Kyla

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Melanie Hernandez Calumpad, better known by her stage name Kyla is one of the most awarded Filipino young singers in the Philippines. Dubbed as the country's "R&B Princess"^{[1] [2]}, she is the only local female artist who has won in the prestigious MTV Video Music Awards as 2001 MTV's Southeast Asian Viewers Choice Awardee. Other awardees include OPM bands Parokya ni Edgar and Eraserheads, who won the MTV Video Award for Asia for Ang Huling El Bimbo. She has collaborated with international artists such as Fra Lippo Lippi, Ronan Keating, British boy-band Blue, Malaysian R&B singer Ferhad, Malaysian hip-hop duo Too Phat, and Keith Martin.

Biography

Kyla was born on January 4, 1981, the third child in a brood of four. Her first experience of singing contests was through Tanghalan ng Kampeon, but she clinched her first victory in the DZRH Hamon sa Kampeon in 1991. In 1993, she was crowned champion for seven straight weeks in Tanghalan ng Kampeon and became the Grand Champion in November of that same year, with the song "I Am Changing" as her winning piece.

She later joined the Wednesday group of That's Entertainment, an afternoon variety show on GMA Network using her real name, Melanie, as her screen name.

Melanie was christened 'Kyla' (meaning princess) by Octo Arts' EMI Label Manager, Francis Guevarra when a recording demo for a Metropop song, One More Try, landed on his lap by fate.

Kyla released her debut album, Way To Your Heart, under Octo Arts EMI in 2001, which later produced hits such as “Bring It On” and “Hanggang Ngayon”. The album is considered as one of the first authentic R&B albums to emerge from the local music scene. She has won countless awards from the most credible music award-giving bodies, an outstanding feat singers her age have yet to accomplish. Also in the same year, as a relative newcomer, she was listed in the top 3 of the Best Female Local Artist of the Year, in a survey held by popular teen magazine, Meg, along with established music artists, Lea Salonga and Regine Velasquez.

2002 was another banner year for Kyla. She released her second self-titled album with I Feel For You as the carrier track. In just a relatively short amount of time, this single reached the # 1 slot in various countdowns of most of the top FM stations. She also rendered the Jollibee 25th birthday song and has performed opposite UK’s top band Blue during the MTV Asia Awards in Singapore also in the same year.

Kyla has had certified hits too singing together with Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano for “Let’s Stop and Talk Awhile” and is a favorite guest amongst the premier recording artists of the land from Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs and Jaya.

In March 2002, she graduated from the Philippine Christian University, Taft Avenue, Manila, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication^{[3] [4]}.

Kyla released her third album with the carrier single “I Will Be There” composed by Ogie Alcasid in 2003. She again did a duet with Gary V, with a cover version of "Sana Maulit Muli". Tickets for Kyla’s concert “Kyla: Up Close” in 2003 at the Music Museum was sold out. Kyla also guested in sitcoms and even did a short stint in the Jolina Magdangal telenovela “Narito ang Puso Ko”.

Kyla opened 2004 with her birthday celebration at SOP with a surprise duet from the artist who originally sang Because of You, Keith Martin. Kyla interpreted this song via the Perfefctly Acoustic compilation album released last December 2003.

After 4 years of prominence in the Philippines Music Industry and following the success of her album Not Your Ordinary Girl, she held her Not Just Your Ordinary Girl Concert in the Araneta Colliseum. It was certified a sold-out concert.

In 2006 and 2007, she did a hosting stint in a kiddie talent search Popstar Kids, which aired on QTV (television network).

Kyla’s singing prowess is displayed on the noontime variety show, SOP Rules which airs on GMA Network every Sunday. She sings duets with her music partner Jay-R, in a segment called "Souled Out."

On November 29 2009, her latest album Heart 2 Heart was awarded with a Gold Record Status in SOP: Fully Charged. It was also announced that her album will be released in Malaysia and Indonesia, and will contain Bahasa version of her hit song, "Hanggang Ngayon" as well as "Hinahanap-hanap Kita".

Discography

Solo Studio Albums

Filmography

Television/Film/Other appearance

2009

• She's part of the cast of the latest season of Dear Friend together with Jay-R, Jennica Garcia, Mart Escudero and Paulo Avelino
• Special Performance with Jay-R at the MYX Music Awards '09 singing their duet included in her album Heart2Heart,Back In Time

2008

• Celebrity Duets (Philippine Edition): Celebrity Duet Partner

2007

• Celebrity Duets (Philippine Edition): Celebrity Duet Partner
• Pacquiao vs. Barrera II - Will To Win: Sang the Philippine National Anthem

2005

• All Star K!: Campus Crushes (Ep)
• Bubble Gang: Live (Ep)
• Popstar Kids: Host

2004

• Alicia Keys Live in Manila - (front act)
• Masikip Sa Dibdib(film): Performer (singer)
• Narito Ang Puso Ko: tandem with Jay R
• Magpakailanman: played Sarah Geronimo (Life Story)

Awards

With 8 years of prominence in the music industry, Kyla has accumulated numerous awards from many critically acclaimed Philippine Music Award giving bodies, surpassing many of her contemporaries.

2009

• RX 93.1 Awards:
  • OPM Female Artist of the Decade
  • OPM Female Artist of the Year
  • OPM Song of the Year: Back in Time (feat. JayR)
• ASAP 24k Gold Awards: Female Awardee
• Gold Record Award: "Heart 2 Heart"
• Pure n' Fresh Top Teen Awards: Top Teen Female Entertainer

(Nominations)

• Awit Awards:
  • Best Collaboration: Back In Time with Jay-R
  • Best R&B: You Make Me Feel
  • Best Musical Arrangement: Ribbon In The Sky (Musical Arranger: Bobby Velasco)
  • Best Vocal Arrangement: Ribbon In The Sky (Vocal Arranger : Arnie Mendaros)
• 4th MYX Music Awards: Favorite Female Artist
• 1st Radio Music Awards: Favorite RnB - Solo
• 1st Star Awards for Music:
  • Best R&B Artist
  • Best R&B Album: Heart 2 Heart

2008

• ASAP 24k Gold Award: Female Awardee
• Awit Awards: Best Ballad - It's Over Now
• Gold Record Award: "Heartfelt"

(Nominations)

• Awit Awards:
  • Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist: Love Will Lead You Back
  • Best Ballad: It's Over Now

2007

• 3rd MYX Music Award: Favorite Remake - Love Will Lead You Back
• YES! Magazine's Readers' Choice Awards: Hitmaker of the Year "Beautiful Days"

(Nominations)

• 3rd MYX Music Awards:
  • Favorite Female Artist
  • Favorite Mellow Video: Love Will Lead You Back

2006

(Nominations)

• MYX Music Awards: Favorite Collaboration - "Say That You Love Me" with Jay-R
• Awit Awards: Best Ballad - Beautiful Days

2005

• 1st Philippine Annual Hip-hop Music Awards: Female R&B Artist of the Year
• ASAP Platinum Circle Awards: Female Awardee
• Platinum Record Award: "Not Your Ordinary Girl"

(Nominations)

• MTV Pilipinas: Favorite Female Artist
• Awit Awards:
  • Album of the Year - Not Your Ordinary Girl
  • Best Ballad: If The Feeling Is Gone
  • Best R&B Song: Not Your Ordinary Girl (feat. Jimmy Muna), Something About You (feat. Thor), Hindi Mo Ba Alam (feat. PKaso)
• 1st Philippine Annual Hip-hop Music Awards: R&B Video of the Year - (Not Your Ordinary Girl)

2004

• Gold Record Award: "Not Your Ordinary Girl"
• Awit Awards:
  • People’s Choice Artist
  • Best Performance by a Duet: Sana Maulit Muli (with Gary V.)
  • Best R&B Song: I Will Find You
• National Consumer’s Choice Awards: Best Female Artist
• RX 93.1 Awards: OPM Female Artist of the Year
• Tinig Awards: NPC’s Tining 2004 Honorees

(Nominations)

• Aliw Awards:
  • Best Concert Act (Female)
  • Best Performer in Hotel, Music Lounges and Bars
  • Most Promising Female Entertainer
• Awit Awards:
  • Best R&B Song: Bounce
  • Best Vocal Arrangement: Always on Time

2003

• Metropop Song Festival:
  • Close-up Planet Choice Song - Buti Na Lang
  • 3rd Place Winner - Buti Na Lang

(Nominations)

• Katha Awards: Best R&B Song: This Day (from the Album: Kyla, Interpreter/Songwriter)

2002

• Aliw Awards: Best New Female Artist
• Katha Awards 2002:
  • Best R&B Performance: Tara Tena
  • Best R&B Song: Tara Tena (with Kaya & V3)
  • Song of the Year: Tara Tena
• RX 93.1 Awards:
  • OPM Female Artist of the Year (for the 2nd Straight Year)
  • OPM Song of the Year: I Feel For You
• Magic 89.9 Awards: Female Artist of the Year
• MTV Pilipinas: Favorite Love Song - I Feel For You

(Nominations)

• Katha Awards: Best Rap Performance: Laro (with D’Coy)
• MTV Pilipinas: Favorite Female Artist

2001

• Awit Awards:
  • Best New Female Recording Artist
  • Music Video of the Year - Hanggang Ngayon
  • Music Video Performance of the Year
  • Best R&B Music - Bring it On
• Guillermo Mendoza Foundation Awards: Most Promising Female Recording Artist
• MTV Pilipinas:
  • Best Video - Hanggang Ngayon
  • Best New Artist
• MTV Video Music Awards: MTV Southeast Asia Viewers' Choice Winner
• JAM: Himig Handog Sa Makabagong Kabataan
  • Grand Prize Winner: Tara Tena (Interpreter)
• RX 93.1 Awards: OPM Female Artist of the Year
• KCFM 93.9 Awards: Breakthrough Artist of the Year

External links

• Kyla's unofficial and fans site
• Kyla's official website
• KylaOnline:The Largest On-line Community for Kyla
• EMI Philippines' Official Website