A slick, on location music video uploaded on YouTube last April 20 introduces a new voice and beauty in the local music scene. Noela Amparo’s the name; her song is called “Sandalan.”
The official music video features a white mansion for a setting that complements the look and aura of the virginal beauty with Asian eyes. Elegantly dressed, she showcases her allure and pours out her emotions throughout the clip directed by Ramie Seron. It was shot on location in the province of Tarlac. Pandemic protocols were duly followed.
In the video, Noela is romantically partnered with a long-haired, handsome dude as she is also seen performing with her back-up Apat Band, the same group of instrumentalists heard on the record available in digital stores.
A dig into the personal routine of Noela reveals that she hosts a live streaming channel called Apat TV, posts her personal trips, and sings classic songs with her musically inclined dad.
Her recording of “Sandalan” came after producer Pat Achas hired her to be a radio DJ for his live streaming channel and heard the said song. It was recorded at Apat Studio in Tarlac, then mixed and mastered at Forgiven Music Studio in Quezon City.
Noela first heard “Sandalan” when he met author-musician Yugel Losorata who wrote the song for a musical project. Their resulting record made it to Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist last December.
“I feel that ‘Sandalan’ is a representation of a strong, brave and dependable woman who will and can do anything for someone she loves, whether it’s a person, her passion and her dream. It is a reflection of what I can do as a woman and it is a song of power and bravery,” shared the Pinay beauty who hails from Bacoor, Cavite.
At some point before getting her break amidst the pandemic, Noela, who honed her singing as a choir girl, went abroad to work as a singer and to support her four siblings Miko, Nicole, Paul, and Heart.
Growing up she was exposed to fiesta parties and karaoke challenges. She joined a contest in Eat Bulaga called Pambato ng Videoke and won P15,000. Three years later she was adjudged champion in a corporate-sponsored competition.
She expressed, “My friends always support and encourage me to pursue my singing career and I owe it to them that I kept trying. I am totally happy, fulfilled and proud of my career choices.”
She shared she has always listened to pop music, in particular the music of Britney Spears. She remembers having a copy of the pop star’s debut album when she was four years old, as she likewise studied songs by Aegis and Regine Velasquez. She’s also exposed to country music since her father likes to listen to it.
Losorata noted, “Around the time I met Noela, I was tasked to write a song to fit the voice of a young lady singer. I wrote ‘Sandalan’ for my wife, imagined myself being young and saying the words that became its lyrics, and Noela came over to sing on the demo. I felt excited hearing her voice and I’m glad she finally got to record her version of the track.”
Angel Andal of The Voice Kids Philippines recorded her own rendition months ahead of Noela’s recording.
The singing beauty with Asian eyes finished a degree in public relations at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
