Adjeng Buenaventura finally fulfills her dream

Never let go of your dream. That is what Adjeng Buenaventura is telling everybody with the release of her album Unravel. It took her years but she finally did it. I can just imagine how satisfied she must feel knowing that her songs are now out there for everybody to enjoy.

Some 20 years or so ago Adrienne Sarmiento, whose friends turned her into Adjeng, was the girl vocalist every band dreamed of. Pretty with a sweet voice and hardworking, she made singing her career after graduating from Miriam College. She made her mark with showbands like Sipol and Wink, both of which were known for making smooth perky pop music.

Adjeng was privileged in the sense that opportunities simply opened up for her. She went into modeling and theater acting. She was a writer for television shows and magazines. She hosted events and TV programs. She reached a point when she could have done anything and succeeded at it. That anything included marriage to Rodrin Buenaventura and two children.

Throughout all these, Adjeng never gave up on her music. She prioritized her family and her live gigs were drastically reduced. But she would from time to time, do a recording with Sipol, sing in church or when the mood hits her, compose songs which kept her visible through songwriting competitions.

The arrival of digital platforms encouraged Adjeng to take up singing solo again. Admittedly, the likes of YouTube, Spotify and other outlets made it easy for singers who put their families first to remain active in their careers. With no record label to deal with and no promotional requirements, it was easy to just record a song, upload it on those platforms and then hope for lots of likes and downloads.

This was what Adjeng had been doing these past few years, writing songs, recording them and then uploading them. The results were quite good and always show her happy, positive vibe. Say No is a happy piece with shades of rock. Walk On Water is a sweet inspirational to which handclaps should come naturally. Please is a breezy ballad about falling in love, which happens to be my favorite. She even released a beautiful Christmas tune, In Awe.

With so many of her songs already out there in the cloud, it took only a little push for Adjeng to complete the transition to a full album. And so here it is titled Unravel and containing the songs Rollercoaster, Never, Be Kind, Kaya Mo Yan, Must Be Love, More Than a Little, Quicksand, and what I believe is an anniversary song dedicated to her husband, Still Kilig.

So, think how long it took for Adjeng to come up with her first album. Twenty years, several careers, a husband, and two children. But she never gave up. No wonder Unravel has such a joyful sound. Adjeng is fulfilled, satisfied with her work, and happy. Listen and think of the lesson she imparts. Never let go of your dream.

And now from out of the Spotify Top 50 Playlist, which is still dominated by new hip-hop star Hev Abi, here are the week’s most streamed titles: Babaero by gin&melodies and Hev Abi; Walang Alam by Hev Abi; we can’t be friends (wait for your love) by Ariana Grande; Alam Mo Ba Girl by Hev Abi; End of Beginning by Djo; Makasarili Malambing featuring Hev Abi by Kristina Dawn; Take All the Love by Arthur Nery; Sumugal by Hev Abi, Unotheone, LK; intro (end of the world) by Ariana Grande; Pantropiko by BINI; Faded (Raw) by Illest Morena; Lil Kasalanan Shortie by Hev Abi, Marikit Sa Dilim by Juan Caoile, Kyleswish and Jawz;

Get Low by O Side Mafia and BRGR; Tingin by Cup of Joe and Janine Tenoso; Magnetic by ILLIT; 711 by TONEE JAY; Heaven Knows This Angel Has Flown by Orange & Lemons; homebody by DEMI and Madman Stan; My Love Mine All Mine by Mitski; YK by Cean Jr.; Mahika by Adie and Janine Berdin; Tadhana by Up Dharma Down; Palagi by TJ Monterde; Pakundangan by DEMI and Hev Abi; Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift; and Saturn by SZA.