Katrina Copino Velarde (born December 5, 1994) is a Filipino singer known for her vocal range and belting technique.[1] She began joining local singing competitions at age 7 and grew online fame for her covers and vocal impersonations.[2] Dubbed as The Vocal Supreme.[3] She rose to prominence following her runner-up finished on the reality show Masked Singer Pilipinas and was part of Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids (Season 2) as a judge and the variety show ASAP as a performer.
Katrina Velarde | |
|---|---|
 Velarde in 2023 | |
| Born | Katrina Copino Velarde December 5, 1994 Tondo, Manila, Philippines |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 2012-present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | Viva Records |
| Website | Katrina Velarde Official |
In 2019, Velarde released her debut EP "SiKat Ako" under Viva Records.[4] In the same year, she staged her first solo major concert 'Sikat Ako' at the New Frontier Theater in Manila,[5] followed by 'Sikat i2' last November 2019. During the pandemic in 2020, she joined Masked Singer Pilipinas as Diwata and grew online fame.[6]
She gained further international acclaim after representing the Philippines to perform in the 2020 Firdaus Holiday Experience at the Expo City Dubai with Firdaus Orchestra.[7]
Her work has earned her a number of nominations from various award-giving bodies, including an Awit Award, a PMPC Star Awards for Music which includes her Female R&B Artist of the Year award [8] and a Golden Screen Award.[9][10]
Life and career
editBorn and raised in Tondo, Manila, Velarde started to join singing contest at age 7 to help her family's financial difficulties. She also sold Sampaguita lei made by her mother.[11] Velarde was known as a veteran contender in singing contests. She became part of Little Big Star hosted by Sarah Geronimo together with her batch mate Charice Pempengco and Sam Concepcion.[12]
2011: TV5's Talentadong Pinoy
editVelarde alongside Alyssa Quijano and Jennifer Maravilla formed the group New Born Divas to join the second season of Talentadong Pinoy, one of the most popular reality talent shows of its time. After posting consecutive wins, the group was named the 11th Hall of Famer.[13]
2012: ABS-CBN's The X Factor Philippines
editAfter New Born Divas disbanded, she joined The X Factor Philippines season 1 as a solo act. She sang "Dangerously in Love" by Beyoncé and got four yeses from the judges. On her bootcamp performance, Velarde sang (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin. After that audition, the judges called the names of Velarde, Alyssa Quijano, Auriette Divina, Monique Lualhati, Jhelsea Flores and Ashley Campbell to inform them that they were chosen as the last act in groups category that made it to the Top 20 and it was mentored by Gary Valenciano.[14] At the judges' home visit, A.K.A. J.A.M. performed Seasons of Love by the cast of Rent the musical and made it to the top 12. On the first week of their live show, their group performed Got to Be Real by Cheryl Lynn. On the second week, they performed This Is My Life (La vita) by Shirley Bassey. On the third week of their live show performance, A.K.A. J.A.M. performed Survivor by Destiny's Child. Unfortunately, their group didn't make it to the next level after losing to Daddy's Home via text votes of 4.42% and 5.53%, respectively.[15]
2013: Suklay Diva
editAfter she uploaded a video of herself singing Dangerously In Love 2 by Beyoncé while holding a plastic comb as her microphone, netizens started calling her Suklay Diva (Comb Diva). It went viral after catching the attention of the netizens and started to gain international fame through social media.[16] Her video went viral after Chris Brown and Beyoncé's guitarist Bibi McGill shared it on social media from worldstarhiphop.com and became a female talent of the week.[17] Because of her viral video. Velarde got an invitation to showcase her talent on The Ellen DeGeneres Show[18] a segment that open its door for Filipino singer and internet sensation like Charice Pempengco. But due to her Bell's palsy condition, Velarde turned down the offer.
2014–2019: TV5 career
editVelarde became part of TV5's weekly drama series "Trenderas" with Isabella de Leon and Lara Maigue where she played the role of Diva Salambangon. Her natural wit and sense of humor brought her to nomination at the 2015 Golden Screen Awards as Outstanding Breakthrough Performance by an Actress.[19] In 2015, she also played a main role in TV5's Wattpad presents #Bitterella.[20] Velarde had a chance to showcase her talent on Wish 107.5 Bus YouTube channel singing her rendition of Go The Distance by Michael Bolton.[21] Because of her ability to imitate local and international singers, she started to upload a video of her song covers that became popular to some foreign reactors on YouTube.[22]
In October 2018, Velarde performed in the 2018 Philippine Popular Music Festival, an annual songwriting competition organized by the Philpop MusicFest Foundation. She interpreted "Tama Na",[23] an original song written by Michael Rodriguez & Jeanne Columbine Rodriguez which was chosen as one of the 10 finalists and nominated as Best Ballad Recording by the 32nd Awit Awards.[24] Velarde sang theme songs for VIVA films "Magkaibang Mundo", the Original Sound Track of the movie Just A Stranger starring Anne Curtis and Marco Gumabao. Followed by "Isang Himala" from the box office movie Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2019 Philippine film) written by Miguel Mendoza which also nominated as Movie Theme Song of the Year by the PMPC Star Awards for Movies.[25]
Velarde released her first album Sikat Ako.[26] The title of her album was based on her first solo major concert last February 2019 where Regine Velasquez surprised and joined her for a duet of "Araw Gabi".[27] Due to its success, it follows her 2nd major solo concert called "SiKat i2",[28] where she also have been nominated as Female Concert Performer of the Year.[29]
2020–present: Masked Singer Pilipinas and Expo City Dubai
editShe later joined Masked Singer Pilipinas 2020 as DIWATA where she became 1st runner up over Daryl Ong[30] and was chosen as a judge on a reality singing competition Born to Be a Star.[31]
Velarde has often been referred to as "The Vocal Supreme"[32] since her performance in Firdaus Holiday Experience at the Expo City Dubai with Firdaus Orchestra in December 2022, where she represented the Philippines. She performed her single "Isang Himala", the official soundtrack of the box office movie Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2019 Philippine film), "Hindi Tayo Pwede" from The Juans and "Pasko Na Sinta Ko" by Gary Valenciano.[33]
In February 2023, Velarde participated in Louie Ocampo’s 45th Anniversary Concert, Composer Ka Lang, where she performed the song "Anak".[34] Following the pandemic, Velarde released her first single, "Ako Ba O Siya?", an original composition by Vehnee Saturno. This song was also used as the theme for the Philippine television drama series, "Minsan pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan", broadcast by TV5.[35]
In October 2023, Velarde performed in Pinoy Playlist Music Festival at the BGC Arts Center where she sang "Dadalhin" as a tribute song to the "Asia's Songbird" Regine Velasquez.[36] She also served as a judge for the segment "Stars of All Seasons" in the noontime show, It's Your Lucky Day.[37] Velarde regularly performed on the Kapamilya Channel's ASAP Natin 'To and was a part of the segment, "ASAP Champions". In December 2023, Velarde performed at The Grand Countdown to 2024 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.[38]
In February 2024, Velarde released her new single under Viva Records "Ika'y Nag-iisa", a Carlo Espinosa-written ballad produced by the Awit Award winning producer Civ Fontanilla Carlo[39] and it's used as a theme song for TV5's drama series "Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa".[40] Velarde undergone appendectomy last March 2024 then suddenly recovered. She also invited to compete at Britain's Got Talent but for some reasons, she declined the offer.[41]
In April 2024, Velarde staged herself to another concert called "Z Con: The Gen Z Icon Concert" at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.[42] She also awarded as the "Female R&B Artist of the Year" of the 14th PMPC Star Awards for Music for her single "Sa Panaginip" under Viva Records.[43]
Discography
editStudio Album
edit| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2019 | SiKat Ako
|
Singles
edit| Title | Original soundtrack of | Album |
|---|---|---|
| Isang Dakot Na Luha | Isang Dakot Na Luha | |
| Pananagutan | Honesto | |
| Lason Mong Halik | Wag Mong Agawin Ang Akin | |
| Taksil | ||
| Leron Leron Sinta | Awit At Laro | |
| Tama Na | SiKat Ako | |
| Ikaw Pa Rin | ||
| Kung Naging Tayong Dalawa | ||
| Magkaibang Mundo | Just A Stranger | |
| Isang Himala | Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2019 Philippine film) | |
| Sunlight ft. Daryl Ong | ||
| Balang Araw (with BuDaKhel) | ||
| Love Me Now (ft. Daryl Ong) | ||
| Mahal Pa Kita | ||
| Sa Panaginip | ||
| Tililing | Tililing | |
| Di Na Nag-iisa | Darna Official Soundtrack | |
| Ako Ba O Siya? | Minsan pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan | |
| Ika’y Nag-iisa | Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa |
Concerts
editHeadlining
edit| Title | Date | Venue | City | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SiKat Ako | February 1, 2019 | New Frontier Theater | Cubao, Quezon City | [44] |
| SiKat Ako i2 | November 29, 2019 | New Frontier Theater | [45] | |
| Katrina Velarde: Live In Doha, Qatar | January 3, 2020 | Al Arabi Sports Club | Doha, Qatar | [46] |
| Z Con: The Gen Z Icon Concert | April 13, 2024 | Samsung Performing Arts Theater | Circuit Makati | [47] |
Co-Headlining
edit| Title | Co-headliner(s) | Date | Venue | City | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary V Presents | Gary Valenciano Mitoy Yonting Janice Javier Timmy Pavino Jimmy Marquez Rj Dela Fuente Kiana Valenciano Lara Maigue |
July 15 – 16, 2016 | Kia Theatre | Cubao, Quezon City | [48] |
| ANNEKULIT: PROMISE, LAST NA ‘TO! in Winnipeg | Anne Curtis Billy Crawford Chad Kinis G-force |
March 17, 2019 | Centennial Concert Hall | Downtown Winnipeg | [49] |
| Louie Ocampo 'Composer Ka Lang' The Valentine Concert | Louie Ocampo Martin Nievera Pops Fernandez Joey Albert Marco Sison Mark Bautista Kuh Ledesma Sam Concepcion Lyca Gairanod Janine Teñoso |
February 4 – 5 and 15 – 16, 2023 | The Theatre at Solaire | Aceana Avenue Entertainment City | [50] |
| BuDaKhel Live in Cebu | Bugoy Drilon Daryl Ong Michael Pangilinan Lucas Garcia |
September 23, 2023 | Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex | Mandaue City | [51] |
| The Music of Cecile Azarcon "A 45th Anniversary Concert | Gary Valenciano Ogie Alcasid Martin Nievera Iwi Laurel Zsa Zsa Padilla Regine Velasquez |
May 24 – 25, 2024 | The Theatre at Solaire | Parañaque City | [52] |
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Network | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Trenderas | Diva Salambangon | Main Cast | TV5 | [53] |
| 2015 | Wattpad presents #Bitterella | Ella | Main Role |
As a group
edit| Year | Title | Network | Country | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Eat Bulaga: Let’s Sing Eat! | GMA 7 | Philippines | Contestant (New Born Divas) | |
| 2011 | Talentadong Pinoy | TV5 | Contestant (New Born Divas) | ||
| 2012 | The X Factor Philippines | ABS-CBN | Contestant (AKA JAM) | [54] | |
| 2013 | It’s Showtime: Bida Kapamilya | Contestant (AKA JAM) |
As herself
edit| Year | Title | Network | Country | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ASAP: ASAP Versus | ABS-CBN | Philippines | Performer | [55] |
| 2019 | GGV | Performer | [56] | ||
| 2020 | Masked Singer Pilipinas | TV5 | Contestant, runner up (DIWATA) | [57] | |
| 2021 | Born to Be a Star | Judge | [58] | ||
| 2022 | All-Out Sundays | GMA 7 | Performer | [59] | |
| Sing Galing | TV5 | Performer | |||
| 2023–present | ASAP Natin 'To | Kapamilya Channel | Performer | ||
| 2023 | Stars of All Seasons | Judge | |||
| 2024 | Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids | Judge | [60] | ||
| I Can See Your Voice | Guest Star | [61] |
Accolades
edit| Year | Award-giving Body/Critics | Award(s)/Category | Nominated Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Golden Screen TV Awards | Breakthrough Performance by an Actress | Trenderas | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Philippine Popular Music Festival | Best Song | "Tama Na" | Top 10 | |
| 2019 | 32nd Awit Awards | Best Ballad Recording | "Tama Na" | Nominated | |
| 2020 | 33rd Awit Awards | Best Song Written for Movie/TV/ Stage | "Magkaibang Mundo" (Just A Stranger) | Nominated | |
| 2021 | 36th PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Movie Theme Song of the Year | "Isang Himala" (Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2019 Philippine film)) | Nominated | |
| 12th Star Awards for Music | Female Concert Performer of the Year | SiKat i2 (Concert) | Nominated | ||
| 2024 | 14th Star Awards for Music | Female R&B Artist of the Year | "Sa Panaginip" | Won | [62] |
References
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- ^ "Aka Jam still thankful mentor Gary V." ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
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