She delivers a voice that spins you—in a soulful but most persuasive of way; she can put in her groove or touch you with warmth with her intimate styling; she posses a voice that crackles with verve and heart and the potential to become something distinct and special. Her name became that something and she had proven that claim since the spotlight captured her.
And for a gifted singer whose soulful singing, and beautiful personality shine through every album she offers, Kyla is back with a new energy that will turn her as one of the most important soul R&B acts in the business.
Her Story:
Soul 2 Soul-- Everyone knows Kyla’s real name is Melanie Hernandez Calumpad (she was christened Kyla by EMI’s Francis Guevarra when a recording demo for a Metropop song landed on his lap by fate) and everyone knows she passed through the amateur singing contest route to gain fame (from Tanghalan ng Kampeon to Yamaha Music Quest to Metropop Young Singers Competition). Heck, everyone knows she was even part of the afternoon variety show That’s Entertainment (Tuesday group).
But not many know that Kyla is a true-blue-dye-in-the-wool soul singer. Growing up, Kyla was listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin. It was through these soul legends that Kyla developed her knack for singing. And even before Beyonce heard of Dreamgirls, Kyla was fulfilling her dreams as evidenced in Tanghalan ng Kampeon winning moment which was her powerful interpretation of I Am Changing.
Soul Awards – It’s not surprising that because of her talent, Kyla is one of the most awarded singers in the country. Her winning streak as a professional singer started with her breakthrough single, Hanggang Ngayon. Kyla even has six Awit Awards and earned a roomful of trophies given by various radio stations and magazines that range from Best Female Singer to Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Of course, one cannot discount the numerous Gold and Platinum awards Kyla has received for her albums.
As a result of Kyla shining on her own, a lot of the world’s premier artists were invited to collaborate with the R&B singer. From Freestyle to Gary Valenciano to Keith Martin and Blue and Fralippo Lippi, Kyla can certainly step it up and perform side-by-side with the best.
It can be remembered that through this song, Kyla showed her vocal range in a showdown with her contemporaries at the Regine Velasquez’s Reigning Still concert at the Araneta Coliseum. It was even cited in Wikipedia that with her spectacular performance of Over the Rainbow, Kyla ended up winning the audience approval as “the heir to popular artist Regine Velasquez.”
Kyla is definitely no an ordinary girl. She’s a singer, host, song-writer, concert performer, R&B princess, music video artist and a whole lot more. And with the release of Heartfelt, she can definitely be called something that has eluded her throughout her years in the business. With a newfound maturity, not only through her voice but even in her look, Kyla can definitely now be called a WOMAN.
Related Articles:
Behind-the-scenes at Kyla's "Don't Tie Me Down" music video shoot
R&B Princess Kyla is back with "Private Affair" featuring the first single “Mahal Kita (Di Mo Pansin)”
Kyla's Essence of Soul
Kyla is the MYX Celebrity VJ for December 2010
Kyla's Wedding Song Composed by Brian McKnight