninth episode airs on March 9. The rankings on “Singer 2018”are determined by the studio audience’s votes.
KZ is doing everything to survive the next episodes until the live finals in April.
“Every week kasi iba-iba ‘yung set of audience at mayroon din silang iba’t-ibang panlasa,” she explained. “Kumbaga wala talagang judges, ang pinaka-huhusga sa performance mo is ‘yung audience. Sila ‘yung kailangan matuwa sa performance mo.”
The singer would like to sing one of the most iconic Filipino songs that is Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak,” which was translated in Chinese and became a well-loved song there.
“Sobrang sikat po nu’ng kanta na ‘yun at nakaka-proud lang na may OPM na sikat sa ibang bansa so sana po talaga. Though when it comes to choosing the songs na ipe-perform ko, sila (the management) kasi ‘yung parang nagde-decide po talaga,” she disclosed.
If anything, KZ said that for her, giving the audience a memorable performance is more important than winning the title. The singer simply enjoys her stint on the competition. She wants to take everything one performance at a time.
“I’d be lying if I say I don’t want to win,” she noted. “But, I guess, pag-iisipin ko po talaga siya as a competition, masyado po akong mahihirapan, masyado akong mape-pressure. So parang one performance at a time lang. But I always make sure I do something new, do something different. I always push myself to do things I’ve never done before. Gusto kong magulat ang mga tao sa China pati na ang mga Filipino sa mga makikita nila sa akin. So ako kahit matanggal na ako next week, basta ang mahalaga sa akin, ‘yung best performance na maalala ng mga tao."
Homeland
If ever she wins the competition, KZ will, of course, be busy performing overseas. So does that mean Filipino fans will see less of her in local concerts and on TV shows?
No. According to KZ, despite her impending international success, her heart remains in her homeland.
“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin na nagpe-perform ako sa China ay hindi ko na priority ang Pilipinas,” she noted. “Kung mabibigyan man po ako ng opportunity doon after ng competition, I guess siguro po pwede naman iusog ‘yung gig na ibibigay nila sa akin kasi priority ko pa rin po ang bansa natin at ang mga Filipinos.”
We caught up with the singer at the recent Cornerstone Entertainment media night. At the event, several upcoming concerts were announced and two of those star KZ.
“Hopefully ma-push through siya by June,” she said of the bigger one.
Supportive friends
Meanwhile, good friends and “Divas: Live In Manila” co-headliner Kyla, Yeng Constantino and Angeline Quinto are proud of KZ’s achievements.
They said KZ’s success in China definitely opens doors for the rest of Filipino singers.
“Kasi nakita nila na magagaling ang mga Pinoy and ito ‘yung nag-open ng doors for everyone else,” Kyla said.
KZ (leftmost) with Cornerstone president Erickson Raymundo and fellow divas Yeng Constantino, Kyla and Angeline Quinto (left photo) and KZ with her idol, Jessie J.
Angeline shared, “First of all, natutuwa ako sa kanya. Proud na proud ako sa kanya everytime na napapanuod ko siya sa ‘Singer 2018.’ Iba ‘yung pakiramdam. Sabi ko nga, baka kapag nagkaroon ng repeat ‘yung ‘Divas,’ magkaroon din ng pangatlong gabi dahil nandu’n siya.”
“People could see how hardworking she is. At bunga nu’ng mga pinaghirapan niya ‘yung paghanga ng mga Pilipino sa kanya. Sobrang hanga kami sa kanya,” Yeng added.
Ever blessed
KZ revealed she actually had second thoughts in joining “Singers 2018.”
“Kasi that time, feeling ko hindi pa ako ready. Na tipong kaya ko ba ‘to, baka masyadong malaki (na competition) ito para sa akin,” she revealed. “Buti na lang po, nandu’n ‘yung mga kaibigan ko na sumuporta at naniwala sa kakayahan ko. Kung ano man po ‘yung nangyayari sa akin ngayon, napakalaking bahagi po nu’n ay galing sa suporta na binigay ng Cornerstone sa akin, ng mga kasamahan ko sa ‘Divas.”’
Six years ago, KZ was just one of the aspiring singers aiming to make a mark in the industry. As fate would have it, she rose to prominence following her win in the first season of “The X Factor Philippines.”
KZ, who eventually earned the moniker Soul Supreme, believes everything happening to her right now is according to God's will.
“Isa po ako sa mga nag-antay na nag-antay na nag-antay na makilala dito sa industriya natin. Dumating naman po ‘yung inaantay ko sa tamang panahon, na parang ginulat na ako na eto na pala. Sa ngayon ang masasabi ko lang po, sobrang saya i-celebrate ‘yung mga blessings na binibigay ng Panginoon.” (Photos from Instagram and Facebook)
KZ Tandingan
In an interview, the Filipino singer revealed part of her extensive preparations to keep her A-game on.
The musical arrangement of her assignments on the show will be dealt with like rocket science.
“’Yun talaga ‘yung pinaghahandaan ko kasi lahat ng kinakanta namin (nasa show), lahat puro cover (songs),” she said. “So kailangan talaga namin paghandaan ‘yun kasi hindi pwede ‘yung bira lang ng bira, kumbaga kailangan ng strategy talaga.”
In an effort to “show respect to the Chinese audience and Chinese culture,” KZ is learning Chinese. She has a stirring Mandarin medley most previously on "Singer 2018."
The singer has a Mandarin-speaking coach both in China and in the Philippines to help hasten her mastery of their language.
“I guess, mas na-a-appreciate nila (Chinese audience) kapag kumakanta ako in Mandarin. So ang pinaka-malaking parte ng preparations ko talaga is learning how to sing in Mandarin,” she said. “Mayroon akong Mandarin coach para magamay ko kung paano pino-pronounce ‘yung mga words kasi gusto ko kapag nagpe-perform ako, memorize ko (‘yung lyrics) para kusang lumalabas ‘yung feelings hindi ‘yung parang nagbabasa lang ako.”
KZ began her journey on “Singer 2018” early February. In the show’s fifth episode, she bested seven other international singers including her idol British superstar Jessie J. She did so with her incredible rendition of “Rolling In The Deep.”
In the eight episode aired March 2, KZ placed fifth with her performance of “Real Gone” from the animated movie, “Cars.”
The ninth episode airs on March 9. The rankings on “Singer 2018”are determined by the studio audience’s votes.
KZ is doing everything to survive the next episodes until the live finals in April.
“Every week kasi iba-iba ‘yung set of audience at mayroon din silang iba’t-ibang panlasa,” she explained. “Kumbaga wala talagang judges, ang pinaka-huhusga sa performance mo is ‘yung audience. Sila ‘yung kailangan matuwa sa performance mo.”
The singer would like to sing one of the most iconic Filipino songs that is Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak,” which was translated in Chinese and became a well-loved song there.
“Sobrang sikat po nu’ng kanta na ‘yun at nakaka-proud lang na may OPM na sikat sa ibang bansa so sana po talaga. Though when it comes to choosing the songs na ipe-perform ko, sila (the management) kasi ‘yung parang nagde-decide po talaga,” she disclosed.
If anything, KZ said that for her, giving the audience a memorable performance is more important than winning the title. The singer simply enjoys her stint on the competition. She wants to take everything one performance at a time.
“I’d be lying if I say I don’t want to win,” she noted. “But, I guess, pag-iisipin ko po talaga siya as a competition, masyado po akong mahihirapan, masyado akong mape-pressure. So parang one performance at a time lang. But I always make sure I do something new, do something different. I always push myself to do things I’ve never done before. Gusto kong magulat ang mga tao sa China pati na ang mga Filipino sa mga makikita nila sa akin. So ako kahit matanggal na ako next week, basta ang mahalaga sa akin, ‘yung best performance na maalala ng mga tao."
Homeland
If ever she wins the competition, KZ will, of course, be busy performing overseas. So does that mean Filipino fans will see less of her in local concerts and on TV shows?
No. According to KZ, despite her impending international success, her heart remains in her homeland.
“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin na nagpe-perform ako sa China ay hindi ko na priority ang Pilipinas,” she noted. “Kung mabibigyan man po ako ng opportunity doon after ng competition, I guess siguro po pwede naman iusog ‘yung gig na ibibigay nila sa akin kasi priority ko pa rin po ang bansa natin at ang mga Filipinos.”
We caught up with the singer at the recent Cornerstone Entertainment media night. At the event, several upcoming concerts were announced and two of those star KZ.
“Hopefully ma-push through siya by June,” she said of the bigger one.
Supportive friends
Meanwhile, good friends and “Divas: Live In Manila” co-headliner Kyla, Yeng Constantino and Angeline Quinto are proud of KZ’s achievements.
They said KZ’s success in China definitely opens doors for the rest of Filipino singers.
“Kasi nakita nila na magagaling ang mga Pinoy and ito ‘yung nag-open ng doors for everyone else,” Kyla said.
KZ (leftmost) with Cornerstone president Erickson Raymundo and fellow divas Yeng Constantino, Kyla and Angeline Quinto (left photo) and KZ with her idol, Jessie J.
Angeline shared, “First of all, natutuwa ako sa kanya. Proud na proud ako sa kanya everytime na napapanuod ko siya sa ‘Singer 2018.’ Iba ‘yung pakiramdam. Sabi ko nga, baka kapag nagkaroon ng repeat ‘yung ‘Divas,’ magkaroon din ng pangatlong gabi dahil nandu’n siya.”
“People could see how hardworking she is. At bunga nu’ng mga pinaghirapan niya ‘yung paghanga ng mga Pilipino sa kanya. Sobrang hanga kami sa kanya,” Yeng added.
Ever blessed
KZ revealed she actually had second thoughts in joining “Singers 2018.”
“Kasi that time, feeling ko hindi pa ako ready. Na tipong kaya ko ba ‘to, baka masyadong malaki (na competition) ito para sa akin,” she revealed. “Buti na lang po, nandu’n ‘yung mga kaibigan ko na sumuporta at naniwala sa kakayahan ko. Kung ano man po ‘yung nangyayari sa akin ngayon, napakalaking bahagi po nu’n ay galing sa suporta na binigay ng Cornerstone sa akin, ng mga kasamahan ko sa ‘Divas.”’
Six years ago, KZ was just one of the aspiring singers aiming to make a mark in the industry. As fate would have it, she rose to prominence following her win in the first season of “The X Factor Philippines.”
KZ, who eventually earned the moniker Soul Supreme, believes everything happening to her right now is according to God's will.
“Isa po ako sa mga nag-antay na nag-antay na nag-antay na makilala dito sa industriya natin. Dumating naman po ‘yung inaantay ko sa tamang panahon, na parang ginulat na ako na eto na pala. Sa ngayon ang masasabi ko lang po, sobrang saya i-celebrate ‘yung mga blessings na binibigay ng Panginoon.” (Photos from Instagram and Facebook)