MANILA, Philippines - She may be more known as an actress these days, but Glaiza de Castro has always been open about her goal of putting up a band and making music.
When she was just starting to form her own rock band Galura (named after her real last name) early last year, we remember the actress sharing about her plans with high hopes and anticipation.
Glaiza admitted, however, that playing with her rock band is currently put on hold.
“Well, what I can say is that it’s also difficult to enter the underground music scene. It’s not that easy,” the Kapuso actress told The STAR in an interview after her launch as endorser of hallohallomall.com, the first-of-its-kind Internet “shopping hub” at EDSA Shangri-La recently.
“Before, I used to say ang pambalanse ko yung band, yung music, pero hindi pala sya ganon kadali lalo na pag hindi mo masyadong kilala ang makakasama mo.
“I mean I’m grateful to all my band members, hindi sila basta-basta, sobrang galing nila, as in hindi ko sila ka-level. I didn’t expect I’d be able to collaborate with them. Pero mahirap din kasi minsan ipakita sa kanila na ganito yung ginagawa ko, (na) yung pag-aartista talagang erratic yung schedule,” she said.
But Glaiza’s not giving up on her rock band plans. “Yes, I really want (it). In the first place, I didn’t see it coming, the forming of the band. It just happened, because when I met my members, parang at first, I was just trying to collaborate with my DJ friend, then we had another DJ friend who joined.” One thing led to another, with Glaiza finding a guitarist then drummer that they were able to form a “superband.”
They were already having gigs although there were times when she found herself reflecting if she’s truly prepared to pursue it full time. “Parang I would ask myself, ‘Am I ready for this?’ Hindi sa inaano ha, pero wala tong bayad, alam mo yon, pero I’m in it for the experience, plus the camaraderie (among band members), you know, although at one point, you will really think if this is what you really want.”
She added, “I love music, I love the process of making music. But I don’t want to rush or force things. If it happens, it happens. Basta ako, gawa lang ng gawa, kahit ako lang, alam mo yun? Kahit nasa bahay lang ako, basta tuloy-tuloy lang.”
The actress said that she has been dabbling in songwriting using her guitar. “I’ve done quite a number already. With Galura, lahat ng mga songs ko, ako ang nag-compose, tapos yung areglo, ako din, tapos nung sinend ko sa kanila, sila na lang yung nag-polish, tapos nilagyan na lang ng mga different elements.”
The musician in Glaiza shouldn’t be a surprise because her parents worked as entertainers abroad before. She also started out as a young singer in the biz, launching two albums in 2001 and 2006.
She has starred in several music-themed projects that required her singing like the indie Rakenrol and teleserye Diva on GMA opposite Regine Velasquez no less.
She orients herself with a variety of music. When she’s not busy shooting for the TV series Biritera, she can spend hours and hours on the Net, reading music blogs and reviews, downloading albums, buying music gadgets and surfing YouTube for interesting artists. Currently, she’s into the music of US pop singer Santigold plus several Euro artists. Her tastes range from rock, electronic, fusion to reggae.
She said, “(I listen) to almost everything. Nag-Backstreet Boys din ako, then I also enjoy ’70s and ‘60s music. When I listen to music, it really connects with me. I love how music makes me feel.”