Ladine gets big break with Candid

Candid is a well-established independent jazz label based in the UK. The album titled How Can I Make You Love Me was recorded in Australia and mixed in London. The producers are Carl Dimataga of Australia and Stefano Musitano of Sweden. The songwriters are also an eclectic mix – Australian, Swedish, American and Filipino. And performing the songs is Ladine Roxas from the Philippines.

This international combination came about when Candid, home of Alex Wilson, Stacey Kent, Hugo Montenegro and other talents decided to set up shop in the Philippines. Along with the release of its products in the local market, Candid also ventured into the production of new albums. The great thing about this plan is that these albums, which will be recorded and released in other countries, will showcase Filipino talents. The first among them is Ladine’s recording for Candid’s subsidiary label Zone 7 Records.

Ladine is one of those pretty and talented performers whose career, for some strange reason, has difficulty getting off the ground in the Philippines. She gets a stint in Beijing and she enjoys tremendous success. She comes home to a lukewarm reception. She goes off to compete at the Voice of Asia competition in Almaty, Kazakhstan and comes home the winner of the Grand Prize over 17 other contestants from various parts of the world. It was inevitable that Pinoys would finally take notice of the poised and perky Ladine after that feat, but it was too late. She was already off to London.

This break is one every artist dreams about and it is great that Candid set its sights on introducing Ladine to the rest of the world. If the way she conquered Beijing and Kazakhstan are any indication, then we could be looking at the first Filipino R&B star on a UK label. Ladine launched How Can I Make You Love Me at the Equinox in Leicester Square in London last June. This was followed by another launch in Manila. By the time this comes out, Ladine will probably be on a promo tour of Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Korea. After that, it will be back to prepare for the release of a new single.

The first single is actually made up of two songs, the title track, How Can I Make You Love Me and the Tagalog tune composed by Vehnee Saturno Di Maisip. Other songs in the album include Ladine’s revival of the Charlene Duncan hit from the ‘70s I’ve Never Been To Me. There is also her winning song in the Voice of Asia contest, Where There is Love, which was also written by Saturno, a few songs she co-wrote with Saturno, Second Chance, Moved by You, I Don’t Care, I Don’t Mind and For Each Other, and other originals from producers Dimataga and Musitano and composers Saturno and Miguel Ayesa.

Remember the ’70s?

Reviving the glorious days of ’70s music has become the fad of the moment and no less than actors turned directors Edgar Mortiz and Al Tantay are getting into this nostalgic swing of things. The former members of the singing comedy group Goin’ Bananas are all set to take another look at the era of the disco and the Manila Sound with the party presentation Let’s Do It the ’70s Way.

So all of you out there who want to get into the ’70s groove, make sure you check out Let’s Do It the 70s Way. The fun happening will be held tomorrow evening, Saturday, Nov. 30 at the Le Pavillion on Roxas Boulevard. Produced by Edgar and Al, the event is hosted by one of the popular entertainers of the ’70s period, Ariel Ureta. They promise that it will be an evening of nonstop dancing to the music of the ’70s as performed live by the Ugoy-Ugoy, the Q&A, Labuyo and the Spirit of ’67 bands.

Special prizes are in store for party-goers who will bring original ’70s mementos. So bring out your Faded Glory jackets, Bang Bang jeans, Nik-nik shirts, double-knit bell-bottoms and mood rings.

For tickets to Let’s Do It the ‘70s Way, check out Ticketworld at tel. Nos. 891-5610 or Olive Salamante at 0918-930-1945.