AT A GLANCE
During the launchof ABS-CBN Music's new record label at the Academy of Rock in Quezon City recently, Jamie unveiled uplifting, fresh tunes fromKapamilya artists Jamie Rivera, Angela Ken, Fabio Santos, Fana, Francine Diaz, Imogen, KD Estrada, and Jed Madela.
Inspirational Diva Jamie Rivera wears many hats: a singer, actress, producer, songwriter, executive of a company, and now label head of Inspire Music.
During the launch of ABS-CBN Music's new record label at the Academy of Rock in Quezon City recently, Jamie unveiled uplifting, fresh tunes from Kapamilya artists Jamie Rivera, Angela Ken, Fabio Santos, Fana, Francine Diaz, Imogen, KD Estrada, and Jed Madela.
"We want to generate faith para mas maraming tao ang maniwala sa Panginoon at magkaroon ng hope pati na rin pagmamahal sa kapwa. Iyon ang ultimate goal ng Inspire Music," Jamie shared.
Jamie takes part in a collaboration with Jed, Francine, and KD for the track "Faith, Hope, and Love,” which seeks to promote world peace amid today’s conflict arising in various parts of the world.
She also offers an exciting revamped remix of the label's first single "3-in-1” which talks about the joys of believing in God and features "It's Showtime" child star Imogen and "The Voice Kids" season 5 contestant Fabio Santos.
Folk-pop artist Angela shows off her sweet side in her upcoming single "Pansinin Mo Naman Ako,” her first release under Inspire Music.
Up-and-coming singer Fana meanwhile puts a modern twist to Gloc-9’s hit song "Love Story Ko," which highlights the joys of falling in love. Composed by A. Polisco and Christian Martinez, the reimagined version released last Nov. 10 was produced by Jamie.
New role
Jamie revealed that she had never aspired to become a record executive.
"Hindi ko talaga pinangarap na maging label head. Nagulat na lamang ako. But I was told i-mentor ko raw yung mga bata. So sabi nila, 'let's have a new label na bagay sa'yo.' So we called in Inspire Music," she said. "Nakakatuwa ako kasi may mga bata na ako ang una nilang producer. Imogen and Fabio. Sila yung unang-una kong recording artists sa Inspire label."
(I never really dreamed of being a label head. I was just surprised. But I was told that I would mentor the kids. So they said, 'Let's have a new label that suits you.' So we called it Inspire Music. It makes me happy because I am the first producer of some kids like Imogen and Fabio. They are my first recording artists under the Inspire label.)
Jamie enjoys teaching young artists to sing and has no issues with them.
"Meron din naman challenges pero hindi mahirap dahil magagaling sila. Even si Francine. Sinabi niya hindi siya nakakakanta pero nakakakanta naman siya. First time niya mag recording. Ang challenge lang naman nito is pagna-release na. Kung maghi-hit ba siya sa Spotify, sa ITunes. Other than that, hindi naman kami nahirapan."
(There are also challenges, but they are not difficult because they are good. Even Francine. She said she couldn't sing, but she could sing. It's her first time recording. The only challenge is getting it released. If she's going to be a hit on Spotify, on iTunes. Other than that, we didn't have any problems.)
She explained that their first batch of artists under Inspire Music happened to be young.
"Noong una ako lang mag-isa. Then sabi ni Roxy Liquigan, pasukan natin ng dalawang bata. Si Imogen and Fabio. Nagkataon lang na young artists ang nauna naming kinuha. Pero meron din naman kaming veteran like Jed Madela. Depende sa song na napili ko, doon pa lamang ako maghahanap ng artists.
(At first, I was alone. Then Roxy Liquigan said, 'Let's bring in two kids.' Imogen and Fabio. It just happened that we hired young artists first. But we also have a veteran like Jed Madela. The choice of artist will depend on the type of song.)
"Pinipili din namin yung mga bata na maraming followers. Kailangan din naman kumita ng Star at Inspire because this is business.
(We also choose the kids who have a lot of followers. Star and Inspire need to earn money because this is business.)
"Tulad nga ng sinabi ko kanina, ang pinipili ko yung madaling katrabaho. Hindi yung papahirapan ka sa schedule, sa recording. Ayoko ng ganun," Jaimie said.
(As I said earlier, I chose the easy one to work with. Not the one who will make you suffer in the schedule, in the recording. I don't want that.)
Secrets to showbiz longevity
According to Jamie, having a good attitude is more important than talent in the entertainment industry. She said that's one of the secrets to showbiz longevity.
"Ang talent secondary lang yun eh. Sa totoo lang yung attitude ang number one. Importante sa akin yung attitude. Ang singing natututunan yan, naaayos sa recording, puwedeng ayusin yan eh. Pero yung pinahihirapan ka, yun ang mahirap. Sa edad kong ito, ayoko na ma-stress," she said.
(Talent is only secondary. Honestly, attitude is number one. Attitude is important to me. You can learn how to sing, which can be fixed in the recording. But if the artist will make you suffer, that isn't easy. At my age, I don't want to be stressed.)
Jamie also encouraged young artists to reinvent themselves to sustain their careers.
"Reinvent yourself all the time. After recording nag-uusap usap kami, sinasabi ko sa kanila na you have to be able to sustain your career. So you need to reinvent. For example ako, una pop music ako eh under Octoarts. I sang 'I've Fallen for You,' 'Mahal Naman Kita,' 'Hey, It's Me,' mga ganyan. After that nag-Miss Saigon ako. So napunta naman ako sa Broadway songs. Then inspirational naman. Eto na yung mga Heal Our Land. Now label head na ako. Lahat yun nagre-reinvent. Kailangan mong ma-sustain. Kailangan mong makisabay sa panahon."
(Reinvent yourself all the time. After recording, we talk, and I tell them that they have to be able to sustain their career. So you need to reinvent. For example, I did pop music first under Octoarts. I sang 'I've Fallen for You,' 'Mahal Naman Kita,' 'Hey, It's Me,' and things like that. After that, I did Miss Saigon. So I went to Broadway songs. Then it was inspirational. Now I'm the label head. Everything is reinventing. You have to be sustained. You have to keep up with the times.)
Jamie found it easy to shift from pop to inspirational music because she's a religious person. Many people hold the misconception that her concerts or shows are preachy. However, this is not the case.
"Hindi naman ako nahirapan kasi noong pop singer ako and naging Broadway singer ako, yung attitude ko naman maka-Diyos talaga ako from the start. So noong pinakanta ako ng mga inspirational songs, lahat ng mga yan hindi ako natakot kasi it's all about God yan eh. Right from the start, religious naman ako at maka-Diyos. It became my niche. Mas natuwa nga ako eh kasi ngayon may kakapitan na ako si Lord. Siya na yung niche ko. If God is with you, who can be against you?" she said.
(I didn't have a hard time because when I was a pop singer and I became a Broadway singer, my attitude was really for God from the start. So when I sang inspirational songs, all of them did not scare me because it's all about God. Right from the start, I was religious and godly. It became my niche. I was even happier because now I have the Lord to cling to. He is my niche. If God is with you, who can be against you?)
"When I do concerts, or shows, I incorporate everything. Mag-uumpisa muna ako ng Broadway, tapos pop songs tapos inspirational. Pero may mga fast songs kami. Baka magulat kayo kapag nagconcert ako, it's a happy concert. May dance rin ako. Akala nga nila preachy ang mga shows ko. Paglabas nila, hindi pala preachy. Tuwang-tuwa naman sila."
Writing songs
Jamie said she still finds time to compose songs despite the busy schedule. She's writing a new song for Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and aspires to collaborate with younger group artists.
"I find time to compose kahit na may trabaho ako sa office namin eh. CEO rin ako ng mga business namin. Nagagawa ko pa rin mag compose ng songs. On weekends, kapag patulog na ako, kapag nag slow down na ako, nagsusulat pa rin ako. Last night, I was trying to finish a song for Regine Velasquez. Depende sa mood ko eh. Kung meron akong naiisip, sinusulat ko agad.
(I find time to compose even though I have work in our office. I am also the CEO of our businesses. I still manage to compose songs. On weekends, when I go to sleep, when I slow down, I still write Me too. Last night, I was trying to finish a song for Regine Velasquez. It depends on my mood. If I think of something, I write it right away.)
"Gusto ko makatrabaho ang groups like BGYO and BINI because gusto ko ng group singing eh. Yun ang challenge sa akin ngayon, kung kaya ko gumawa ng songs for a group. Isa yan sa mga goals ko ngayon," she also said.
(I want to work with groups like BGYO and BINI because I want group singing. That's the challenge for me now if I can make songs for a group. That's one of my goals now.)
Asked about her Christmas wish, Jamie said: "Sana hindi ako magkasakit. Aalis kasi ako papunta ng US dahil ikakasal yung pamangkin ko. At pupuntahan ko rin yung anak ko. I'll come back in January. Hindi ko na pinauwi yung anak ko at ako na lang ang pupunta roon. My only child works in New York. And then minana ko sa husband ko yung kanyang mga trabaho. Nagretire na siya so ako ngayon ang nagpapatakbo ng business niya. We are into chemicals and real estate. We're into leasing also. So we have properties being leased by other companies."
(I hope I don't get sick. I'm leaving for the US because my niece is getting married. And I'm also going to visit my daughter. I'll come back in January. My daughter works in New York. And then I inherited the businesses from my husband. He has retired so now I run his businesses. We are into chemicals and real estate. We're into leasing also. So we have properties being leased by other companies.)
When it comes to music, Jamie is unstoppable. She is thrilled about the future prospects with Inspire Music. "More music from Inspire in 2024."
