MANILA, Philippines — She could have easily joined show business by banking on the strength of her mother’s name, popularity and strong influence. Yet, even with her distinguished lineage, Frankie Pangilinan or fondly called “Kakie,” opted to bide her time and did not instantly embark on a showbiz career.
She acknowledged that acting is a great avenue. However, Kakie is not certain if she is cut out to become an actress, like her mom, Sharon Cuneta. “I think acting, like any art form, should be reserved for the people who are able to adequately convey roles,” Kakie humbly maintains.
Early on, Kakie tried stringing words and melodies together to create beautiful songs. It comes as no surprise that she really wants to record songs that she herself has written.
“I’ve written songs that cater to a separate sound that perhaps Filipinos haven’t heard before,” she insists “My voice is deeper than most women (to say the least), which I had to grow up and realize isn’t a characteristic that’s often associated with success or greatness to Filipino ears.
“I want to change that. There’s a thing about birit and high notes that — while completely valid as a tier of talent I can only hope to reach — is a standard I wish to break through. There are thousands of kinds of voices. It’s time to hear them all.”
Kakie recently launched her debut single, tyl (true young lovers), a song she wrote and produced by Ely Buendia. Only a week after its release, tyl impressively entered the iTunes chart simultaneously in the Philippines, Canada and Australia.
Two versions of tyl are now out in all digital platforms — the original, mid-tempo version and an acoustic version which was originally a “rehearsal” take, but Ely recorded it somehow slow but heartfelt rendition, so it was also released.
Kakie’s debut single, tyl, was released by Curve Entertainment. “I was given the wonderful opportunity to finally work with a team of people who were kind enough to give me primary creative control,” Kakie offers. “Tito Ciso (Chan) and everyone at Curve are exceptionally good and kind and brilliant at what they do.
Aside from her mom, Kakie counts “a million” other influences when it comes to her music. She grants, “I liked a lot of jazz standards growing up — Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole (and his daughter Natalie), Billie Holiday.
“To this day, they’re my standards, too,” Kakie allows. “Then there were the influences of my parents’ tastes — The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Andrew Gold, James Taylor, Barbra Streisand, many others. I can’t even begin to list them all.”
There was a time, Kakie even had her “rock phase,” that she still remembers fondly. “My Chemical Romance made these beautifully executed conceptual albums that still don’t get enough credit for their core artistic value,” she rues.
“There‘s Green Day, 5 Seconds of Summer (who I supported since their YouTube days), The Eraserheads (I memorize every song), McFly and more recently, I love Clairo, IV of Spades, Phum Viphurit, Daniel Caesar, Tyler the Creator, Kendrick Lamar, John Mayer, Curtismith. Oh My God!”