While driving back home one night my mobile phone rang displaying an unregistered number. I took the call and had Cathy hold the receiver by my ear so I could still drive without being pulled over by the MMDA. Before I could even say hello, a voice at the other end of the line had already started talking. After a few more seconds I realized that my wife had played a prank on me by subscribing my mobile number to one of those celebrity answering services. She was laughing out loud enjoying her moment.
“Who the heck is this?” I asked, already assuming how it must be the cheesiest and most annoying celebrity she could think of. “Don’t you recognize the voice?” she said. So I listened some more and was dumbfounded to finally realize it was Katrina Nadal, ex MojoFly front woman turned solo artist. My wife knows how much I’ve romanticized her in some of my writings, so she probably figured it would be interesting to see how I would react to hear her voice in a celebrity answering service.
I didn’t know what to feel really. I am happy that she is now enjoying the hard earned fruits of her labor. Dubbed as the hottest female local rock act, it isn't any surprise how her first solo album has already hit platinum status. She has definitely come a long way and I am sure she had her share of struggles thrown at her along her journey. But after remotely following her humble beginnings from more than five years ago, I had mixed emotions about how she has become a household name lately.
Massive airplays, sold out shows and packed venues are obvious signs that things are going pretty well for an artist’s career anywhere. But here in Manila, you know you’ve really hit stardom status if you have most of the following going for you: you have at least more than two websites and at least one of which has it’s own domain name, you’ve got your own active mailing list, your name gets more than 20 relevant search results on search engines, you start to guest on noontime shows, yours songs are already queued up in karaoke machines, you endorse at least one major product, you have downloadable ring tones, and your songs are already being pirated in the underground stalls of Quiapo and Greenhills. (I know by comparison to other countries these indicators are puny, but this is Manila)
People who know I have this huge infatuation for Katrina often ask me why I have stopped writing about her, specially after the success of her first solo effort. I honestly don’t know why either. Maybe because I think she doesn’t need the extra attention anymore and that I can’t possibly say anything that hasn’t already been said or written. I still think she’s cool, I still like the music, and I will still support her definitely. But honestly, I somehow liked her more when she was low profiled.
I realize that it’s an extremely selfish thing to say of course. The music industry, no matter which way you put it, is still a business. Recognition isn’t the only goal an artist has in mind when coming out with a record. There are full time musician who look at making and playing music in the same way other people view going to the office to toil in front of a computer screen 8 hours a day. There isn’t anything wrong with making a little extra money out of being popular; they’ve earned it. Other artists have been doing it ever since, even rock alternative ones. Charlie Ysrael, front man of the heavy rock outfit The Breed endorsed banana ketchup once. Cookie Chua of Color It Red peddled condoms for a while. Barbie’s Cradle pushes for coffee and mobile phone insurance plans. And guys of Parokya Ni Edgar have been in SUV commercials on TV as well.
So why is it that some artists lose their appeal when they start becoming “too popular”. What is wrong about people from all walks of life liking your songs? Does it make an artist less cool? Is the fan base of a particular artist a direct reflection of who the artist is? Does it compromise one’s integrity as an artist to endorse products? What is wrong about making efforts to increase one’s appeal to a marketable mainstream society? Is there a balance musicians should maintain between the craft and the actual business side of the music industry?
You know what? I’ll let you know when I hit stardom someday.
