What Shanne Dandan learned from Lea Salonga in ‘The Voice Kids’ season 1

October 20 ------ Former “The Voice Kids” contestant Shanne Dandan shared that “singing with your heart” is the memorable lesson she learned from Broadway star Lea Salonga, which becomes essential now that she has ventured into professional singing by releasing her debut album “Kung Iyong Mamarapatin.” 

During a recent media roundtable interview and listening session for her album, Dandan shared that joining “The Voice Kids season 1” was a significant experience in her journey as an artist. “Yung natutunan ko siguro with Coach Lea is singing with your heart. Syempre si Ms. Lea grabe rin siya kumanta. Mafi-feel mo talaga ‘yung soul niya. I think ‘yon ‘yung pinakamemorable lesson ko from The Voice Kids. Nadala ko rin ‘yon with my own songs, na dapat lagay mo ‘yung puso mo sa bawat kanta na kakantahin o susulatin mo,” she said. 

The indie-folk singer was only 12 years old when she joined the singing competition, and in her blind auditions she sang Up Dharma Down’s “Tadhana” and earned a nod from coach Bamboo Mañalac and Salonga. She ended up choosing the latter as her coach. She was in the same batch as grand winner Lyca Gairanod and runner-up Darren Espanto. After her stint in “The Voice Kids,” Dandan joined TV5’s “Born to Be a Star,” and despite acknowledging her experience in singing competitions, the now 24-year-old singer underscored that she has today more “creative freedom” in her artistry than before. “Before po kasi I used to follow lang po ‘yung mga tinuturo sakin. As a young person, ‘yung rules talaga kailangan mo siya [sundin]. ‘Yung mga technique, ‘yung singing ko rin non is very restricted rin, like dapat technique na ganito, ganiyan. So parang ngayon, I’m super free na to sing whatever I want to,” stated the singer. 

Dandan also weighed in on the local stereotype that you have to be able to belt out songs in order to be considered good. “Compared po before na dapat pang contest lang parang may ganun po kasing culture sa Filipino singers parang kapag hindi ka bumibirit hindi ka magaling.” Dandan’s debut album, “Kung Iyong Mamarapatin,” explores her experience with emotional growth, pain and self-discovery. It is composed of 10 tracks including “Gemini” and “Iyakin.” 

Source: inquirer.net