By Jose Francisco Cruz III
Calvin Neria, Sitti’s “First” birthday concert director, said that what he likes best about Sitti is that she is very professional. It certainly looks like it since she was in the Pink Pepper Restaurant before any of the press. This is very unusual among celebrities. She sang “Para Sa Akin” for us accompanied by keyboards. Her voice quality is the same whether live or in recording, but the inflections and her interpreting the second half of it in Portuguese gave her hit song an unusual twist. Then we proceeded with the interview for her concert at Manila Mandarin Hotel’s Captain’s Bar on Nov. 29 as she ate garden salad and pesto.
Tickets are available at all SM Ticketworld outlets (891-9999), Mandarin Oriental Manila (750-8888, local 2446) and the Music Museum (721-0635 and 721-6726)
Why did you take Boy Abunda as your new manager?
My contract with my former manager had expired.
Are you happy with the way your career has progressed?
I never really kept track. It was just a sideline before. It helped me pay for my tuition and books in U.P. as a Business Economics student. I just enjoyed myself at the time. Then after I graduated they came up with an album for me.
How long have you been singing professionally?
Since 16. I started out singing lounge in Stonehouse. Imagine what it was like for a 16-year-old to be singing standards.
You’re turning 24, what are your expectations?
I want to find out if the quarter life crisis is true.
How’s your love life?
It’s okay.
I’m going to assume he’s non-showbiz. What do you like best about him?
I enjoy conversing with him. He’s corny but funny. In 2006, he had the Boystown kids give me flowers and sing “Para Sa Akin.” It made me cry. He came there a week before with my CD and had the kids rehearse.
Have you ever patterned your style to that of another artist’s?
You can’t help but to bring out the styles of artists you frequently listen to. I love Ella Fitzgerald, Stacy Kent, and Lara Jones, but it’s not intentional and I mean to develop my own style. My band mates tease me when I skat ‘coz I already have a standard way of doing it.
Are you going to have the same band during your birthday concert?
I have three stables of bands when performing live. During recording, Chito Cervantes, who arranged the songs for my three albums, has one band accompany me.
Can you give us particulars of your birthday concert?
It’s not just a show, it’s my party. This is my first time to work on my birthday. Before, I chose to rest. The concert has three parts: my past, present, and future in music. The past looks back to when I was doing lounge and singing standards and Patti Austin. The present is Bossa, and the future when I plan to sing songs from other genres.
How many songs are you planning to sing?
Ang dami talagang songs. As in ang dami!
Are you really going to dance J.Lo’s “Baila”?
[Very excited] Yes, we’re planning to, but Calvin and I still have to finalize the details. I was in “Shall We Dance,” but on the third taping, my partner was not available. So, we are planning to invite him to my birthday show
Are you still singing with Gabby?
I’m going to Davao with Gabby, Christian Baustista, and other Warner artists for the nationwide mall tour.
How about an international tour?
First, I am hoping that Warner will distribute my albums internationally – the same way they did for Christian Bautista.
After you became ‘Sitti,’ did you do other things aside from singing?
I have this egroup, Sittizens, and we do outreaches. It’s easy for us to do outreaches because they help me with the sponsorships. The last outreach was on Nov. 2 for the Don Bosco scholars and malnourished kids in Payatas. The Payatas kids would be given arroz caldo with vitamins for six months except Sundays.
Why do that?
“Nag-uumapaw blessings ko, and I love kids.”
Tags: First, Sitti, Sitti Navarro, Sittionline.com
