Sacrificing their respective individual recording careers a year ago to form the all-female singing group La Diva, Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos and Maricris Garcia, are now slowly reaping the fruits of their hard work starting with – an album!La Diva recently signed a two-year recording contract with GMA Records and Sony Music Entertainment BMG Philippines. According to them, the deal will have them recording an album per year which they are all excited about.
“We’re very happy about our album. We are also overwhelmed that we would be under two big name recording companies. This is a dream-come-true,” expressed La Diva collectively.
With regards to their album, the group added that their fans would be treated to a lot of vocal stylings, “La Diva blending and harmony” and heartfelt renditions of their songs.
“People will always hear three voices in every song. It would be hard for individuals to sing our songs but it is something new and a new flavor that people will hear on the radio and TV,” quipped Maricris Garcia.
GMA Record’s Rene Salta described La Diva’ upcoming album to contain 14 songs which is a combination of cover as well as original songs. In it too are the TV theme songs that La Diva has sang for the shows “Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan,” “Ikaw Ang Pag-ibig” from “Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang” and the popular song of GMA-7’s newest high-rating primetime show “Rosalinda” entitled “Ay Amor.”
“We never expected La Diva to be this successful,” shared Aicelle Santos. “We were just a segment in ‘SOP’ and there were no plans of becoming a group. But I guess televiewers enjoyed our performances and that’s when management began to turn us into a group.”
According to Senior Vice President for Entertainment Wilma Galvante, La Diva deserves an album as they have shown their strength as singers since their onset.
“We have to thank Danny Tan. Without him there would be no La Diva. He trained them and he was the reason for their introduction in ‘SOP’ Besides, they are all products of ‘Pinoy Pop Superstar’ which we all know has come out with very talented singers in the past,” she explained.
So what will happen to their individual careers?
“Looking back, we know we have gone through a lot especially when we joined ‘Pinoy Pop Superstar.’ Our goal then was to become individual singers. We also know that a lot of singers want to be in our place and we’re just happy we were chosen instead,” Jonalyn Viray replied.
On her part, Aicelle said, “We joined contests to become solo performers, but I guess as La Diva, the reception of the people was just overwhelming. And we’re happier now and in the music industry we are unique and we have to be proud of that!”
As for Maricris, “Since we’re well appreciated and we have a following, why not grab the opportunity? We should make use of this opportunity to make us all better performers!”
Now one year in existence, how did the group gel together?
“We really don’t know. It could be because we’ve always been performing together as a group in ‘SOP.’ We’ve known each other for so long that we already have a connection even before La Diva was formed. Now as a group, we understand each other without talking especially when we are performing…we are also all nice people and amazingly our voices jive well,” La Diva described.
They also stressed that La Diva already has a distinct sound. They know this because of the reactions they get whenever they perform on TV minus a member. Whoever the singer taking over an absent member, fans would always give them feedback that they don’t sound the same when they’re not complete!
Jonalyn, Aicelle and Maricris’ first song project was for the theme song of “SiS.” After that they were launched as a group – La Diva – on “SOP” on
So are the members of La Diva taken?
“We are all single which is good so we can focus more on our album… we want someone outside of showbiz and someone with the same personalities as ours,” smiled La Diva.
The trio of young singers from the Pinoy Pop Superstar fame is currently making waves as a group called “La Diva” which is seen as specializing in proper blending and not outshining each other. Jonalyn Viray, Maricris Garcia, and Aicelle Santos have become a staple among live and TV audiences with their weekly appearances over “ SOP.”
“We take turns in singing, each has her own spot,” says Aicelle who won for herself the “Best Country Song” in a Kazakhstan Song Festival. She argues with a good reason, “Kaya kami nagble-blend kasi iba-iba characters ng voices namin.”
During a chat with a small pool of entertainment journalists, all three La Diva members had been given counterparts for their voices, much to their liking. Aicelle is Jaya, Jonalyn is Regine Velasquez, and Maricris is Zsa Zsa Padilla.
Both Jonalyn and Maricris were grand champions of Pinoy Pop Superstar, with the former being crowned on year 1 while the latter on year 3. The just 19-year-old first Pinoy Pop champ released an album “On My Own” and has sung songs for GMA-7’s “Dramarama sa Hapon” series of soaps. Maricris, for her part, scored a big hit in “Mahal Kita,” theme song to the hugely successful TV series “Marimar.”
On how they’re different from the others of their same age and talent, Aicelle added, “Mga song selections namin usually mga standards, not R&B. Lagi din kaming naka-gown kaya we were given the name La Diva.”
The trio of songstress, now doing rounds in malls, will stage a concert in L.A., USA set this summer. They’re also scheduled to do an album of their own soon.
Source: http://beta.mb.com.ph/node/197295
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A NIGHT WITH LA DIVA
April, 18, 2009 (Saturday)
Virgil Auditorium
152 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90004
April 25, 2009 (Saturday)
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa
49500 Seminole Dr. Cabazon, CA 92230
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Si John Lapus ang special guest ng La Diva sa kanilang first major concert sa April 18, 2009. “A Night with La Diva” ang title ng show nina Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos at Maricris Garcia.
Hindi makapaniwala ang tatlo na magkakaroon na sila ng sariling concert pero gaganapin ito sa Virgil Auditorium sa LA at hindi sa Pilipinas.
Sa tanong kung hindi ba sila naiinggit sa success ng kanilang fellow singer na si Sarah Geronimo, “hindi” ang sagot ng tatlong mi-yembro ng LA Diva.
Natutuwa raw sila para kay Sarah dahil sa magandang takbo ng showbiz career nito. Gusto rin ng La Diva na marating ang naabot ni Sarah, pero hindi sila nagmamadali.
Maraming dapat ipagpasalamat sina Jonalyn, Aicelle at Maricris kaya hindi nila hinahayaan na maapektuhan sila ng insecurity.
Kung mangyari man na hindi maging matagumpay ang kanyang singing career, plano ni Jonalyn na ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral para magkaroon siya ng fall back.
This year, balak ni Jonalyn na mag-enroll sa isang music course dahil gusto niya na maging voice teacher. Gagamitin daw niya ang kanyang talent sa pagkanta para makatulong sa iba.
Supportive sa isa’t-isa sina Maricris, Jonalyn at Aicelle. Hindi raw sila katulad ng ibang grupo na nagsasapawan sa pagkanta ang mga miyembro.
