Filipina Artists Reveal their Music Heroines, Part 2: KZ Tandingan, Alex Bruce, and Peniel Roxas

Gone are the days when it was only men who dominated the local music space.

From across various genres — and even beyond the microphones and musical instruments — more and more women have taken an active part in putting together tracks and live shows; in helping voice out perspectives, sentiments, and experiences that are unique to them.

In honor of Women’s Month, we’ve reached out to some Pinay musicians of this generation and asked about the female acts who have left a significant impact on them. In the first part of our series, Clara Benin, Leanne & Naara, Pat Lasaten, and Pat Sarabia cited a number of local and foreign artists like Kitchie Nadal, Myrene Academia, Hayley Williams, and Amy Winehouse who inspired them to pursue their craft.

In the second half of our feature, Asia’s Soul Supreme KZ Tandingan, young rapper Alex Bruce, and Wishcovery Originals grand winner Peniel Roxas talked about their music heroines and gave pieces of advice to fellow female musicians.

KZ Tandingan

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Still, what I admire the most about them is despite their significant impact on music, they have remained humble.

Who are the female music figures that you look up to and consider your music heroines?

I am who I am as an artist because of many women who have inspired me through their excellence and heart. But to name a few, some of my music heroines are Yosha Honasan, Lauryn Hill, Ella Fitzgerald, Jessie J, Regine Velasquez, Jaya, and Kyla.

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How did they and their work impact you as an artist?

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All of them are excellent in their music — and they never settle for anything less than that. Still, what I admire the most about them is despite their significant impact on music, they have remained humble. And they’re always willing to share what they know with the musicians around them.

Is there a particular work of theirs that has a special meaning to you?

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Don’t lose who you are

In the blur of the stars

Seeing is deceiving

Dreaming is believing

It’s okay not to be okay

Jessie J’s “Who You Are.” It’s a song I find myself listening to when I feel like I’m in a muddle, especially being part of the music and entertainment industry.

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Have you shared any unforgettable moments with them?

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I wish I had that chance with all of them, but I am thankful to have been blessed with the opportunity to perform with Yosha, Jessie J, Regine, Jaya, and Kyla. I am even more grateful that I got to talk to them about not just music but even about the wonders of life.

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You’re one of the most talented female acts in the scene today. How do you think Pinay musicians have shaped the OPM scene and helped it thrive?

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Pinay musicians have shaped and continue to shape OPM by constantly pushing themselves, challenging the norm in music, and going beyond the limits of the boxes society has tried to fit us all into.

I hope we all allow women, not just musicians, to be who they are and who they want to be because if women are allowed to prosper, the world would be a much better place.

What’s your advice to aspiring Filipina singer-songwriters out there?

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NEVER STAY IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE because the best opportunities always make you feel uncomfortable (in a good way hehe).

[READ: KZ Tandingan on Embracing Her Artistry]

Alex Bruce

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Don’t do something because you see someone doing it. It’s not a trend, it has to come from your heart, mind, everything

You’re one of the youngest female rappers to break into the scene. We’d like to know who are the female music figures that you look up to and consider your music heroines.

I look up to a lot of femcees and they’ve helped me a lot through my journey. I’m thankful that… they exist hehehe.

Ate Ruby Ibarra will always be on top of the list of women who I admire. Believe me, there’s a lot more but, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Doja Cat are woooow. These women have inspired me to not just be them, but to try and reach their level.

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How did they and their work impact you as an artist?

They inspired me to work hard to be on top. All of them are hard-working, dedicated, loyal, and committed to their work. And being THAT kind of artist isn’t just because of luck. It’s because they worked their asses off. And that’s what icons do.

Is there a particular work of hers that has a special meaning to you?

Ate Ruby’s song “Who I Am.” It says that we don’t need to change who we are for anybody. Always remember our roots, where we came from. Learn to love YOU.

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Have you shared any unforgettable moments with her? What would it be and how did it feel to share it with her?

It was December 22, I think? 2019, before all this Covid virus started to show up. After performing in front of a LOT of artists — correction, a lot of talented, amazing artists. Before I decided to leave. And by leave, I mean, my set kasi tapos na naman performance ko nun eh. She surprised me with a cake and made the crowd sing a happy birthday to me! My birthday’s on December 25. And I felt so overwhelmed. That simple gesture got my knees trembling hahahaha! Literal na nginig ang tuhod! Nanigas pa lamang loob ko! And I’ll cherish that moment, foreeeever.

How do you think Pinay musicians have shaped the OPM scene and helped it thrive? Are there particular challenges concerning women in music that you want to be changed?

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Women have taken the spotlight. Getting the recognition that we earned, that we deserve.

There’s this verse in Dime Girls, “Kame naman/ Babae naman ngayon sa unahan.” And I’m happy seeing some men supporting us and making us lead, I really appreciate it.

Pagdating sa’ming mga babae, walang challenges. I mean, we can take anything.

What’s your advice to aspiring Filipina singer-songwriters out there?

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Ang masasabi ko lang ay, don’t do something because you see someone doing it. It’s not a trend, it has to come from your heart, mind, everything. Kung pipilitin mo lang, wala ka ring mararating, you’re just wasting your time. We gotcha back!!!

Peniel Roxas

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With every gap found in reality, there’s poetry. That’s the opening, the door you have to get through to allow yourself to be an artist who shares something great with the world.

In 2021, you won Wishcovery Originals, which is Wish 107.5’s own singing-songwriting competition. We’d like to know who are the female music figures that you look up to and consider your music heroines.

I’ve had a number of music heroines all throughout my life. I’d say I’ve had one during every important era or point in my life — I grew with them, learned through them, and felt through them. Because music really was (and still is) the only thing that helps me make sense of the complexities of my emotions and my experiences.

When I was in Grade 5, I was (and still am) obsessed with Taylor Swift and her ability to go from genre to genre and keep her storytelling intact and impactful — which I think sparked my passion for writing.

In my teenage years, I had dodie, Regina Spektor, Lorde, later on (recently) I had Mitski.

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How did they and their work impact you as an artist?

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As an artist, I’d say these women have definitely shaped how I approach writing in general. Their conscious efforts in writing stories in their music, and being aware of the smallest details and concepts/ideas life has to offer, are multidimensional; they push me to think (whether it’s thinking in general, with my empathy, with awareness, or with thinking about the things I write as a whole).

That aspect made me want to write something just as personal and rounded and complex so people who are lost in thought (like me) can somehow make sense of at least a tiny portion of it.

Their fearlessness is also impactful to me as an artist because they hold so much individuality and they hold their experiences and unadulterated feelings to their hearts and carry them everywhere — it’s what makes them seen by me, by many, and in turn, feel seen by them. Their courage in their art and how they approach art is the key to that transaction between the artist and the audience, to the community aspect of sharing experiences.

As an artist and as an individual, I hold onto and admire those traits to live as the best version of me. For example, with Mitski (the artist I’ve been clinging onto these days), she has this way of expressing the deepest, most personal kinds of feeling — the kinds that you don’t necessarily want people to know from you but you want to feel validated in feeling (if that makes any sense). I would listen to Mitski because her songs humanize these feelings and they wouldn’t feel as alien to me anymore.

Is there a particular work of hers that has a special meaning to you?

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This is the most difficult thing to answer because there’s just so many… but I will say, recently I’ve been going back to “Two Slow Dancers” by Mitski a lot.

This song in particular has been special to me because it’s just a beautiful song all in all. The more I listen to it, the more live performances of it I watch, I see layers upon layers of things I missed and things I could translate to my own life. It’s about holding on but accepting the end of all things.

And the ground has been slowly pulling us back down

You see it on both our skin

We get a few years and then it wants us back

It would be a hundred times easier

If we were young again

The song makes me yearn or be nostalgic for something I don’t really have and that’s the best thing a song could ever give me.

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You’re one of the rising female musicians in the scene today. How do you think Pinay artists have shaped the OPM scene and helped it thrive?

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I think Pinay musicians have shaped the OPM scene and helped it thrive just by showing the best versions of themselves they can be, whether that be through songwriting or performing. We have so many iconic songs in OPM with women at the forefront. And these women have had many experiences that basically paved the way for the OPM artists of today.

Just by being as vulnerable and real in their own ways, they’ve given form to the scene and made it a space for anyone to be in, offering OPM the variety it has and continues to need.

What’s your advice to aspiring Filipina singer-songwriters out there?

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Stay in touch with everything and everyone around you. Doing so keeps your mind open for stories to be told and questions to be asked and answers to be contemplated on.

With every gap found in reality, there’s poetry. That’s the opening, the door you have to get through to allow yourself to be an artist who shares something great with the world.

Basically, just keep writing as truthfully as you can.

Watch our featured Pinay acts’ Wishclusive performances below:

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ALSO READ:

• Filipina Artists Reveal their Music Heroines, Part 1: Clara Benin, Leanne & Naara, Pat Lasaten, and Pat Sarabia
• Wishclusives To Watch All Over Again this International Women’s Month

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