As part of BusinessMirror’s campaign to promote everyone’s safety and well-being during the global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have invited established and independent artists to perform at least one song in their own homes while urging everyone to stay indoors.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Elora Españo was one of the most sought after actors in the independent film circuit. According to her Internet Movie Database entry, she is filming one project (Adam’s Apple) and has another (Kaputol) now in post-production.
Having turned in stellar performances in acclaimed indie films like “Tandem,” “Iadya Mo Kami,” “Birdshot,” “Seklusyon,” “Baconaua,” “Signal Rock” and most recently, “Iska,” it’s no surprise that Elora maintained a busy schedule as an actress.
And if her face looks also very familiar to mainstream audiences, it’s also because Elora was also the star of “Status,” one of the most popular #Kwentong Jollibee Vaentine’s Day short videos.
But here’s something that would sound news even to her fans: Elora is a very good singer and an even more promising songwriter.
As she recently revealed to SoundStrip, Elora’s passion for music started even when she was only a baby. “My father used to play music for me even at that very early sage of my life. I loved dancing and singing along to whatever types of genre, be it pop, jazz, folk, ballad, R&B, classical and everything in between,” she recalled.
Elora admitted that even before she got into acting, she was already passionate about music. “I was even a member of Cherubim Seraphim Chorale group in UPIS, we were lead by Ms. Zabala and Ms. Miranda of the UP Madrigal Singers,” she further revealed.
Songwriting came naturally for her as well and developed in a more organic fashion. “I started writing haikus during elementary days and thought, pwedeng maging kanta because of the natural rhythm it has. That was also the time I learned to play the guitar so pinaglaruan ko. High school I leveled up to writing poetry then eventually nilapatan ko ng music. I was never really classically trained so I play by ear. I even had a high school band.”
Music, however, took a backseat when Elora took up theater in college and was further put on hold when she started doing films. That was until last year when fate intervened and Elora found herself performing before a live audience.
“I helped a friend of mine to promote her bar and so we created a one night only gig where I played covers and some originals. It was liberating for me because I get to show who I really am and not acting into some other character. I was very happy a lot of film friends came. They were all surprised to see me sing as people already got used to seeing me act.”
The experience obviously rekindled Elora’s passion for music. So when we invited her to be a part of SoundStrip Live & in Quarantine, it didn’t take a lot of convincing on our part. As it turned out, Elora has already written a song called “Bihag” and for this session, delivered a stirring performance of it.
While the song’s title suggests that it’s about feeling like a prisoner in your own home during this ongoing lockdown, Elora said the song is actually about “being trapped in a toxic relationship.”
Moving forward and while waiting to resume work on her acting projects, Elora hopes to further explore her musical side. “I hope people get to know this other side of me,” she enthused.
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