Ciara reinvents herself

In a year marked by nostalgia – from fashion to movies to music – Ciara Sotto is not one to be left behind. Who else can go back to the ‘70s than the daughter of former senator Tito Sotto and Helen Gamboa, who made their mark during the decade of the first quarter storm?

As a recording artist clad in stretchable mini-skirt, clogs and colorful bangles, Helen sang Lover’s Concerto. Now, it’s her daughter’s turn to sing the same tune, this time for Sony BMG.

Lover’s Concerto is one of the cuts in Ciara’s 12-track nostalgia album called The Way of Love. And it comes as no surprise that she’s dedicating it to Helen, who made it a point to listen to the songs Ciara recorded for the day to pass judgment on them.

"If she didn’t like it, my mom asked me to repeat the recording the very next day," relates Ciara.

But she doesn’t mind. Ciara knows it’s for her own good and mother knows best.

Her dad, on the other hand, was just as hands-on. After all, he produced it together with Ben Escasa. Tito recommended songs for the track list and even let Lewis Capland, the producer of Marvin Gaye, listen to it. Capland was quick to lay a verdict on Ciara’s new album. He believes in Ciara’s work so much, Capland promised he will offer it to a recording label in the US.

While having parents with a keen ear for music has its advantages, Ciara admits she must also pay a price. She must deal with the pressure of being a Sotto.

"People expect a lot from me because of my family," admits Ciara.

But this is not enough to daunt her. All she does is keep her mission in mind: to bring classical music to people as young as she is. At 25, Ciara thinks she’s in the best position to share the beauty of the standards to the youth. Never mind if she herself thinks doing so is a big gamble.

It means a complete change of image, a turnaround on how fans – used to seeing Ciara render pop songs – perceive her to be.

But no matter. Ciara knows years of high visibility in the movies, TV and the recording industry gives her the right and the privilege to experiment with styles and give in to her heart’s desire as a singer.

Album sales is secondary to her. What matters most to Ciara is that people enjoy and appreciate her music.

Just to make sure she doesn’t come out a poor carbon copy of cover singers, Ciara listened to the original versions of such songs as Ebb Tide, Climb Every Mountain, Moonriver, All The Things You Are and others her father used to play on the family turntable.

This album of standards with a classical touch will also win the nod of Ciara’s professors at the UST Conservatory of Music, where she’s studying voice. Ciara’s interpretation blends the classics and the pop, and conservatory training is a good preparation as any for this kind of album.

It’s also a fitting vehicle for someone who comes from a highly-respected showbiz clan. Ciara can always indulge her love for dance music, of course. But never in heaven’s name will she, or her family for that matter, allow her to grind and bump suggestively the way JLo does.

"I don’t want to be identified with that kind of stuff," concedes Ciara.

She has, in other words, an image to protect. And she’s happy with her image right now.

It’s the kind that allows her to sing May Mararating, her favorite track in her new album.

"The song reminds me that no one is ever alone. God is always with you. I’ll graciously accept everything that comes because He is always in command," says Ciara.

This is also why she has never been one to go wherever the wind blows. Trends don’t rattle and pressure her into doing things everyone else does. She knows Someone is in control, no matter what. And that, to Ciara, is more than enough.