Fil-Brit singer Chlara is looking to expand her horizons in Japan, Korea

Fil-Brit singer Chlara is looking to expand her horizons in Japan, Korea

by rick olivares

Growing up in England, Filipino-British singer Chlara Magtultol discovered music through her late father who had quite a vinyl record collection.

Today as a recording artist, she feels she’s come full circle having released a vinyl record (to go with her debut offering in compact disc form not to mention new releases on digital and streaming). “My dad used to collect vinyl so this was like a goal of mine,” reflected Chlara who moved to the Philippines at the age of nine.  “I feel I have come full circle. Music and vinyl records were my father’s passion and now I have one for myself. Since he passed away, I did something that my father really loved. So this is for him. I feel like I have this connection with him.”

As much as her father was an inspiration, an unlikely influence for the Fil-Brit was Filipino alternative band, Parokya Ni Edgar, that made a name for themselves with their rock novelty songs and satirical covers of local and foreign music.

A cousin of hers made her listen to a Parokya Ni Edgar original titled, “Don’t Touch My Birdie”.

“I thought it was funny but not really understanding it,” she laughs at the memory. “You understand what he (lead singer Chito Miranda) is singing about,’ my cousin asked. Then I laughed. ‘Oh, no!’ But it is funny.”

Today, during her performances, she occasionally sings songs from Parokya Ni Edgar such as “Harana” and “Para Sayo”. “But not ‘Birdie,” she protests with a laugh.

Parokya Ni Edgar aside, Chlara certainly never thought she’d have a career in music in the Philippines. Since she settled down in Metro Manila, she’s been one busy recording artist.

She released her debut album, Unstoppable, in 2014, and followed that up with her vinyl release, In A Different Light, in December of 2016. Her third release in December of 2017 was a digital extended play album titled, Evo Sessions. Less than four months later, her second EP, Evo Sessions EP 2 came out this past March with the single, “Baby Just Let Me Go”.

“The different formats are for all the different audiences who prefer music in different ways,” she explains of the various forms of release.

“My first album had a rough start,” she recalled of Unstoppable. “No one heard of me yet and the songs were high school-ish since they were the very first songs I wrote. They reflected the younger me and I think they weren’t fully appreciated. At least not yet. Since In A Different Light came out – and it was an album of cover songs -- the first one is doing better.”

But the local music scene is tricky one. Not all mainstream artists do well. In fact, underground bands do even better by not only performing abroad but also getting to sell physical copies of their music outside the Philippines. “I’ll say this about the local music scene, It’s exciting but also challenging. I think many people would rather stream or download,” says Chlara.

Interestingly, the young singer has gotten much better interest outside the Philippines. “We were surprised to know that my songs are getting played – on the radio – in places like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong,” she says. “In fact, I am getting letters and personal messages from people over there. And they aren’t Filipino. They say, ‘Oh, I heard your song on the radio and I’d like to know more about your music.’”

The increasing outside interest has seen her go to Hong Kong and Taiwan to promote her songs. “I think the internet has really made that possible,” exclaims Chlara. “And now I am looking to expand my market to as far as Japan and South Korea. If there is the opportunity to collaborate with recording artists there, why not? We are also looking for new ways to not only perform there but also do something unique.”

“I never thought I’d have a career in music in the Philippines and I certainly never thought I’d have an audience in places like Korea or China. But that’s the cool thing about music – the language is universal and knows no borders. And I look forward to expanding my horizons.”