For new singer Tera, her dreams are slowly unraveling

MANILA, Philippines — Not every talented young performer is given a chance to shine on her own and prove her talent to the world.

Twenty-year-old singer-songwriter Tera got her enviable spotlight recently as she launched her debut single, Higher Dosage, a song she wrote back in 2019. Her self-composed alternative pop single talks about darker themes and how people deal with their problems.

“I feel very humbled, grateful and honored that I was given this chance, this opportunity that not a lot of people will have,” Tera humbly acknowledged. “I do hope my fellow talents who are also dreaming, please do not give up until you reach your dreams.”

For Tera, her dreams are slowly unraveling. With the launch of her single, she is obviously out there in the local entertainment front.

“You will make it someday,” Tera said. “By working hard and never giving up, you will make it. Do not give up on your dreams and what you promised yourself. At a very young age, if you want to be a singer, a painter, an artist, a dancer. Whatever it is, keep doing it. God will give it to you eventually.”

Higher Dosage, Tera emphasized, is about the problems you are facing that get more serious by the day. “I want everyone to know that you are not alone and someone is out there to be with you, listen to you whatever you’re going through and understand you.

“It’s not fully about that experience. It’s my understanding of what that person is experiencing. It’s about escaping the bondages of life. I want to inspire everyone to be a better person through honesty. A reminder to empathize and always stay humble.”

Tera wrote short stories and that started her music compositions. “That was how I started,” she said. “I started doing poetry because I think that was how other artists also write their songs. I really love to perform and I didn’t want to stop. I started writing songs.

“There are already a lot of songs about love, finding it and losing it. What I offer to my audience is a real and, some would say, deeper take on emotions, life events and humanity.”

During her launch, Tera also performed her two other singles — Façade and Sa Dilim. Actor-singer JM de Guzman was the special guest who also shared the stage with Tera.

Her real name is Margaret, but her nickname was derived from terra, the Latin word for earth. Tera is the newest addition to Tyrone Escalante Artist Management that also handles the careers of talents like Jane de Leon, Kelvin Miranda, Vance Larena and Calista.

“Tera is very special to me since she is the daughter of Merlion Events Production,” disclosed Tyrone. “That’s why we put up a label, Merlion Records, under Merlion Events Production. Merlion Records is headed by Marcus Davis.

“Tera’s original songs are very inspiring. I know she can give more in the future. She really writes well and her potential as a singer is very evident.”

Tera did not hesitate to share that her parents separated when she was only 12. She and her siblings had to cope with that struggle that they experienced.

“That was a very sharp turn for me,” she admitted. “That was the hardest for me. It’s not as heavy as it is now.”

Although Tera has launched her music career, her studies are not taking a backseat to her ambition. She is on her way to take up music business management at MINT (Meridian International Business Arts and Technology) College.

Tera does not hide the fact that she idolizes Lea Salonga and can belt out On My Own when others talk about the iconic performer. Another inspiration for Tera is Sarah Geronimo and the former easily remembers Sarah’s hit, Tala, when others talk about the latter.

Beyoncé is also on Tera’s list of singers and she easily remembers the pop hit, I Was Here. Pop superstar Michael Jackson tops Tera’s list of music icons and Tera easily sings Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.

“I grew up watching the concert videos of Beyoncé and Michael Jackson,” Tera shared. “They are both great performers. Their performances and their music shaped me as an artist. Even as a child, I would perform in front of other people.

“I never got tired of sharing my craft. Ultimately, I hope that people will relate to my songs. This is a dream-come-true for me.”