Philippine R&B Queen Kyla is gearing up for a night of timeless music and heartfelt performances as she celebrates her 25th year in the industry through “The Kyla Soundscape: The Best of 25 Years”, happening this October 18 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati.
After wrapping up her final band rehearsal, Kyla shared with PUSH ABS-CBN that she is now shifting her focus to dance practice and fine-tuning her performance for the big night.
“We just finished doing our last band rehearsal. We are doing more rehearsals pa more on dance but we will be rehearsing at home na with my personal time,” Kyla said.
“Pinaguusapan namin yung mga kailangan namin sa outfits, hair stylist. After today, probably mag-vocal rest muna ako for 3 days para on Saturday medyo fresh na and mag-internalization muna,” she added.
Fans can look forward to a meaningful celebration featuring some of Kyla’s closest friends and collaborators in the music industry, including Bugoy Drilon, Jason Dy, Jeremy Glinoga, ACES, and Jonathan Manalo.
“I am so excited kasi isa si Bugoy Drilon. I’m actually one of his fans. I’m a fan of his beautiful voice kaya he will be joining me in the concert,” she excitedly revealed. “Kasama rin namin si Jason Dy, he will join as well pati si Jeremy (Glinoga), and Jonathan Manalo, my closest friends in the music industry, he will be joining me in this concert too this Saturday.”
The concert will take audiences on a musical journey through Kyla’s greatest hits spanning the past 25 years, some of which have been rearranged to reflect her evolution as an artist.
“I will be doing songs that they have loved for the past 25 years and I’m excited about that kasi may mga ni-re-arrange yung ibang mga songs and after 25 years my voice changed as well,” she stated. “Mas may emosyon na, mas may feelings and mas more connected to the songs that I’ve been singing.”
Adding to the excitement, the concert will be directed by John Prats, known for his creative direction and visual storytelling on stage.
“Sobrang excited ako because our concert will be directed by premier concert director John Prats and alam naman natin his take on things when it comes to stage and making me look good on stage. I’m so excited to work with him and makita nila yung show and yung combination,” Kyla said.
She also expressed her admiration for her music director Jeff Florendo, who worked closely with her in shaping the concert’s sound.
“Sobra rin ako excited na I will be working with, for me someone na already become my friend, my music director Jeff Florendo. He actually listens and accepts whenever I have a request. I can tell him what I like kaya I’m so excited for everyone to hear my songs tapos mayroon pa kaming string quartet na kasama kaya I'm very much excited lalo.”
In an earlier interview, Kyla admitted that preparing for the concert has been both exciting and challenging.
“I’m just really practicing the songs kasi ang hirap pala ng mga kanta ko,” she admitted. “Challenging talaga. I’ll be doing ‘Back To Bliss.’ It’s really really a hard song to sing so there will be many songs like that.”
Kyla also revealed that she has been very hands-on in selecting and arranging the songs for the concert, ensuring the setlist reflects her musical journey as one of OPM’s R&B pioneers.
“I carefully handpicked every song doon sa repertoire namin sa concert. I talk to my musical director a lot kasi yung sa flow ng songs and how we want it to rearrange yung flow ng kanta kaya . I talk to him a lot. Pati yung pagkakasunod sunod ng kanta in terms of like how we choose the songs from beginning to end,” she said.
READ: Kyla celebrates 25 years in music with ‘challenging’ Soundscape concert
As per Cornerstone, tickets for Kyla’s concert are already sold out.