Biography
Real name: Melanie Hernandez Calumpad
Birth date: January 5, 1981
Interesting Facts
Veteran director Al Quinn saw her potential, encouraging her to join the immensely popular That’s
Entertainment. Melanie represented the country in the Fourth Yamaha Music Quest in 1995, where she
interpreted the Vernhee Saturno original, Only World.
In 1997, she brought home the third prize trophy in the Metropop Young Singers’ Competition (later
renamed Metropop Star Search). Soon GMA’s Infiniti Records offered Melanie, along with fellow
‘Search winners Carmela Cunta and Jonard Yanzon, to wax a couple of songs for a compilation album
entitled Kung Umiibig Na. She recorded two solo tracks: I Wish You Love and the folksy love song,
Kung Magkikita Tayo Muli, which would later re-emerge as a Vina Morales signature hit, Muli.
The Birth of Kyla. Armed with a Raymund Ryan composition, One More Try, Melanie once again joined the
Metropop Song Festival in 2000. The song failed to make it in the Top12. It did, however, make it to
EMI’s A/R Manager Francis Guevarra’s consciousness. Guevarra immediately signed her to a recording deal
and renamed her Kyla. The rest, as they say, is history.
Kyla Brings It On. Kyla made her big debut in 2000 with Way To Your Heart with its hit carrier single,
“Bring It On.” The album brought out the realization that yes, the country’s first honest-to-goodness
R&B has arrived. Comparisons to R&B super stars Brandy and Aaliyah began to surface.
It was her second single, the piano-driven ballad Hanggang Ngayon that turned out to be Kyla’s
breakthrough hit, topping a host of FM radio charts. The song’s music video, which was directed by Lyle
Sacris, furthur boosted the song’s popularity.
Bring On The Honors. The video won for Kyla two big honors trophies at the 2001 MTV Pilipinas
Awards: Best New Artst and Video of the year. Her video even went on to win the MTV Southeast Asia Video
Music Award.
Along with Lea Salonga and Regine Velazquez, Kyla was listed as Best Female Singer in a survey held by
popular teen magazine Meg in her first full year in the music business alone. Kyla also has six Awit
awards, including Best Vew Female Artist. FM Radio station KF FM even hailed her as Breakthrough Artist
of the Year.
Second Servings. Kyla’s second album I Feel For You marked Kyla’s debut as a songwriter, penning two
compositions: I’m Into You and This Day. It is with her sophomore offering that Kyla was given the
opportunity to collaborate with popular recording artists like Freestyle and Gary Valenciano.
Kyla opened 2002 with a band, receiving the award for Female Artist of the Year from two of the
country’s most popular radio stations Magic 89.9. and Moster Radio RX 93.1. She was also invited to
perform at the MTV Asia Awards with popular boy group Blue.
The Third Album. Kyla’s third album, I Will be There is aided by the country’s most popular and
respected artists. The title track is penned by none other than Ogie Alcasid, while Naghihintay Lamang
is written by Janno Gibbs and Feel So Good by Rhada. There are a couple of reunions in I Will Be There,
as well. First is with Mr. Pure Energy Gary V. as they do a duet with Sana Maulit Muli. After their
performance at the MTV awards, Blue collaborates with Kyla wit the funky Flexin’.
Not Your Ordinary Girl. Onto her fourth album, Kyla dishes out what may be Kyla’s best work just yet.
There are a lot of collaborations, a bunch of revivals, and some cute original materials, making Not
Your Ordinary a not so ordinary album, too.
Currently on its way to the top of the charts is Kyla’s first single, Human Nature. The song is a
Michael Jackson original, that is one of the several covers in the album. Kyla remakes Claire Marlowe’s
Till They Take My Heart Away, as well as Gary V.’s What More Can I Say?, and Ella Mae Saison’s If The
Feeling Is Gone.
Collaborations with Keith Martin and Jay-R make Kyla’s latest album a fun and funky album. From R&B to
pop to a bit of hip hop and the good ol’ ballad, Not Your Ordinary Girl demonstrates Kyla’s versatility
as a singer and performer.
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