Kicking off her career with the teenage pop group Smokey Mountain in the late eighties, singer and actress Geneva Cruz can be considered one of the Philippines’ most successful home-grown talents.
The young band Smokey Mountain, famous for one of their many albums Street People, had a socially conscious edge to them, aiming to highlight the plight of Manila’s less fortunate who made the large refuse dump after which the group was named their home.
Garnering attention for causes has been a staple of Geneva’s time in the industry and forms the basis for her visit to Dubai this week. Participating in the MegaWatt Events’ ‘I Have A Heart’ charity concert at Club 7, Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, the Encantadia star’s performance will benefit Project: AK-47, an organisation with the remit to rescue and rehabilitate trafficked children and child soldiers from Burma and the Philippines.
Performing alongside stand-up comedian Kim Idol, we caught up with Geneva before her arrival in the city.
How does it feel to be coming to and performing in Dubai?
I’m very excited. I love the energy of a live performance and to be able to do it in a place other than the Philippines is pretty exciting. I can’t wait to see all of you there!
What can we expect from the show?
A lot of high-energy numbers as well as my classic hits. I might also sing some songs from my new album, which I have written and, of course, there’s Kim Idol who is not just hilarious but a very intelligent, witty comedian and a great performer as well. I’m pretty sure that its going to be a great show.
What are you currently working on?
I am working on my new studio album. We’ve just finished it and will be launching it by June.
The album title is Life. It includes my original compositions, which I co-wrote with my producer Junji Arias. I am also including an updated version of Anak Ng pasig featuring Rico Blanco and Raymond Marasigan of Sandwich, Jeffrey Hidalgo, Rachel Alejandro, Gloc 9, Bayang Barrios and Jessa Zaragoza – all very talented musicians .
Can we ever expect a Smokey Mountain reunion?
There’s always been talk of that. Jeffrey (Hidalgo) and I recently did a show for Ateneo and we sang our old hits. We’ll see. I’m not closing my doors to anything.
What is life like when you’re touring?
It can get very tiring but fun at the same time. You get to explore new places, meet new faces, experience new cultures, new sights and sounds.
It can be also be a little difficult for me sometimes, because I am a strict vegetarian and in some places, vegan food is not that accessible.
I like to enjoy nature too, the natural beauty of the place I am in. I get so much inspiration from that.
Do you believe pop has become more or less popular from when you first began? How has the industry changed during your time in the music business?
Pop music has evolved. Even the way we buy our music has evolved. I believe in change and I embrace change. The industry has had a major setback with the advent of the Internet and the illegal downloads but it’s just a matter of policing ourselves and encouraging people not to engage in piracy. We have to support our artists. The record companies have also revised their business models for it to be more viable. Evolution is the key word. We must evolve and grow with the times and so does our music, or pop culture in general.
What are your plans for the future?
When I get back to the Philippines, I go right back to work by promoting my new album. I will be shooting a music video for this and will go on tour to do a major promotion before getting back to acting on television.
Do you have a message for your fans in Dubai?
Hey guys, I’m so looking forward to seeing all of you on April 20. It will be a high energy, fun show with me, Geneva Cruz and Kim Idol. Remember too, that this is for a good cause, so aside from having a great time, we will be helping out children through this show. So, mark the date get ready to party! See you guys! – Khaleejnews
