Rock roots, pop dreams

Most girls get weaned on a staple of sugar, spice and everything nice, but a few others follow the beat of a different drum.

For instance, imagine a lanky 12-year-old girl pounding away on a makeshift drum set – slugging it out with her motley crew of fellow rockers, driving their neighbors crazy with their ear-splitting renditions of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit or Teeth’s Laklak. Then clad in a tattered shirt and a rickety pair of Converse sneakers, she hardly looked the type who would eventually blossom into the pop princess that she is.

Looking back, Gail Blanco can’t help but be proud of her roots. "I was already gigging at 12!" she recalls. "Imagine, we were getting paid P10 for those rock and roll gigs."

A true-blue Cebuana, Gail follows in the footsteps of equally prodigious Cebuano talents who have carved their own names in the music industry: Pilita Corrales, Dulce, Manilyn Reynes, Vina Morales, former South Border frontman Luke Mijares and Anna Fegi.

"My first group, Gail was an all-female rock band where I played drums," she continues. "After that, I spent two years with SRO, one of the earliest retro bands in Cebu. I was discovered while I was still with SRO. A friend introduced me to Chito Ilagan of MCA Universal who eventually produced my debut album."

Gail went to Manila to sign up with MCA in 1999 but only settled in there in March 2000.

"It was Chito Ilagan who introduced me to my current manager, Ronnie Henares," she adds. "It’s funny because the first time we met was when I went to Manila at 16 or 17. I auditioned for him but he didn’t really take notice because he was busy with his other talents then. So, I left a demo tape and a photo.

"But come 2000, he went to Cebu, saw me again and remarked, ‘Hey! I remember you!’ That time, however, he didn’t leave Cebu until he got me signed up – which I did after a couple of days."

Thanks to her formative band years, Gail can hold her own while jamming with fellow Primeline artists Jed Madella and Alija Parcs and the Prime Council band. "All of us are basically soloists," she says, "but we work well together as a team."

But when Gail goes solo, she can muster enough versatility to swing from standards, R&B classics, ballads and belt out with the likes of Lani Misalucha or Regine Velasquez.

With the prodding of MCA Universal’s bigwigs, Gail’s debut album, Utos ng Puso was finally released last December. Two years in the making, the finished product boasts of four original OPM cuts and two remakes out of the other 11 English tracks. "I personally chose the remakes – Chaka Khan’s Through the Fire (my favorite song) and Noong Unang Panahon – originally done by Leah Navarro."

A stickler for detail, Gail didn’t mind the long wait as long as the production efforts met her standards. "It took a long time for me to choose the songs," she explains. "Some songs didn’t fit my voice or style."

"Utos ng Puso, the carrier single and Hindi Maglalaho were both composed by Freddie Saturno," Gail elaborates. "My family teased me when they heard both ballads. They were laughing because they said the two sounded like an Aegis song!"

If there’s anyone who should beam with pride for Gail’s success now, It’s her dad, who turned out to be a major influence despite his absence. "Actually, my dad left us when I was six," Gail narrates. A professional singer himself, he went to Malaysia, then never came back or called. He came back five years later, and he was then happy to see me with a band."

Despite the unexplained absence, Gail doesn’t harbor any ill feelings towards her dad. "Back then, when he was gone, I just thought that was a turning point for me, and that I had to take care of our family. That’s when I assumed the role of breadwinner."

Unfazed by her sudden ascent to fame, Gail confesses to still being starstruck – despite having performed with the likes of Lani Misalucha or other acclaimed musicians. "I had that rare privilege of fronting for Lani last November at a show in Bulacan, and she was just so great! I’ve also worked with Gerard Salonga. I can’t say that I don’t get jitters prior to a show. I’m challenged. That would be the more fitting feeling. But it always helps, as my manager told me, to be consistent with each performance, and to do each gig as if it were my last. That always helps."

Asked about her lovelife, the 21-year-old stunner admits having a boyfriend. "I met him when we were still both in Cebu. He’s a basketball pro – Dondon Hontiveros of the San Miguel Team."

Now on tour for her album promotions, Gail doesn’t envision any grandiose plans for herself. "I’m just happy to have released my first album," she ends. "That’s okay with me… whatever people’s reactions may be. I don’t try hard working towards those ‘diva’ titles."