Big time finally comes for KZ
Her mindset of thinking big and going out of comfort zone has paid off for KZ Tandingan who joins the major league on June 22 when she holds a concert at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Her mindset of thinking big and going out of comfort zone has paid off for KZ Tandingan who joins the major league on June 22 when she holds a concert at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The 26-year-old singer acknowledged that if it weren’t for her marked participation on “Singer 2018” in China, it might have taken her career a longer time to level up. Of course, her bravura performances then gave her a lot of impetus. “Hinding-hindi mo talaga alam kung anong pwedeng mangyari at anong mga klaseng opportunity ang pwedeng dumating sa’yo ’pag lumabas ka ng comfort zone mo,” she said. “I believe that everything happens for a reason and inilaan talaga ng Panginoon ’yun na while I was waiting for that big opportunity I was also being prepared.”
She doesn’t lament that it took her a while to make it big as she believes God has amazing plans for everyone.
“Parang you just have to wait for that perfect opportunity pero while waiting you should always hone your talent,” she said.
She recalled her journey in the first season of “The X Factor Philippines” in 2012, particularly what the judges told her that time she became part of the bottom two.
“They believe I can make it in the international scene at naging challenge talaga
sa akin na parang if these people see that potential in me then I have to challenge myself at tanggalin ko ’yung pag-limit ko sa sarili ko, na there are the only things that you can do,” she said. KZ revealed joining “Singer 2018” was not an easy decision for her at all. “I mean wala pang nakakagawa ng ginawa namin so hindi namin alam kung anong dapat gawin, hindi dapat dawin, anong dapat kantahin, sinong papakinggan. Pero kasi kung hindi ko tinanggap ’yung challenge na ’yun, hindi magiging ganito si KZ ngayon.”
“Masasabi kong mas nag-mature ako as a person after that. Kasi nu’ng nasa China para akong nilagay sa isang lugar na wala akong kakilala, lugar na ibang kultura ng tao, lugar na kahit kailan hindi pa ako nakakapunta, at iba ’yung pagpapatakbo ng industriya, magkaiba ang sistema.”
New friend?
KZ was able to meet her idol, English singer-songwriter Jessie J, through “Singer.” They’ve kept in touch, KZ said. Has KZ asked Jessie if they can do a collaboration?
“Siyempre ’pag mga ganu’n hindi mo binobrought up kasi baka isipin ‘User ’tong batang ’to,’” she answered, laughing. “Dapat friendship-friendship, ganu’n lang muna tapos antay lang ako. ’Pag sinabi niya (na mag-collaborate na) andu’n na ako agad, go agad. Aarte pa ba ako? Diyos ko, Jessie J ’yan ’te.” Given the chance, does she want Jessie to be a guest performer in her concert?
“Oo naman! Sabi ko nga kahit lahat ng kita ko bigay natin sa kanya kaso baka abunado pa siya,” she joked.
This is the moment
“Sobrang nakakakaba po kasi this is the biggest concert na gagawin ko. Sabi ko nga kay Mr. Ericson (Raymundo, her manager) nu’ng sinabi nila sa akin na mag-concert ako sa MOA Arena, ‘Seryoso po ba kayo?’ Kasi nu’ng dating show halos ilako ko na nga po ’yung ticket pero hirap na hirap pa rin magbenta. Kaya nakakalula,” she revealed. “Ayoko lang malugi sila so hoping sana suportahan ng tao.” She assured that she’s going to showcase something different as “wala kaming areglo na simple.” “Merong parts na kakantahin ko ’yung songs na nakilala niyo ako dati pero may mga bagong twist, may mga bagong kanta rin na hindi pa naririnig sa akin,” she divulged. “Meron ding collaboration with artists na hindi ko pa nakakacollaborate before.” She shared that through the concert, she’ll have a reunion performance with her former ASAP Soul Sessions comembers Jay-R, Kyla, Daryl Ong, and Jason Dy. “Sobrang natuwa kami kasi finally we get to sing in one stage again, together,” she said. Other special guest performers are Iñigo Pascual, Moira Dela Torre, and KZ’s boyfriend TJ Monterde.