It looks Tiktok isn’t just for hacks, it’s also for launching a music career
For many aspiring artists, a big break is all they need to get a foot on the door to fame. And as much as we want to believe that the ones we clapped and listened to today had theirs easy, the true story is that they didn’t.
But thanks to social media, artists are given a platform to create and get known. Musicians such as Justin Bieber, Halsey, Shawn Mendez, The Weekend, among others, are products of talent discoveries that came from Youtube, Tumblr, and MySpace. Though social media helped make things happen for them, it still takes great skills to stand out as a star in the online world, especially in Tiktok.
Even before the pandemic, many Filipinos were lured to create a 60-second video content on social media platform Tiktok, and it is just about time that we get to see an artist to come out of it.
Meet Angela Rojas, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter, who got her music career started through Tiktok. Known online as Angela Ken, this Tiktok success story started out the same way many musicians on the platform do, posting covers and snippets of her original compositions.
“Last year, I started making song covers and dances on Tiktok just for fun. Until I uploaded one of my originals last September, and I didn’t expect all the blessings that will shower upon me,” she says.
The original song that she posted is a track called “Ako Naman Muna,” which roughly translates to “This Time I Come First,” an alluring and relatable tune about self-love. Though she only shared a preview of this composition, it quickly went viral on the app. Resonating with a multitude of audiences, it was eventually shared on other social media platforms, as well.
Angela has been writing compositions since she was 12 years old, with a worship song as her first work. But with her latest track, the creating process is different as it tells what she felt while in community quarantine.
“The story behind ‘Ako Naman Muna’ is very personal and special to me,” she muses. “I felt unproductive, uncertain, and lost because I couldn’t do the things I used to do. I couldn’t meet some of the people who made me happy. I couldn’t go to the places I wanted. I felt stuck and sadness pulled me down. That was why the first verse was that deep and relatable. Until one night, I posted it and I never expected it to go viral. All I wanted was to let that song go and not finish it anymore. But I saw a lot of people feel the same way , and I don’t want that. I got inspired to make the chorus full of hope and give light to those who are in darkness.”
“Ako Naman Muna” is such a powerful song that it eventually reached the radar of ABS-CBN’s Star Music. Angela is now a Star Magic talent and recording artist under ABS-CBN Music, and will soon be seen in projects and shows under Dreamscape Entertainment. She is also slated to appear as one of the new-breed singers on the musical variety show, “ASAP.”
For Angela, getting her start on TikTok is a fulfillment of a lifelong dream, as it led the way for her to join the network.
“Ever since I was a kid, one of my dreams is to become a well known singer,” Angela says. “I love singing because it helps me express how I feel in a unique way.”
As many have said, “never underestimate the power of social media.” Just like Yotube and Tumblr, TikTok is brimming with talents waiting to be discovered. The platform serves as an ideal virtual stage for aspiring performers, empowering them to showcase their music, and allowing them to be heard by audiences around the world, even beyond the platform.
Check out more of Angela on Tiktok @anqelaken.