Kevyn Lettau: Once more – and more! – with feeling

Of course, Filipinos love Kevyn Lettau. Proof? In the last 14 years, she has been here – a dozen times? –Pinoy music-lovers can’t seem to have enough of her. They clamor for more, more, more!

So Kevyn is back to do another concert called Memories of Love on Saturday, May 14, at the Araneta Coliseum with fellow jazz artists Joe Pizzulo and Lou Pardini, presented by Mossimo, Discovery Suites, Philippine Airlines, Discovery Country Suites-Tagaytay and 105.1 Crossover. (Tickets are available at the SM TicketNet and the Araneta Coliseum box office. Or call 911-5555.)

Kevyn’s latest trip to the Philippines is part of her never-ending journey, her career having been described as "always been about movement and a refusal to accept boundaries, confinement or stereotypes."

A bit of backgrounder: At 14, Kevyn left her native Germany for America where she finished high school while supporting herself by cleaning houses and studying dance on the side. At 17, she was bitten by the proverbial singing bug. She has been hooked since then. She started working with Peter Sprague singing jazz, R&B and Brazilian music on the streets of Del Mar, California.

And then, she sang with local San Diego groups until she was discovered by the famous Brazilian legend Sergio Mendes with whom she toured and recorded for eight years while developing her own very personal vocal style. The rest, as the cliche goes, is history.

Yesterday, Funfare did a one-on-one with Kevyn who flew in from Los Angeles three days ago. Excerpts:

It’s so hot in the Philippines, isn’t it?

"Oh, I love it!"

You flew in from L.A. From cool to hot. How did you find the change of weather?

"From very dry to very humid. You know, the change of weather is pretty rough on the body. I don’t mind the humidity. What is really hard on my body is the condition between the hot/humid and the freezing air-conditioning."

So how are you coping with the oppressive heat?

"I drink a lot of water. You know (Laughing), I’m a little bit of a prima donna. I’m always asking them to please tone down the air-conditioning a bit."

I’m asking you about the change of weather because I’m wondering if it affects your voice.

"Well, humidity is, in fact, nice for the voice. But too much of the air-conditioning is not. Think of your voice as like the violin. If the violin is in very, very dry weather, the wood gets brittle. If the temperature changes very quickly, the strings go out of tune."

Oh, I didn’t know that! So, it’s harsh on the vocal chords.

"Yeah. It’s hard because when your body is cold, it shrinks, you know. When the vocal chords are cold, they shrink and they get very tight."

You’re having a concert on Saturday night. How do you usually prepare for a concert in such a big venue? Do you stop talking 24 hours prior to the concert to give your vocal chords a rest?

"No. The day we arrived, I had a TV guesting and then I did interviews the whole day. They are making me work very hard and that’s great because we really want this concert to be a big success. After the interviews and the rehearsals, I came back to the hotel and tried to be quiet. Good thing I’m not a partying animal."

Other singers avoid eating certain food before a concert. Do you do that?

"No, I don’t."

What about drinking iced water? Does it adversely affect your voice?

"You know, it’s not the greatest thing in the world to drink iced water before a concert. I don’t really do it."

Do you smoke?

"Oh, no. I don’t."

What about soda?

"Not too much. Maybe once in a while a Diet Coke or something. I don’t drink alcohol really."

Is it part of the way you protect your voice?

"Yeah. I also just don’t like the feeling that alcohol gives me. Alcohol is not good for your vocal chords because it dries them out."

This is your eighth time to be in the country...

"...I think it’s my ninth. The first year I came was in 1991 and I’ve been coming and going since then."

You must love the Philippines so much to be coming and going so often.

"Yeah, I do. In the US and some other places, there’s not much appreciation for music. Your country is very loyal. I feel that you guys really like good music. You are very sentimental people – which I love – and I feel very blessed to be able to come here often and to sing and see people enjoying my music."

What are your fond memories of the Philippines from all your travels here?

"Two years ago, my husband and I went to Boracay, which was wonderful, and we’re going there again next week. We’re staying there for a week to film a commercial (for Sun Life Insurance) and to do an acoustic concert there."

May I know the name of your husband?

"Michael Shapiro."

Is he also into music?

"My husband is a drummer and a producer. He produced all of my records and he’s the musical director of our band. In addition to being my husband, he’s an important part of my music. We’re very lucky we get to travel together and work together."

Are any of your children inclined toward music? How many children do you have?

"I have no human children but I have several furry children – three cats and one dog."

They say that people who love animals are good-natured.

"Oh, I love my children."

Do you bring your children along when you travel?

"No, we don’t. But I wish we could. You know, I often have dreams of them being with me."

Who takes care of them when you’re away?

"I have a close friend who tends to our house and our children."

By the way, could you tell me about your latest album, Bye, Bye, Blackbird?

"It’s coming out here today, I think. It’s a collection of American standards but they were all recorded with the Brazilian feel. We’re very excited about the album. There are 11 songs in the album (all remakes), including Cole Porter’s I’ve Got You Under My Skin, I Concentrate On You, It’s The Lovely, Let’s Fall In Love, Sophisticated Lady, I Fall In Love Too Easily and Being Green (from Sesame Street). It’s my 10th album since 1991."

What’s your favorite among your songs?

"Oh, that’s a hard, hard question."

Right. That’s what almost all singers say when they are asked that question.

"Yeah, it’s a hard question for several reasons. You see, every album becomes like a friend or like a child of yours; while you’re doing it, you’re creating it and giving birth to it; you’re conceiving it. Once you’ve given birth to it and it’s finished, you develop a lasting bond to it. I’m also a songwriter and I love a lot of songs that I’ve written even if I’m not the greatest songwriter in the world."

You’re so humble.

"Well, it’s the truth. I mean, you know, what songs that are being written now can hold a candle to I’ve Got You Under My Skin or any of the songs by Gershwin? You know what I mean? I become fond of every record that I do."

What song by another composer do you like – you know, what you could consider the song of your life?

(Thinks hard) "Another hard question. Could you give me a second? Oh, yes, of course, I love When You Wish Upon a Star. Wonderful song, isn’t it? It’s kind of a lullaby. It makes you think about love and children, and of hope, and the bright side of life. It’s a song about being optimistic and being positive."

So what can we expect at your concert on Saturday?

"Well, the concert is actually myself and Joe Pizzulo and Lou Pardini. They’re both wonderful singers. It’s their first time to perform here and Filipinos will love them, I’m sure. I’m very honored to help launch them here in the Philippines. I’m doing my songs which are popular here...I’m doing duets with each of the the guys and we’re doing some numbers together. There are more surprises, so please be there. See you there!"

* * *

E-mail reactions at [email protected]