However, it was her powerful rendition of Buko Pie which caught the attention of composer-producer Vehnee Saturno. Vehnee gets constantly invited to participate in foreign song competitions and is always on the lookout for newcomers who sound like potential winners. Aryana sounded like one and he lost no time getting her to record two of his originals and sending her demos to the Shanghai Asia Music Festival. By late October last year, Aryana was named an entry to the singing contest with the songs Reviving the Feeling and Time Will Come.
Shanghai attracts plenty of talented singers and songwriters from all over Asia and Eastern Europe. Competition is always tough and Aryana had to face up against several good performances. Besides, there was also the pressure of knowing that Rachelle Ann Go, the Philippines entry the previous year, not only won the Silver Prize but also gave Vehnee the Best Song Award for From The Start. Aryana did not disappoint. She also won the Silver Prize and Reviving the Feeling, which Vehnee co-wrote with Popsie Saturno, was named Best Song.
Unfortunately, Aryanas new album does not include these two songs. Hopefully, these will make it to another album in the future. But the dusky beauty has other songs that were not heard in Shanghai but might make the grade with local listeners. Included in Aryana by Aryana are Flying, Ulan, Love Me Tonight, Muli, a duet with Brenan Espartinez, Babalik, Suddenly Its Magic, Where Do You Run, Araw Gabi, Honestly, Everybody Needs a Little Love and an acoustic mix of the first single release, Ulan, a wistful ballad composed by Jimmy Antiporda.
As for Rachelle Ann, she conquered Shanghai two years ago with the big hit, From the Start, from her first album. This was recorded after she won the Search for a Star talent contest. Rachelle Ann is now getting ready for the release of her third album. This was produced by Christian de Walden of Hollywood and mixed and mastered by Luca Vittori in Milan. The two were the same team behind Sarahs phenomenal-selling Becoming which contains the hit singles I Still Believe in Loving You and Carry My Love. This new CD marks Rachelle Anns bid to enter the international market.