(CDN Photo/Edd Buenaviaje)
To say that Jed Madela is an engaging person is quite that Jed Madela is an engaging person is quite the understatement.
This much is clear when you talk to the guy who is considered an established name in the country’s music industry.
He is sure about what he wants the audience to bring with them after watching his performances.
“I make it a point, make it a goal na pag-uwi ng audience they bring home a part of me—that I don’t just sing it for the heck of pakitang-gilas. Na magyabang ako na abot ko ‘yung kanta. It’s more of I sing the song because it means something to me,” he tells us.
Unfazed by the trappings of his status in the music business, Jed’s goal—as he marks his 15th year in the industry next year—is to be as relatable as possible.“Importante na mararamdaman ng audience because it’s something that’s personal. I rarely sing songs na hindi ko ma-relate ‘yung song sa sarili ko,”he adds.
He knows what he can offer and what’s more, Jed—John Edward Tajanlangit in real life—is winner personified.
His success is a steady stream of glory from being the first Filipino to win as Grand Champion at the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) to becoming a household name in the entertainment scene.In an intimate gathering with the press for his upcoming show dubbed“La Voce” at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on Nov. 17, Jed shared both his fascination with the local audience as well as setting expectations for the audience.
He promises a memorable performance for the Cebu audience, something more than what they see of him on TV. And he will not stop innovating. So, will he try dancing this time?With a performer as consummate as Jed, anything is possible. (NRG)
How does it feel that the stage is set? It has been worth the wait since your last major performance here was almost 10 years ago.
Indeed, it’s been 10 years! Matagal na. I think that was 2008 when I did my last solo concert here and since then, wala na. I have been here a couple of times for guestings but not for a full concert so excited ako for “La Voce.”
I have been sitting with my team and sabi ko what’s a good concept for Cebu, because we all know that Cebu is one of the most—di naman difficult—parang hard to please. Which is good because it challenges artists like us to really step up.
Thoughts on the Cebuano audience? Cebu is really something. Cebu, Iloilo and Davao—‘yun ang tatlong cities na parang kung sa ibang provinces paglabas mo pa lang ng stage sigawan na, dito sa Cebu wala, prim and proper pa ‘yan. Na lumalabas na ‘yung mga ugat mo … pero eventually it is one of the most fulfilling audiences that I’ve performed for. Meaning pag napasayaw mo at napasigaw mo ang Cebu, magaling ka.
What’s in store for your fans during the concert?
People only know me as Jed Madela, the voice.
And I want to tell them na I am more than just a voice. I would show to them in my concerts na hindi naman tayo always seryoso na palaging naka suit, na always nakasimangot.
I am fun. And this concert will be entertaining. It will be different from those that I’ve done in the past years. A little of everything. A concert for the young. A concert for the young at heart. For those who love mainstream music, classics.
For those who just want to be entertained.
Will your fans get to see you dance this time? I am open to the idea. Though I look funny when I dance kasi I am a big guy. So, parang bouncing ball ‘yung itsura (laughs).
Some people gauge success of a concert on the number of tickets sold. What’s your take on this?
Iba-iba ‘yung basis nila na if puno ‘yung concert, successful na ‘yung concert.
Na pag maingay ‘yung audience it’s successful.
For me it’s more of anong mangyayari after the concert—kung paano ko na touch sila through the songs.
A concert is showing your personality, showing yourself through your music and at the end of the evening when the audience leave they would bring with them a part of Jed Madela. Of course we want the venue to be full.
But kung after nung concert hindi man lang napag-usapan ‘yung show mo, sayang lang din. Kesa ‘yung hindi siya puno pero ikakalat nila na ang galing at sayang na hindi mo napanood. That is better for me.
What should we look forward to in “La Voce” in terms of repertoire?
With the repertoire, normally I am very hands-on with the songs that I am going to sing.
I try to find out the demographics of the people that I am going to be singing for.
I have to know that and since Cebu is a very musical audience, it’s a mix of bata and mid-age audience. We have worked on something na hindi naman siya maging chopsuey, making it more entertaining and coherent naman.
As a performer do you also get bored of the usual songs the fans want you to sing?
I try my best to change repertoires and there are songs that people would really request everytime you perform.
‘Na yun nga, na alam naman natin na sukang suka na ako pero sige lang kasi gusto nila.
You have the signature songs like ‘yung “The Past.” Also they would ask for “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing.”
Probably we can squeeze that in.
There will always be that song that I’ve been trying to avoid and the audience would still request it.
That can be challenging.
I just try to make it sound mine. I try to make it sound the way people would want me to sing it.
Because there will always be songs na kinanta na ng iba like nila Lani (Misalucha) or Martin (Nievera), and of course anybody would always have their style.
What moves you during a performance?
I put myself in the audience’s shoes—na when I am watching a concert, what would I want them to see?
Personally I am the type na if I am the audience I would want to connect with the performer dahil kung makikinig lang ako bibili na lang ako ng CD, di ba? Connection and personal relationship with that performer on that very night is important.
I make it a point, make it a goal na pag-uwi ng audience they bring home a part of me that I just don’t sing it for the heck of pakitang-gilas. Na magyabang ako na abot ko ‘yung kanta. It’s more of “I sing the song because it means something to me.” Importante na mararamdaman ng audience because it’s something that’s personal, I rarely sing songs na hindi ko ma-relate ‘yung song sa sarili ko.
Do you have a ritual before hitting the stage?
I don’t even vocalize. To each his own siguro as an artist kasi like with Sarah (Geronimo) and Rachelle Ann (Go), they have to vocalize.
Erik (Santos) has to talk. Angeline (Quinto) has to do her facial exercises. Ako wala ‘eh. As long as I memorize my songs and I know the purpose why I am there, mas more ako ganun.
I am more into the mindset na as long as I am in a good condition to sing, I know my purpose to inspire the audience, ‘yun lang talaga.
Did you ever consider acting for TV and movies?
I cannot deal with the kind of work that they do na halos walang tulog.
It’s an open-ended job na kung you arrive at this hour, you don’t know when you’ll be back home.
I cannot. I am a productive person and I want to do something planned out. Ako ‘yung tipo na I want to see my schedule fixed. I’ve done cameos for movies and| di ko kinaya ‘yung schedule.
How about theater?
I’ve done theater pero same thing na it wants you to somehow block your schedules and with all the shows that I am doing, and my travel pa, I have to really schedule or plan things way ahead. I am blocked until 2019 so ganun ako ka-busy.
But I have always loved theater and ang dami kong friends from the theater industry.
There’s this notion that if you can belt those high notes, you are already considered a good performer.
Your thoughts on this? That has always been the misconception kasi pag bumirit ka magaling ka na.
Though there are those na magagaling talaga. Pero sometimes when you hear it all the time parang … it’s just na may Regine (Velasquez) na tayo ‘eh, tama na.
Dati ‘yun. And I am happy now because eventually things have changed probably because of the new artists coming in like sila KZ (Tandingan) na they don’t have to birit. What’s nice about the industry now is that it’s not about the birit, it’s really more on the whole character of the voice.
As one of the judges of “It’s Showtime’s” segment “Tawag Ng Tanghalan,” how do you feel when a contestant is eliminated?
Akala ko enjoy ‘to pero nakaka-stress pala because when you’re there tapos you can see na mago-gong, pati ikaw ma stress din for the contestants. Ma-aawa ka pero ganun talaga dahil that’s what makes it rate and it’s a contest.
But there’s wisdom in losing … Hindi sa nagmamayabang pero so far hindi naman ako natalo. But it’s all mindset lang naman. That’s what we always tell sa kids in WCOPA. Kasi dati it was all about kailangan manalo ako.
Naaalala ko noon. Now it’s not. Kasi the mindset should be whether I performed well. Manalo or matalo, at least wala silang masabi sa performance mo.
