In love with OPM songs

MANILA, Philippines - Marie Digby has released an album specifically done for her ever-increasing Filipino followers. The CD titled Your Love, also the title of the carrier single and her original composition, is a project venture of her co-managers in the Philippines, A-List Artist and Cornerstone Talents.

One of the songs in the album is her version of the OPM classic I Think I’m In Love. There could have been another one, With A Smile (Eraserheads original), which she liked so much. However, the song was deemed “too common as a revival piece” by bosses of her label MCA Music, Inc.

“I think I could have given a new spin to that song,” she said, referring to the Ely Buendia-penned ’90s classic from Eraserheads’ super hit Circus album.

The lady singer with over 100 million views on YouTube not only covered a Pinoy song on her latest package, but collaborated with a couple of Filipino heartthrobs as well. She has a version of Your Love with Sam Milby, the only Pinoy celebrity she dated, and sings a duet with Jericho Rosales.   

When asked about her technique in interpreting an already popular song, Digby revealed she’s not the type who will listen deep into the original recording of a hit. She noted, “I prefer listening just once or twice to a song and leave it at that. My idea is, I don’t want to mimic the old version which can happen if you get used to hearing it.”

She added, “Interpreting a song is really translating your feelings by way of the music. One need not be perfect in technical sense, but rather it should sound really natural.”

Digby gained initial fame in 2007 when her YouTube version of Rihanna’s Umbrella went viral. The uploaded video has now generated close to 20 million views.

In 2009, her first album Unfold was released, with some of its tracks earning placements in notable shows like ER, One Tree Hill and Smallville. It spawned her hit single Say It Again.

Her follow-up album Breathing Water solidified her artist image as her fanbase in the Philippines and around Asia grew. She became the cover girl of a Singaporean publication called Cleo.

On the popularity she’s enjoying, especially among Filipino music lovers, she expressed, “I’m just as curious as to why I became a hit on YouTube. I guess good timing was involved in that. I never thought of myself as being able to penetrate YouTube the way it happened for me.”    

The stunningly pretty Digby has worked with a couple of local producers, Jonathan Manalo and Jimmy Antiporda, whom she both found absolutely fine at what they do. “They’re amazing and unbelievable. They’re at par with those in the US and considering how competent they are, they managed to stay humble,” she recalled.

Last year, Digby participated in the Lilith Fair Tour, joining the likes of Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan and Mary J. Blige. She also hosted Miss Earth 2010 held in Vietnam.

Her newest album will also be released in other Asian countries.