KC Concepcion on Sharon Cuneta: Don’t compare us, please

June 4, 2008

THE multi-talented KC Concepcion is now a recording artist. Her debut album, “A.k.a. Cassandra” (Cassandra being her second name after Kristina) is released by Sony BMG Music. Both KC and BMG execs are proud of the result of their collaboration.

“I’m really grateful to Sony BMG for giving me a freehand in choosing the songs in the album and the musicians that I got to work with,” she says. “They gave me freedom to explore the kind of music I want and the result is an album you can bring anywhere and listen to without being stressed. I was just alone with the sound engineer when I recorded them as I get intimidated pag maraming tao inside the studio.”

“KC is an extraordinary artist,” says Sony BMG exec Vic Valenciano. “She knows what she wants and how she wants her songs to sound like. The influences of her stay in Paris are evident in the songs. There’s a lot of improvisations during the entire recording and everything turned out fine that we’re truly proud of her.”

The album is a fusion of five original compositions and six remakes, done in varied arrangements like the 80’s hits “Melt With You” (Modern English) and “I Just Can’t Get Enough” (Depeche Mode). Imagine these songs being guitar-based, harmonized with percussions which KC herself played live with Pinikpikan during the recording, creating a unique world music sound. With the original compositions, KC collaborates with seasoned songwriters and arrangers. Maestro Ryan Cayabyab contributed “Ngiti Lang,” while funnyman Joey de Leon threw-in some serious Tagalog lyrics for “Doo-bee-doo,” an adaptation of a bouncy original South African hit song.

The alternative contributions came from ex-Eraserheads and Sandwich lead vocalist Raymund Marasigan who wrote and produced two originals, “Breathe” and “Sabihin Mo Na Lang.” Pinikpikan’s Sammy Asuncion has produced majority of the songs together with Angelo Villegas, which explains the album’s world music bent, including Joey Ayala’s “Agila (Haring Ibon)” that showcases KC’s vocal capabilities. With this album, it’s predicted that KC will be creating a mark in the local music industry as a consummate singer-artist of her generation. Which of the songs will she dedicate to Richard Gutierrez?

“Doo-bee-doo, kasi nang iparinig ko sa kanya, gustung-gusto niya agad. His brother Raymond also likes it kaya pareho ang taste ng kambal.”

Has her mom heard her album? “Yes. Each time I get to record a new song, I give her a raw copy right away so she has heard them all.”

What if people compared her to her mom? “Nobody should do that because my mom and I are not in competition. I look up to her and I respect her. We’re not in the same level at all. She’s a cut above the rest.”

Bookmark to: