Cheyenne Suarez

P-pop soloist Zela hopes to make a splash at Waterbomb Festival

Article (news)

Josh Mercado

MANILA -- This year&#x27;s Waterbomb Festival will be different in that it will feature Korean idols and Filipino artists in Manila, a fitting setting for all Pinoy fans of the popular music festival that began in South Korea.Every summer, one of the most anticipated music festivals takes place, with both attendees and performers getting soaked by water cannons and water guns.Ready to make a splash on February 23 at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park Luneta, P-pop soloist Zéla hopes that the music fest will open many international doors for her as she showcases her talent as a Filipino artist who has been waiting for this moment in her career.“This is a huge platform, especially for a newbie artist like myself. I will do my best and ensure that they receive the performance that they expect from me,” Zéla told ABS-CBN News.“Soloist kasi po ako so big deal for me kasi hindi masyadong kilala ang soloist sa P-pop. Kapag sinabi mong P-pop, group agad ‘yung maiisip. Excited po ako to showcase what I can do as a soloist.”Currently curating the looks for the festival, she added, “I’ve been training. Sobra ‘yung hard work namin. Summer ‘yung vibe ng festival so kailangang fit tayo. Dapat ready. I work out every day. Dapat nilang abangan ‘yung looks. We’re still talking about the styles.”<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1738025171007image1.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Zéla and PPop group BILIB will co-headline the Waterbomb Festival, where festivalgoers get soaked in water while dancing to upbeat music. Photo by Josh Mercado"/>Zéla and PPop group BILIB will co-headline the Waterbomb Festival, where festivalgoers get soaked in water while dancing to upbeat music. Photo by Josh Mercado</div>During her one-on-one interview with ABS-CBN News, Zéla discussed how she got into the music industry and the stories behind her songs.“I started in the US. I was an independent artist then I tried to have a vacation lang sa Pinas then I got in. Sabi ko, i-try ko muna kung magwo-work siya then nag-work naman siya. Almost three years na ako sa industry,” she shared with ABS-CBN news. “Sa ‘Karma,’ I have an input. ‘Yung new song naman (‘01/01’) is about my birthday. There’s a line na ‘I was born to be number one,’” she said.What lessons has she learned about herself as an artist over the course of her three-year journey? “Mas may kaya pa pala akong gawin. May kaya pang i-improve. ‘Yung talent was there na pero after hard trainings, mas lumabas pa ‘yung mga kaya kong gawin. Sa writing, mas nakapag-explore pa po ako.”<div>Pressure, fame, women empowerment</div>In P-pop and K-pop, there is a specific image that the public expects from artists: they must always look well and wear fashionable clothing. To flourish in the genre, these artists must conform to a certain mold — the perfectly chiseled luminous face and the swag.When asked how she handles pressure, the 24-year-old expressed, “It’s part of our job talaga. Not the super glammed naman pero hindi kami pinapayagang lumabas na hindi presentable. Isa ‘yun sa kaya mong gawin for your fans. Hindi ka naman puwedeng humarap sa fans na parang ang baho mo.”How does she keep herself humble now that her fan base has grown? “I was raised sa humble na family. Never po akong nagyayabang. Keeping my feet on the ground was not hard for me kasi hindi rin naman po akong mayabang na tao.”According to Zéla, woman empowerment has always been at the heart of her music, and she aspires to be the voice for voiceless women.“‘Yun po talaga ang mainly na prino-promote ko. Sa P-pop, iba-iba po ang ginagawa namin. ‘Yung sa akin, more on women empowerment. Gusto kong iangat ‘yung mga gustong sabihin ng mga babae na hindi nila kayang i-voice out. Gusto ko ako ‘yung maging voice nila and inspiration,” she said.“As a woman, mahirap kasi lalo na sa P-pop kasi fans ay mostly girls at mas ina-idolize nila ang boys. Gusto kong i-break ‘yun.”Zéla revealed at the end of one-on-one interview that she would like to meet and collaborate with Sandara Park.“Dream come true po na ma-meet ko siya. Very fan ako. Hopefully, ma-meet ko siya soon and makapag-collab din kami,” she ended.

Zéla hopes that the music fest will open many international doors for her as she showcases her talent as a Filipino artist who has been waiting for this moment in her career.

Zéla hopes that the music fest will open many international doors for her as she showcases her talent as a Filipino artist who has been waiting for this moment in her career.