Charice and Jessica Sanchez are not the only talented Pinay singers making waves internationally. Add Vanessa White, the Fil-Brit lead vocalist of British girl group The Saturdays who are responsible for several hits in Europe such as “Issues,” “Ego,” and “Up.” The girls have recently started their pursuit to conquer America with the reality show called “Chasing the Saturdays,” premiering on E! SkyCable Channel 57. It follows Vanessa and the rest of the girls (Frankie, Una, Mollie, and Rochelle) trying to make it outside their homeland. The girls are now out with a new album called “The Chase” and have been promoting its carrier single “What About Us.”
Coconuts Manila, together with other members of the press, recently had a phoner with Vanessa, who talked about her Filipino roots, being compared to popular female singers, and getting starstruck in Hollywood.
PINOY ROOTS
How much do you know about the Filipinos and the Filipino culture? Your mom is a Filipina, right?
Yes, she’s from Davao. I’ve been there quite a few times, actually. I’d like to go back whenever I can.
Do you speak Filipino? Do you understand the Filipino language?
I can understand more than I can speak. Konti lang.
When do you plan to visit next?
I normally go back Christmas time with my family but I want to go back to Boracay.
Do you know many of our famous singers like Arnel Pineda, Lea Salonga, and Charice? And who among them do you look up to and wish to work with someday?
Well, I love Charice. I think she’s amazing! But when I was younger, I used to love and I always listened to Sharon Cuneta and Aiza Seguerra.
Can you just talk about your family, your Filipino roots, like the name of your mom?
My mom is from Davao. She’s a nurse back there and I have a sister who is younger than me. We do try to go back, me and my family, in the Philippines as much as we can. We’re trying to find a trip soon.
RELATIONSHIP
How much public attention do you allow regarding your relationship with your boyfriend? Are you open about it or do you try to keep it private?
I’m a bit of a private person so I’ll probably try to keep it private as much as I can. But what is seen in the show is very open and we wanted everyone to see what exactly goes on, so I think that would be the kind of point where we would be open about it. But normally we are private persons.
Do you have any plans of settling down soon?
In a few years but not now. I like going out a lot too much to settle down at the moment.
Is your boyfriend with you now or you will just see each other after the show?
Oh no, we’re still together. We never saw each other when we were in the show because we were in LA and he was watching back home and that was hard but we’re back in London now.
SINGING
How would you describe your role in the group?
Well, my role in the group is, I like to go and have a good time, so if anyone is in the mood for party, you know I am always in the mood!
How does it feel to be regarded as the group’s Christina Aguilera, and being compared to American singers like Alicia Keys, Beyonce, and Mariah?
It’s really flattering, and it’s really nice.
When you were starting out, was it difficult making it? Of being mixed blood?
I don’t think it did. No, not in this day and age, you know? Obviously I wanted to sing from a very young age. My mother is very supportive, and I went to stage school and I’m here in London and then I had to go every week and then I went full time. So I used to practice there all the time and do live auditions and then luckily I got into the Saturdays so, yeah, it’s amazing for me.
Who are your singing influences?
My greatest influence was actually at home. My mother was a singer and my uncle and my family encouraged me from a young age so I grew up and lived in that way.
Do you intend to go back to theater? Perhaps audition in the re-make of Miss Saigon in London?
Actually, Miss Saigon is my favorite show, ever since. I’m a big fan of that show. I really love the show and you know maybe in a few years.
THE SHOW AND THE GROUP
We heard that your group is being challenged to be the next Spice Girls. Is that true?
We get it quite a lot especially in America. We just go for it. It’s really nice. We’re massive fans of them so, yeah, we’re very honored.
So how do you guys find the Hollywood life?
We get to feel like stars. It’s very exciting. We were like tourists.
What else we can expect from you guys?
Okay, so we’ve got so much going on at the moment. Well, we have an album, and it’s currently number one and it’s very exciting. And we have an album coming out later on in the year. We’ve got, you know, summer dates, and we are gonna try for Asia soon.
“Chasing the Saturdays” premieres on E! SkyCable this April 7, and The Saturdays’ album “The Chase” is available in all record bars.
