How a Physics major listened to her Sandwich mentor and made it to the big Y! Rocks stage
Ma. Laurice (a.k.a. Darling) Jamero was rated top pick to click among the 12 Y! Rocks breakthrough acts for 2011. The lone solo performer in the bunch, she credits the Y! Rocks December event as her first public performance—and before a crowd of thousands at that.
And yet, she demurs, “I am still waiting to be discovered. Right now, I've no real experience to talk about, save for the occasional videoke sessions and intermission numbers during informal events at college and at the office. While I am sincerely grateful for these precious opportunities to showcase my talent, I still consider Y! Rocks to be my first real breakthrough.”
Before that, the 22-year-old Physics major from the Ateneo de Manila University restricted her performances before an audience of family members with covers of songs like Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger”, U2’s “With or Without You” and Adele’s “Turning Tables,” which she posted on YouTube.
A quiet song well-received
As noteworthy, the song she submitted for a chance to perform at the Y! Rocks concert was a quiet folkie tune called “Traysikel,” which she penned with Erika Aranas and Brylle Mark Carriaga.
Unsure how her acoustic number would be received before a crowd eager for ear-shattering decibels, Laurice was happily surprised when the crowd caught on to the groove and swayed to her music. She had fun and said it felt like an affirmation that she has taken her musical inclination on the right track.
Laurice credits her biggest break so far to her participation in Elements 2011, a five-day national singing and songwriting camp organized by the 7101 Music Nation. Her regular interaction with fellow participants and mentors at the camp brought out her songwriting talents.
Mentored by Sandwich frontman
She reserves special mention to her own mentor, Sandwich front person Raimund Marasigan, who coaxed her to go beyond merely covering other people’s songs.
“Sir Raimund told me that writing my own music was something I owe to myself as a musician. It is the ultimate testament to my passion for music,” she recalls.
The gentle persuasion led to her Y! Rocks entry, “Traysikel,” a love song she composed fresh from the Songwriting Camp.
Without any formal training in making music, she credits listening to everyone from Martin Nievera to Lea Salonga to the Eraserheads to the Apo Hiking Society for the build-up to the performance moment of her fledgling music career. She also gives props to her music-loving mother who taught her the basics.
Thrilled to meet her musical heroes
On Y! Rocks night, she had the thrill of her life when she met some of her heroes backstage. “It felt surreal to share the same space—let alone perform on the same stage—with Champ, Callalily, Sinosikat, Sandwich, and Tanya Markova.”
The young Boholana who works as market risk analyst in a leading commercial bank admits, “My officemates are very supportive of me. But then again, I've really no career to speak of yet. I've no gigs, and I'm still really just beginning to learn the ropes.
“I've only started writing my own songs.To date, I have less than five compositions, but my music is a work in progress. Eventually, I would like to be able to call myself a musician without hesitation.”
