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| Jennylyn Mercado (second from left) with PolyEast Records execs and her talent manager at the contract signing |
MANILA, Philippines – Jennylyn Mercado has signed up with PolyEast Records which she hopes would help in her bid to reinvent herself as singer.
In an exclusive interview with Bulletin Entertainment, Mercado admitted that while other singers, especially the younger ones, have gone on to explore different musical styles, she remains within the confines of ballads and pop genres.
“Hindi ko alam kung kaya kong makipagsabayan pero I want to challenge myself this time around by experimenting a bit with my sound,” she said.
Mercado signed up with PolyEast Records because she likes it that the roster has such progressive artists as Zia Quizon, Kyla, and Bamboo. She believes the label is capable of helping her march towards a new direction, one that “babagay sa akin kahit na medyo bago ang tunog.”
Asked if she feels that her acting and hosting careers have somewhat eclipsed her singing, Mercado hopes not, saying that among the three, she’d choose her music anytime and hands down.
“Galing po kasi ako sa family of musicians at sa singing naman talaga ako nagsimula. Para sa akin at pamilya ko, para bang mortal sin kung hindi ka din lang sa music mapupunta. Malaking part po ng buhay ko ang music.”
Mercado, in fact, has at least 8,000 songs in his iPod. Just before the interview, she was “researching” for new songs at the PolyEast Records office.
The singer signed her recording contract with PolyEast Records on Feb. 15. The contract signing was presided and attended by the label’s general manager Jesmon Chua, A&R/producer Chito Ilagan, EVP Ramon Chuaying together with Mercado’s talent manager, Katrina Aguila.
Jennylyn Mercado attained a level of popularity when she was hailed winner of the first season of “StarStruck,” a reality-based talent search show of GMA-7. She released albums under GMA Records and Viva Records all of which yielded the hits “Sa Aking Panaginip,” “Moments Of Love” in duet with Janno Gibbs, “Maybe This Time,” and “Kahit Sandali.”
As performing artist, Mercado held a major concert at the Music Museum in 2006, and a birthday concert at the same venue two years ago.