Having top-charting hits, best-selling albums, sold-out concerts, and innumerable nominations and awards under her belt, there is indeed no doubt that Moira Dela Torre is the most popular musician in the country at present.
And it’s also not a secret that she didn’t achieve all of her successes overnight as she went through a lot of struggles and setbacks before arriving to where she is. In her recent virtual conversation with the King of Talk Boy Abunda in the latest episode of FYE Channel’s The Best Talk, the singer-songwriter imparted that she started writing songs as a means of expression or outlet during those times that she was battling depression, yet wasn’t aware of it.
Then she recalled her Tito Erickson Raymundo, the head of her talent agency Cornerstone Entertainment, asking her if she writes her own songs and suggested that she should try singing her own compositions.
“It sounded at first scary because it wasn’t big, I couldn’t belt. And then there were like every time we were in a show, I would always be the most boring performer because I couldn’t belt. But later on, I just started embracing my own sound because I couldn’t reach the high notes. I just made my own high notes,” Moira shared.
She continued, “I made my own music and it was scary. I didn’t think this is gonna happen to me. But something beautiful always happens when you embrace who you really are. And I feel like people get to resonate with my songs because they really come from an actual place that I’ve been in. All my songs were always written to express, never really to impress. And I feel like it also applies to how I felt.”
The 27-year-old award-winning songstress also confessed that she actually used to become angsty when her fellow artists in their agency are already making it big except her, so she considered reinventing herself. But her former handler Ate Caress, advised her that it’s still better to embrace her authenticity.
“Moi, express yourself. Never impress. Because the moment you impress you create to impress people, you will lose yourself. But the moment you just express who you are what your passion is, then you will be a magnet. It’s not the other way around,” the OPM hitmaker related her Ate Caress’ advice to her.
Tito Boy seconded that by saying how important it is for every artist to go back to their core and to embrace their story and their truth if they really want to be successful and last long in the industry.
“No matter how unpalatable your story sometimes is, sabi nga ni Meryl Streep di ba, ‘Take your broken heart and make it into art,’” he stated, which ensued to chuckles between them. “Because when you write your music, when we listen to you, alam naming galing dito [sa puso] e. Kuwento e. And because it comes from here, it doesn’t only resonate but it becomes the expression of many hearts kasi may commonalities tayo e. Ang galing.”
This segment wrapped up with the host asking Moira if everybody could sing and if he still has hope to improve his singing voice. She jestingly responded by nodding her head and uttered “Oo naman, Tito Boy,” which made both of them erupt to laughter.
Have a glimpse of Boy Abunda’s illuminating conversation with his special guests in The Best Talk, streaming live on the FYE Channel on Kumu with simulcast on Cinema One’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Download the Kumu app and follow FYE Channel (@fyechannel) to watch other FYE Channel programs via livestream.