Nikki Gil arrived in the scene back in 2005 with her debut album which led her to a single “Sakayan ng Jeep” and recorded two hit songs for Disney’s High School Musical. These highlights of stardom made Nikki star and a true force to be reckoned with in the music industry and made the follow-up album, “Hear My Heart.” Nikki has staying power and the new album proves it.
“Hear My Heart” also the album’s first single was co-written by Nikki herself and her little sister Danela Gil. As Nikki shares, “It’s a song about unrequited love- an emotion that I’m sure all of us have experienced at some point in our lives. It about desires to bring your friendship to the next level but the love of your life does not seem to get it. It’s that awkward, uneasy feeling of wanting to be loved back, but you’re not getting a vibe of encouragement, so you just run away from that person’s smile and touch—the very reasons why you fell for that person in the first place.”
On this sophomore effort, Nikki has brought in a unique and shockingly mature dose of talent to the music industry. Where she has started writing her songs and her record label, EMI Phils gave Nikki a chance to prove more of her craft as a singer. She has matured her style with a superb collection of lush and dreamy soul-tinged, R’n’B influenced tracks that highlight and complement her remarkable vocals, accompanied with covers which Nikki assures made her enjoy the album even more as she adds, “They are like precious gems awakened from their calm slumber. I didn’t realize that my dad’s era enjoyed such wonderful melodies which, when enhanced by contemporary arrangement, surprisingly turns out to be something even my generation can take pleasure in.”
Everything about the album is incredibly mature and real. Even the song titles are beautiful, starting off with the album’s first single and a piano-driven love ballad “Hear My Heart.” Meanwhile, another original composition which is included in the album is a mid-tempo R&B-ish song “Friday.” Nikki admits that this song is one of her most favorites and she calls it a “family affair” song because it’s also composed by her sister (Danela) and arranged by Nikki’s uncle (Dan Gil of Chillitees).
Also, one of the best cuts include Platinum record High School Musical 2 OST’s “Gotta Go My Own Way,” where Nikki recorded own version of the song. Nikki also recorded High School Musical’s “Breaking Free” which also became an anthem to HSM fanatics.
Other tracks were done before, but still sound fresh by Nikki. Cover songs include the reminiscent of OPM “Million Miles” (Joey Albert); “When Did You Fall IN Love With Me” (Chris Rice); “I Just Want To Be Your Everything” (Andy Gibb); “If You’re Not The One” (Daniel Bedingfield); “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight’ (James Taylor); “So Much In Love” (Sheena Easton)”; “Let Me Be The One” (The Carpenters); “Buses And Trains” (Bachelor Girl); “On My Knees” (Jackie Velasquez).
Nikki Gil recently finished a project with Disney in Hong Kong where she recorded and shot a music video for the pop version of “It’s A Small World After All.” Nikki did the song with three other Asian pop stars from Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. She rendered a Tagalog version of “It’s a Small World…” and performed it live during the launch of Hong Kong Disneyland’s new theme park. Nikki proudly shares, “It gave me that certain sense of fulfillment as I stood there to bring out the Filipino in me. To hear my own language in an international venue is truly beautiful music to my ears.”
On the other note, Nikki continues to be one of ABS-CBN’s most promising stars where she is a regular co-host of ASAP, a MYX veejay and finishing a teleserye for ABS CBN’s Susan Roces Classics entitled “FLORINDA”. World Vision has also made Nikki an Ambassador of Goodwill for the Youth, and lastly, she’s finishing her last year in college at Ateneo de Manila University.
Nikki Gil’s latest album HEAR MYHEART is released by EMI Phils and brought to you by Discovery Suites.