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 IN the 1990's, one of the biggest hits of the decade, 'Cool Ka Lang', was penned by this charming and talented girl named Lei Bautista of the band 'Prettier Than Pink'.
Soon after the success of 'Cool Ka Lang', Lei decided to migrate to the US.
She then re-formed 'Prettier Than Pink', with all new members, then released an album, and toured the US and Europe.
Now, after an eight-year absence in the Pinoy music scene, Lei will be making her comeback in the Philippines, however, this time, as a solo artist.
She was signed by Viva Records recently, and she will be releasing her very first solo album soon.
Here's the exclusive interview with one of the most versatile singer/songwriters the Philippines ever produced.
Photos by Dennis Santarinala www.dennissantarinala.com
 Ted Reyes
Before we go to your solo project, how is Prettier Than Pink?
Lei Bautista
PTP right now is on hiatus, but the girls are all fine. They're all busy doing they're own things.
Ted
Any chance of getting back together? A new album perhaps?
Lei
Ang usapan is that when Im ready to get PTP going then andyan lang naman sila.
Siguro after the solo album. I want to see where this is leading also. First time I'm going to do this.
Ted
How did you tell the rest of the band about you going solo?
Lei
Well I just told them straight. I said I was encouraged by VIVA to come out with a solo album and that Im going to do it.
Ted
How did they take it?
Lei
Ok naman.
PTP kasi is more of project ko and Pam, my guitarist, hindi naman equal ang footing sa band...so they just go with the flow.
Ako naman nag put together ng group so its really up to me what I want to do with the band.
Ted
I see
Lei
So right now, rest ang PTP.
Ted
So now tell us about your solo project
Lei
Well first of all, I'm very excited about it.
I composed most of the songs, and it might be a 15–song album
I'm blessed to have worked with amazing, talented yet humble musicians Paco Arespacochaga, Jonathan Manuel, Chot Ulep on drums, guitars, bass , respectively.
Ted
Did you write songs specifically for this album or are they old songs originally meant for PTP?
Lei
I wrote most for this new album....I recycled around two to three PTP songs from our second album that I wasn't able to promote. But I thought these were songs that were not given a chance to be heard.
Another exciting development is the other artists that are just falling into my path like Bumbo Villanueva.
He's a renowned and respected Filipino artist, who follows after his dad, Ben Hur.
I think Ben Hur is already considered a National Artist in the visual arts
: painting, sculpting, etc
I bumped to Bumbo in his art gallery in Baguio, becasue I was interested in one of his paintings.
Ted
Ok, then?
Lei
To cut the long story short, there was a connection. And after like an hour of chatting, he offered to collaborate with me and paint me.
And I'm planning to use it as the album cover.
So I am in constant communication with him right now. Exciting diba?
Ted
Do you have a title for the album?
Lei
I was also able to sit down and pose for other less known artists in Tamawan in Benguet, and I have nine different sketches that im planning to use also in the album cover sleeves
Album title? Yes, the working title right now is "Pagbabalik"
I also have a song with the same name.
Ted
Oh, so you posed for artists for sketches??
Lei
Yes. While serenading them with my song!
It was so cool! I have it on video!
Then I'm going to pick some of my favorite sketches and put them in the album....
Ted
Is it what I am thinking?
Lei
What are you thinking?
Ted
The sketches?
Lei
HAHAHAHAHAH depends what you're thinking??? hahahha
I had CLOTHES on!
Ted
Haha great!
Lei
If that's what you meant! HAHAHAHAHHA
Ted
Yes, that was what I meant.
Lei
Yeah I won't sell my music that way! Hahahhaha
I think women need to respect themselves enough not to sell themselves thu sex.
Ted
I agree.
So you recorded the songs here in the US and sent the bigwigs at Viva a copy?
Lei
Well thats kinda what happened.
I was in the Philippines last March and had a meeting with VIVA to sign a renewal contract because they revived 'Cool ka lang'.
Ted
Oh the big hit!
 Lei
Then that was when they asked me if I wanted to do another album
and I said, "hmmmm, I havent thought about it but sure."
Then I asked what: PTP revived?
Because I can do that. Then they said solo so there's some sort of growth.
So I went back here worked on an album, sent them mp3's around July and was down there to negotiate the terms in August.
Sounds pretty easy but it was very stressful for me!
I heard its very different now..you have to understand that Im coming out of an eight-year retirement, so I'm no spring chicken! Hahahha.
Ted
So how does this solo effort sound like? Does it sound like a million miles away from PTP?
Lei
They also told me that the market is still the same size if not smaller and saturated with so many artists because of the accessibiltiy of recording equipment.
Yes, its a thousand lightyears away...
Ted
R&B?
Lei
It's a reflection of who I am. My thoughts, feelings, pains, tragedies.
It's a heavier side of me– rock.
Ted
Great!
Lei
Not R & B! Hahahhaha!
But since I am with a major label, it will be in the pop rock genre.
Ted
Did you become personal in your songs?
Lei
Yes I did. Very personal songs.
Ted
Tell me about your most personal song in there.
Lei
I think that would be 'Sana di Nalang'.
Ted
Tell us about it.
Lei
It's about meeting a person...falling in love because that person pursued you then it didn't work out. And you just wish that you should've never met that person in the first place.
Ted
Oh, regrets.
Lei
But every time the person calls you, you're in that same cycle again...you cant stop it at the same time. Hahahahhahhaha
Ted
When did this thing happen to you?
This heartbreak?
Lei
Lets see.....secret....
let's say its kinda fresh....
hahahahha
so its a very angry song....
Ted
Oh, just recently!
Are you over this heartbreak?
Lei
Yes I am
You know what's so awesome with songwriting?
Especially when you write it at that exact moment in time?
Ted
Did that experience change you any any way?
Lei
Of course it did.
All experiences will change you.
if you're smart enough to learn from your mistakes.
But let me finish what I was saying
Ted
Ok, go.
 Lei
First, it's a reelase to write the song at that very moment you're going thru it.
Then the words just flow...like it took me 10 mins to finish the lyrics of that song
and then...you capture your emotions into the music.
And you just capture that moment in time and immortalize it forever
para siyang 'snapshot' of that moment in time.
Galeng no?
So now, even if Im over that emotion, its just there–captured forever.
Ted
So did it change you in a way that you will be cautious of falling in love again?
Lei
Definitely.
But I'm a hopeless romantic kasi eh, so it's hard! Hahahah! But hopefully this time,
I'm planning to just take it easy for awhile and focus on career. You can never go wrong with that.
Ted
right
Lei
So this new solo career of mine has a lot of emotion tied to it...hehehhee.
It's amazing how i realized that anything and everything is driven by love or falling out of it.
We all live for love - do you believe that?
Ted
Yes, I do...
Lei
It'ss just a matter of what we love:
Love of self, career, family, another person, God, your dog, money etc.
Ted
I agree.
Lei
Totoo nga yung cliche that "love makes the world go round"
and you want to get spiritual diba nga "GOD is LOVE" so on and so forth
So really, God makes the world go round! hahahhaha
Ted
Tell us about your song writing.
Lei
I think 'iniisip kita ' will be the next mega hit
It has commercial recall written all over it.
What about my songwriting do you want to know?
Ted
How do you perfect your craft?
When did you start writing?
Lei
I think i started writing around 2nd year HS. As usual, you write for a crush...hahahha (love nanaman talaga nga naman o!)
Then I wrote again for another guy mga 4th yr or 1st year college. At that time we were gigging professionally na.
Then 'Cool Ka Lang' na for our first album around '94.
Ted
Oh, with the original PTP.
Lei
Yups.
Thee thing is..with PTP every year naman a member comes and goes
we kinda institutionalized the band...it was not dependent on an individual member
so thats what kept us going....hind nadi disband...
Ted
Do you wait for emotional inspiration or do you often write on the fly when it is needed?
Lei
Both.
Ted
Oh I see.
Who are your musical influences when it comes to song writing?
Lei
Grabe halo halo.
It also depends on what kind of genre I want to write about.
My influences are far and wide.
All types of music.
New Wave...to indie...to broadway...to pop...to rock...lahat
wag lang opera....i cant draw from that!
hahahahhaah
Ted
So I suppose you will tour in support of this solo album. Are you bringing you band from the US or make one in Manila?
Lei
Yes the album is slated to be released some time march next year.
I have to start getting warmed up in the scene again as soon as possible thats why Im going home.
I will just use sessionists from Manila to back me up.
Plus, I' m still making improvements with the album, working with a local producer so that im also intouch with whats going on in the local music scene
Ted
Exciting. Tell us briefly about the Fil Am music scene there in LA.
Lei
Very exciting.
Well, the music scene in LA is like a family.
In fact, I enjoy the scene here in LA than in Manila in terms of acceptance.
Ted
Oh really? Why is that so?
Lei
Sa underground scene in Manila, I am associated kasi being in the mainstream, so though all my friends are from the Manila underground scene, ako parang audience lang ako dun kasi nga sa pop ako.
But over here, you dont feel any lines like that.
Ted
Oh the discrimination and elitism.
Lei
Yeah, walang ganun dito eh.
Everyone can just be themselves and be part of it -tulungan pa nga.
Everyone here is not "branded" pop or indie.
It's one big family.
You can be a bit older and still do your thing.
At wala pa akong na experience na crab mentality sa scene dito....
So I like it, in fact., I was given a bon voyage gig last Oct 5
Ted
Is there a chance that you'll stay n Manila for good?
Lei
Possibilities are endless and wherever the wind takes me.
I never thought I was going to revive my career again and that I was forever going to settle in the US and here I am on my way back home.
So who knows. Come what may, you never know when you have an interesting box of chocolates.
What you're going to get next. Basta ako, I'm Ms. Adventure so off to the next adventure!
Ted
When are you willing to take another adventure to love?
Lei
Hahahaha baket may kilala ka ba magaapply? HAHAHAHAHAHAH
Ted
Madami.
Lei
Hmmm, can't say for sure.
Ted
Are your doors closed?
Lei
Malay mo, mister right comes and whisks me awayyyy!!! hahahha
hmmmm......ayoko rin magsalita ng tapos! hahahah
i might say...YES then someone just hits me diba?
Ted
What does it take to make Ms. Lei Bautista fall in love?
Lei
Basta, all I can say is that Im going to focus on me and my career muna right now....
and if a guy can squeeze in to that then good luck doing it! hahahah
lets see....
He needs to be his own person, independent, secure with himself, God fearing, sense of humor, intelligent.
Ted
Does he have to be an artist like yourself?
Lei
Not necessarily, but he needs to understand me and not get in the way of my being an artist..or he's OUT THE DOOR!
It would be nice for him to share an artistic side thoughthats always a plus!
O baka naman mag bigay ka na ng mga applications forms dyan sa NY ha! LOL!
Ted
Hahahahaha!
I will do that!
 Lei
i'll give you commission!
Finders fee! hahahaha
Ted
Are you planning to play in New York after your Manila trip?
Lei
Well there's no plans right now. Meaning i havent gotten any invitations (hint hint hehehe) but of course I would be open to it!
I'm thinking if all goes well sa Manila Im sure a US tour wont be far behind...thats what Im aiming for ako naman kahit saan....
I will make sure you check the suitor applications personally when you come back hehe. The more the merrier. I mean GIGS! not SUITORS!
Ted
Any messages for Fil Am music fans, Pinoy rock fans and Poptimes Magazine readers?
Lei
As I said, I'm focusing on me first now. Something I havent done. I owe it to myself
First , thanks to you for this chance to be heard....
Thanks to your readers for a chance to share my thoughts with them....
and hoping that everyone watches out and supports my upcoming solo album....
God Bless, be proud of who you are and always draw your strength from within.
Ted
Your always welcome. Lei Thank you for your time and we all wish you all the best in your love life and career.
Lei
Hahahahahahhaha! Wag na sa love life! Eto naman....hahahha!
Tags: Lei Bautista Prettier Than Pink' Poptimes Magazine Viva Records Cool ka Lang |
