SINGERS are usually protective of their voice, but not Katrina Velarde.
She actually admitted to being “irresponsible” than most in the department.
“Sabi nila huwag daw uminom ng malamig o matamis, eh ako wala akong ganun.”
It’s not that she is deliberately trying to destroy her bread and butter.
She reasoned, “Napansin ko lang kasi, the more na maingat ako sa boses ko, mas nagiging maselan naman siya, nag-iinarte.”
“Halimbawa, hindi ako iinom ng malamig, puro warm lang, tapos bigla na lang out of the blue kakapitan ako ng ubo or mamalatin ako.”
It is a no-no for Katrina who is busier than ever with performances here and abroad.
“Siyempre, ayoko naman mabakante dahil sa simpleng ubo. Sayang ang raket!”
“Kaya ako, magugulat kayo, nagso-softdrinks ako, nagju-juice, tapos kakanta, magko-concert, kasi ‘yun ang nakasanayan ko bilang nagko-contest nga ako kung saan saan noon, biyahe, puyatan…
“Kailangan pagtibayin ko ang vocal cords ko, kailangan kumayod no matter what.”
Katrina come from humble beginnings.
She used to sell anything and everything just to get by.
It was her mother who discovered her knack for singing going on to prod her to join a multitude of contests.
“Hindi naman sa inisip namin agad na magaling akong kumanta pero kasi nananalo ako! Natutuwa kami na malaki ang premyo eh, ang laking bagay sa amin ‘yun, pangdagdag sa pang-araw-araw, kaya nagtuloy-tuloy na.”
She admitted, “Salamat sa talent na binigay sa akin ng Diyos, naging maayos na kahit paano ‘yung buhay namin.”
As to her being tagged the “Suklay Diva,” she laughed.
“Kasi dati nag-upload ako mga video sa YouTube na kumakanta gamit ang suklay as microphone. Eh, nagustuhan ng mga tao kaya ‘yun, binansagan nila ako na Miss Suklay Diva.”
Early this year, Katrina reintroduced herself to fans via “SiKat Ako,” a concert where she displayed her ample range performing a variety of songs.
Huge success that it was, Katrina is staging part two with Viva Live dubbed “SiKATi2!”
She explained, “’Yung una parang re-introduction kung sino ako, kung ano kaya kong gawin, this time naman parang level up. I will be challenging my abilities doing stuff na hindi pa nakikita ng mga tao. So, exciting at the same time medyo nakakakaba ito.”
“SiKATi2!” happens Nov. 29 at the New Frontier Theater. (NEIL RAMOS)