Let’s face it. Being a new face in an industry is always scary. Like many other things, all the new, shiny things get “old” very easily, especially in this generation where we’re so overwhelmed and bombarded with content every day.
So, how do we find a way to be “unique” when it quite literally feels like everyone has done everything? Angela, the leader of KAIA, sees this as less of a hindrance and more of an opportunity. Instead of focusing on being “unique,” she sees this as a chance to find her group’s own path and, if all else fails, make their own way. “We are KAIA, and we need to focus on what WE can bring to the table, what we can show for ourselves, and not live up to others or their expectations of us. We need to be able to carve our own path, one step at a time. We have ZAIA and each other, so we focus on that instead.”
As the “Mama Bear” of KAIA, Angela has been steadily figuring out the ropes of being a leader as she guides her members and navigates an industry as part of a group that just debuted a year ago. It’s a tough place to be in. And it's such a big responsibility that you’d think Angela would be the type of leader to be strict and firm to keep up with everything going on around them.
But, being a leader isn’t just about authority. Angela shows a different side to being a leader as she serves as the group’s unwavering force, rock, and most of all, their heart. This characteristic of hers being pivotal, as she was voted by her fellow members to lead in the first place.
In her younger years, Angela was a commercial model and actress, as well as a streamer and content creator with her sister and co-member Charice pre-debut. But, as she stumbled her way into the P-Pop world even without performing credits to her name, she’s never looked back since into the “What if’s?” or “What could have been’s?” Rather, she’s all about the “now,” as she consistently works hard in everything she does and lifts up her members in the process.
In this feature, Angela talks all her realizations as a leader of a new group and a rookie in the music scene. Read on to find out what it means to be “new” in this day and age.
Q: Can you tell me what it means to be a leader in a P-Pop group? What kinds of roles and responsibilities do you have? Are there certain traits and qualities necessary for this?
Angela: I can’t speak for all the P-Pop leaders, but to me, being a leader means being there for my members, taking care of them, and being their voice when needed. As a member of a team, all the roles and responsibilities are divided between the members, and we help each other out. I don’t make all the decisions for my team; rather, I help everyone get to a unanimous decision where we can all agree. When there is a disagreement within the team, we sit down in a group circle and listen to everyone’s concerns and opinions. I see myself as more of a guide, someone who listens to what they need, and helps them get it through a thorough discussion, rather than someone who tells them what to do. I try as much as possible to be a leader who pushes my members to be great so I can be great with them rather than someone who just pulls them to where I want them to be.
Q: It’s tough to introduce a new genre like “P-Pop” to an audience that has been used to a certain sound and gravitates toward established artists from bigger labels. Tell me about the reality of introducing this new wave of music.
Angela: It is definitely difficult to introduce the kind of music that we have released so far since it is not what is mainstream. Even in P-Pop, most of the songs that really make it through to audiences are ones that are closer in sounds to traditional OPM. I wish I could say that we have figured out the formula or whatever, but we are a new group who are still trying to find our identity and sound. We don’t know exactly know yet the kind of sound we would be pushing towards in the future, but we are open to keep trying out different things until we find our own identity as artists.
It's also not about what kind of sounds can we make that mainstream audiences would like but more of, what kind of music can we express from within ourselves that the mainstream audiences would also appreciate. As much as possible, we’d also want to stay authentic to ourselves, rather than create something just for the sake of trying to get in the mainstream. That’s our hope at least! One day. We are working hard to be able to do that.
Q: One year into debut isn’t enough to figure out what your “sound” and “personal style” is. So, what has your journey been like in slowly figuring out what makes KAIA?
Angela: Difficult in a way where it's exhausting sometimes to do something and not feel like it's right for us. But hey, that’s how life is, isn’t it? Because finding yourself isn’t just something that is closed off in the music industry. Everyone goes through this whether it's finding out their own identities in the different areas of their lives. Our journey is just us living our lives and figuring out who we are one step at a time, just like everyone else.
Q: There has been criticism about Pinoy pop culture, wherein we tend to hop onto the latest trend and don’t create original content. However, I think most creative pursuits start out with imitation, and eventually, everyone finds their own style. What are your thoughts on that?
Angela: All kinds of music are derived from and inspired by somewhere. The real mission is to be able to make this inspiration originally yours, expressed through your own ideas, experiences, emotions, and feelings. There is nothing wrong with that; it's called a creative process.
Q: Last time you were interviewed for our Women’s Month issue, I asked what makes KAIA stand out, as the group joins a fast-growing list of P-Pop acts. Instead of asking what makes KAIA stand out, I wanted to flip it to what you think of this ever-growing market. What’s the reality of trying to stand out with a list growing longer and longer?
Angela: It’s difficult. There’s nothing that can be done really. Eventually, there will always be those who are better than you. Even things that are once unique can become common in a short period of time. This shouldn’t be something we are afraid of because being afraid of something that is inevitable will only make you suffer. We must accept this and just live the best way we can. The best we can do is to just keep giving our best, keep working hard, keep being our authentic selves, and keep building the foundation and relationship we have created with the people who support us.
Q: In line with the previous question, the concept of the issue was being a representative of Gen Z girls. So, I wanted to ask: How do you connect with Gen Z in a way that truly relates to and represents them?
Angela: I connect with those like me by being who I am. There are many of those who may be experiencing the same things I am, so as long as I keep being honest and authentic with myself and my experiences, I am making sure they will be able to relate and feel represented.
Q: Something I see in this generation is that Gen Z is tired of traditions and norms. We want to go outside expectations and formulas. We don’t want to prescribe to ideals in place. Instead, we try to question them and ask questions. What do you think of this?
Angela: Because we have finally discovered that just as how things cannot be generalized, so are we. We are all different in some ways, and we don't want to adhere to ideas that have nothing to do with us. We want to discover what it means to live with authenticity in our own lives, and those cannot be met with boxed formulas created by others, we need to be free to explore who we are in our own ever-changing ways.
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Don't miss Angela and the charming girls of KAIA as they take the stage at the highly anticipated PPOPCON MANILA 2023 this July 14 to 16 at Araneta City. Secure your tickets now at TicketNet Online or through TicketNet outlets nationwide.
Additionally, don't forget to grab a limited edition copy of our #TheLeadersIssue at parcinqmarketplace.com. You can either claim it at the PARCINQ booth during the P-POP Convention or have it conveniently delivered to your doorstep. Hurry and take advantage of our exciting freebies!
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Produced by Parcinq Team in collaboration with PPOPCON
PARCINQ
Photography by Rxandy Capinpin
Art Direction by Joe Andy
Production Coordination by Chardy Baldoza
Features Writers Queenie Cailing and Marielle Filoteo
PPOPCON
Communications Manager: Rhanica
Production Manager: Arby
Artist Coordinator: Jessette
Content Producer: Erica
Glam Team
Mycke Arcano
Aron Guevara
Janica Cleto
Nadynne Esguerra
Jonnel Derilo
Mark Familara
Mac Igarta
Marben Talanay
Charlie Manapat
Styling Team
Bea Guerrero
Miguel Quilang
Aaron Mangsat
Ica Villanueva
Team Rain X Em
Fashion Film By Ian Francisco
Video Associate Pogs Francisco
Camera Operator Anghel Millar
Gaffer Edward Logorta
Shoot Assistants
Chicco Rodriguez
Ana Alzona
Derreck Isorena
Kathleen Salvatera
Set Design by Rabbit Hole Creatives
Food Sponsors: Illo’s Party Trays, The Sandwhich Guy
Elemental Cafe Iced Coffee
Studio Partner Siren Studios