A song given a fresh take in a revival recording should keep the intrinsic beauty of the piece and make it more empowering. That is easier said than done as new renditions often pale in comparison to the originals.
Yet, in the case of Jessamae Gabon's version of a classic OPM song called "Ngunit Dahil Sa'yo," one can argue she has nailed it better than Marizen Yaneza, the seasoned singer-songwriter behind it and whose talent is by itself laudable. While that may have to do with the digital recording technology that boosts sound and the details of a track, much can be attributed to Jessamae’s smooth vocal delivery and sincere effort to embrace timelessness. It's like a talented act, like The Beatles as a perfect example, given the privilege to record a fundamentally good song and interpreting it in a definitive way.
“Importante po sa akin kung paano ko i-interpret ang isang kanta especially if maganda po ang melody like this mid-tempo classic,” said Jessamae who currently works in the government’s agriculture sector as project developer.
To her, that means how she puts in her identity in a song she did not write. Her new single dropped in digital stores certainly has her thumbmark.
A songwriter in her own right, the multi-faceted singer, being a vocal coach and ghost singer to several compilation tracks, has long proven herself, beautifully interpreting spiritually uplifting songs in ASOP (A Song of Praise) songwriting festival and singing for cause-worthy albums.
This year, she already released “Ensayado” and “Ikaw Ang Tanging Alam” which she both wrote and recorded under the guidance of her US-based manager Rosabella Jao-Arribas. She has in a way conquered the Asian scene herself after she sung, co-wrote and co-produced songs for the popular Singaporean children’s show “Junction Tree.” Her love for kids is further showcased in her involvement in the puppet theatre group Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas which tours around Asia and even beyond.
Referring to her heartfelt ballad “Ikaw Ang Tanging Alam,” Jessa Mae shared, ”I was in an eco-park when I wrote it and was triggered by ‘How Do I Live’ by Trisha Yearwood. I tried to reinterpret that song’s vision in my own way.”
For “Ensayado,” she tackled the issue of overthinking which has baffled people with mental struggles. Then she surprisingly rendered it in pop tune delight.
The diligent worker has kept her focus to reach out to listeners. Last June she appeared in “Tawag Ng Tanghalan” aired on Jeepney TV and delivered a winning performance. She does pre-recorded radio and TV guest appearances, too. Just recently, she participated with other artists in an online concert themed “Pagpupugay sa mga Bagong Bayani.”
Speaking of heroism, she finds the Filipino resiliency commendable. “Lumabas po ang diskarte ng Filipino sa panahon ng pandemya. Not to romanticize it but seeing that our people are very resourceful makes me proud of my race. It’s reflective of the kind of strong character we have.”
