KZ Tandingan has already established herself in the music industry. But people rarely see the real her as an artist. This time, through the help of the song Marupok that she interpreted, the singer finally found the closest thing that would define her as an artist.
Marupok not only won Best Song Award, but also won MYX Choice for Best Music Video. KZ, during the post-media conference for Finals’ night, revealed that the music video of the 11th Himig Edition best song was the closest definition of her being an artist.
“Ito ata yung pinakamalapit talaga sa kung sino si KZ as an artist, visually. Kasi maganda yung pagkagawa nung music video. Na ang nangyari, naging katapat ng quality ng music yung quality ng music video. Hindi lang mukang pang-support ng song yung music video.”
Not just the music video itself, KZ also shared that the song has some powerful message. The singer even shared her most favorite line of the song which is, “wag kang kakatok kung hindi ka papasok”.
For her, the writer of the song, Daniella Ann Balagtas, did an incredible job of connecting how a person enters a door to a relationship.
“Wag ka kakatok kung hindi ka papasok yun talaga. Kung paano hinalintulad in Dana ang pasok sa isang relationship sa pagkatok at pagpasok sa isang pinto. Na parang bakit ka nga kakatok kung hindi ka papasok di ba? Manggugulo ka lang.”
“Yun ang sinasabi ng kanta na if you’re not really serious sa akin, kung hindi naman maganda ang rason ng iyong pagkatok, wag ka ng kumatok, wag mo na akong guluhin, ganon.”
KZ, who is now enjoying the married life with singer TJ Monterde, said that her past experiences made her grow as a person. Now, she knows what makes her “marupok” and has learned to finally take care of herself.
“Now I know myself better, now I know what triggers my pagiging marupok. So ngayon kaya ko na siyang iwasan. Ngayon, mas naalagaan ko yung sarili ko dahil sa mga pinagdaanan ko. I had to go through those things para makilala ko yung sarili ko,” admitted the singer.
When asked how she prepared for the finals night, KZ revealed that preparation is key. That is why she hates people saying that it’s okay to perform half-prepared.
“Actually walang secret eh. What I make sure is I’m prepared. Kasi pag prepared ka, you don’t have to think about anything when you’re performing. It just comes out naturally.
“Sobrang hate ko pag sinasabihan ako na pwede na yan, okay na yan. Ayoko na tsumatsamba ako for a performance. So I make sure na I know my stuff. I make sure that I have a structure in my head of the things I can do and should do. Prepare, prepare, preparation is key,” said KZ.
Admittedly, KZ did not expect that their song would win, let alone be the best song among the 11 entries for this year’s Himig edition. And when they were announced to be the winners, the singer was grateful that her efforts as an interpreter were recognized.
“Still feels like the first time. Di mo talaga pwedeng i-expect na mananalo ka kasi iba-iba ang beauty ng bawat kanta na part ng Himig 11th edition. It just feels so good sa puso mo na narerecognize yung effort mo as an interpreter.”
KZ also showed appreciation to the young composer of the song. Daniella, who at 23 years old, won the Best song in this year’s Himig edition. This led KZ to realize that it’s time to revolutionize music and listen to the new generation of composers.
“We have to be open to everything. Kasi music is constantly evolving. And hindi tayo pwedeng mag-stick lang sa kung ano yung mga formula na nagwowork sa music industry in the past. It’s time to revolutionize everything. And isang step para gawin yun is to listen to the people who know what is current, who knows ano yung mga bagong bagay, mga bagong technology para makagawa ng mga bagong tunog.”
