Her concert will show she’s not only good at bossa but also other types of music. “Sa ASAP with the Sessionistas, I still do pure bossa. But in my live gigs, only 30% of my songs is bossa and the rest is pop jazz fusion na. Pero siempre, hindi mawawala ang bossa kasi nire-request talaga ng tao, lalo na yung ‘Para sa Akin’ na naging signature song ko na. Light and breezy kasi ang bossa, nakakawala ng tension.”
In her last albums, she included original songs that are not bossa. “In my new album out next year, I’ll do all original songs, pop ballads, kasi dati, puro revivals na bossa. I want to offer new songs and let people know I can do other song genres.”
What if she’s invited by Manny Pacquiao to sing the national anthem in his next fight in bossa? “Di makukulong ako,” she laughs. Can she try singing it with a bossa beat? She did and she’s really good. “But there are songs na hindi talaga maganda i-bossa, like ‘Iisa Pa Lamang’ and ‘Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin.’”
How come she hasn’t done any acting after ‘Habang May Buhay’? “I’m waiting for the right project, pati sa hosting. I don’t want naman to just accept anything that comes along. I also want to try musical theatre again after I did ‘Spring Awakening’ for Atlantis Productions. I’m also involved with the Silid Aralan Foundation, na siyang beneficiary ng concert ko. This is a new kind of learning process where slow learners are educated with a new technology na they’d think they’re just playing pero natututo na pala sila. It started in Montalban under teacher RC Mallari with 185 students from pre-school to high school. Our vision is to raise awareness about it and introduce it to other schools.”
What’s her birthday wish? “I wish my chosen advocacy would prosper and my songs also be distributed to other countries, starting with Asia. Also, wish ko mabawasan ang traffic and, at least, for my birthday on November 29, this would be true kasi na-declare na holiday ito,” she laughs. Tickets for “Sitti Live at Metrobar” are at P500. Call Liza of Backroom at 4351098, 4351120 and 4351108. Sitti performs live Wednesdays at Martini’s Bar in Mandarin Hotel and Thursdays at Café Lupe in Sumulong Hi-way, Antipolo. For booking, call Backroom or email at backroomtalents@pldtdsl.net
