How Jed Madela stays relevant without compromising his core

Jed Madela mounts his pre-birthday concert, “Welcome to My World,” tonight at 8 at the Music Museum. With the title as a preview, the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) singer is inspired and thrilled to share his story with everyone through songs.

Such an event also gives Jed the time to look back on his entertainment and recording career, from being a band vocalist and international singing champion to an established solo artist and celebrity-and-talent singing judge (of “Your Face Sounds Familiar” and “Tawag ng Tanghalan”).

“Well, I’m happy with how my career has grown so much ever since, you know, when I started. I was this quiet and timid singer na kakanta lang, nasa isang sulok lang (who would just go on stage to sing and stay on the side),” said Jed in an exclusive interview with The STAR. “Then, I started, you know, coming out of my shell, talking to audience and now, you know, having my own opinions, and having my own beliefs, which I share with the new artists now.”

Like all other success stories, his didn’t happen overnight. A few years back, Jed would also think of having a “slow movement” in his career.

“But come to think of it now, it’s OK, I’m happy that, you know, it took its own pace kasi minsan ‘pag masyadong mabilis, mabilis din na nawawala (sometimes when you get things fast, they also disappear fast). I’m happy, I’m content and I’m just grateful that, you know, after so many years, nandito pa rin ako (I’m still here),” shared he, who looks forward to exploring more in his recording career, such as new sounds.

Jed keeps his visibility by sitting as a judge in the “Tawag ng Tanghalan” segment of “It’s Showtime” twice or three times a week and performing as a regular artist in “ASAP” Sundays. He also does corporate events and concerts like “Welcome to My World,” which also kicks off his concert tour in the US.

Asked if he has reached the peak of his career, Jed answered, “You know what, there have been many instances that I’ve thought that, that I’ve reached my peak, but you know what, for me, it depends on you as an artist if you’re content with what you call that peak.”

“And every time I experience that feeling that ‘This could be my peak, na tama na.’ (The ideas of) I really love performing, I really love singing come to my mind. That’s why I innovate and try to stay relevant, whatever is the trend. I ride on what people think but also I’m staying true to my core,” added he.

“Kumbaga you give people something new para tuloy, tuloy ka pa din. I think it depends on the artist to decide if he or she has reached a career peak. So far, ako, ang dami ko pang gustong gawin (there are lots of things I still want to do).”

In the life of any artist like Jed, it’s somehow inevitable for one to be compared to younger singers in terms of voice and performance. Jed considered it “flattering,” because for him, it  meant that “I’ve become a standard of comparison.”

“For example, ‘pag sinabi mong biriterong na lalaki, unang-unang pumapasok yung pangalan ko (when people talk about male singers who sing big songs, they think of my name). So, ‘pag may mga baguhang artists na lalaki na bumibirit, automatic na i-co-connect nila sa akin,” said he.

Jed is also aware that sometimes fans have the tendency to pit the artists against each other and it’s also part of show business.

For him, instead of seeing artists in a showdown, they should embark on a collaboration.

“I actually believe in collaboration because it’s where I’ve proven that when you collaborate with a certain artist, you get to discover things na hindi mo naiisip na kaya mong gawin. (You collaborate) not just with singers, but also with composers and arrangers. I get to collaborate with them and I discover a lot of things. I think that’s what you call growth in the industry,” shared he.

Aside from his TV work and live performances, Jed will continue to sing new tunes.

“Yes, I am recording songs now and I’m very excited because I’m trying to explore a new sound,” said he during the chat. “Like what I’ve mentioned earlier, you have to go with the times na kung ano yung uso na sound now you can jump in and try out without compromising your core, your original core, your essence as a performer, as a singer,” said he, who will also release new materials tonight. “You experiment, you try things out. If it works, then good, and if not, try again.”

“You know what I’ve noticed now as a trend, it’s the in-your-face storytelling,” shared the singer. “Na hindi na siya very poetic sometimes… what you see is what you get, what you hear is what you get and pure storytelling.”

Tonight, Jed welcomes family, friends, fans and the music-loving Pinoys to his concert and performs a well-crafted repertoire to show his gratitude and love to them.

(For ticket inquiries and details, log on to Ticketworld.)