AFTER RESPECTIVE HEARTBREAKS, JULIE ANNE-RAYVER TANDEM COMES INTO ITS OWN
will come ... just like what happened to me. That’s why I don’t take all this for granted.”
Our Q&A with Team JulieVer:
What have you learned from each other when you did “Limitless”? Julie Anne:
We’ve been friends and co-workers (“The Clash,” “All-Out Sundays”) for some time now. But when we did “Limitless” in Siquijor, I got to know him on a deeper level. I realized there was more to him than just being a good person.
Rayver: Same here. Nagulat ako kung gaano kalalim na tao si Julie.
I’ve been watching your TikTok videos. But what can people expect to see at the concert?
Julie Anne: They’ll see who we really are as persons ... and they’ll see us in dance numbers they shouldn’t miss!
Rayver: I have a funny story. Initially, I felt hindi ko talaga kaya to perform on TikTok (laughs) kasi parang hindi bagay [sa TikTok ang dance moves ko]. But it was Julie who encouraged me to post my videos. It was a way for me to temporarily forget about the problems brought about by the pandemic. And it also allowed me to interact with fans. Then, just as I was getting the hang of it ...
Julie Anne: Ako naman ang hindi gumawa (laughs)! I stopped posting mine.
Not everybody can be as good at singing as Julie. In your view, is dance something that can be learned?
Rayver: Yes, I believe so. And I agree with you that not everybody can sing ... God-given talent ‘yung kagaya kay Julie. But in dance, you just have to feel your surroundings, listen to the music and feel its groove.
It can be hard at the start, but when you imbibe the music, feel it and allow your body to move to it.
Julie Anne: Each person has his or her own groove. Let your body react to the mood and follow where the rhythm takes you.
Juls, if you were to describe your life, love and career now, which of the many songs that you’ve written or co-written best reflects and expresses your life, love and career now?
Julie Anne: My gosh! Well, for some reason, I co-wrote “Free” when I was in a good headspace. I was in a good mood, and I wasn’t thinking too much about things that worried or troubled me. I just felt light and happy. You see, I’m not very expressive as a person, but I am able to express my feelings and emotions through my music.
OK, let’s not talk about the specifics of your past heartbreaks. But if your fans would ask advice from you about how to move on from a very painful romantic episode, what have you learned from your previous relationships that could help others deal with theirs?
Julie Anne: We all have different ways of coping ... and sometimes, it depends on the depth and gravity of the reason behind the breakup—as to what led to it and how it had hurt you deeply.
In my case, I realized na masyado kong kinawawa ang sarili ko for allowing it to happen. I’m not confrontational as a person, so I tend to allow people to be abusive to me. I allow it to the point na parang hindi ko na bina-value ang sarili ko.
In times like those, I realized the importance of family and friends. Kasi, when I’m deeply involved in a relationship, I tend to push their reminders aside, especially when I’m with someone na akala ko OK for me, pero hindi pala talaga. Then, you realize that your parents were right all along!
It’s hard for people to see the bigger picture when they’re too deep in a relationship. But prayers helped me. I prayed for discernment. I asked the Lord to show me solid reasons to help me decide when it was time to finally let go. Eventually if you pray hard enough, ibibigay naman sa ‘yo ni Lord ‘yun.
Rayver: Juls is right. The Lord won’t give you problems you can’t handle. Just pray hard and one day, you’ll realize why it had to happen. That you had to go through it because you’re meant to do something else ... and you’re meant for someone who’s better for you.