Erik Santos on being linked to Angeline Quinto: ‘Just read between the lines’
Push.abs-cbn.com
10/16/2013 9:55 AM
by: Rhea Manila Santos

As culmination of his tenth year anniversary in the industry, Erik Santos stages his biggest solo concert entitled inTENse: A Decade with the Prince of Pop on November 9, 2013 at the PICC Plenary Hall, CCP Complex, Pasay City.

According to the 31-year-old singer, he said he considers this a big milestone in his life. “My greatest achievement talaga is tumagal ako ng ten years kasi hindi lahat ng nag-aartista o pumapasok sa ganitong mundo ay nakatagal ng ganun. Mahirap kasi maka-sustain ng career sa dami ng reality shows at sa dami ng mga gustong maging singer at artista so sobra akong blessed. Sobrang thankful ako sa dinami dami ng mga contest para sa mga gusto maging singer eh nabigyan ako ng chance. Given the platform of showbiz ngayon, ang dali-dali mag-change so dapat talaga visible ka palagi sa radio, sa TV at kailangan palagi kang may kantang napapakinggan ng mga tao,” he said.

Erik said he made sure the audience would enjoy the concert. “Actually sobra akong involved, hands-on ako sa conceptualization. Kahit yung itsura ng poster may say ako dito, ganun ako ka-O.C. Every thing is new. We made sure that all the details, yung mga pag-conceptualize namin nung concert, kailangan talagang iba this time. But it’s going to be a summary of the ten years ko so siyempre I’ll be singing theme songs na nagawa ko for movies, for teleseryes, meron ding mga Broadway songs. Simple lang siya na ginagawa ko tuwing concert kasi bawat production number may kanya-kanyang atake para maiba naman visually,” he said during his presscon held last October 11 at Plaza Ibarra in Quezon City.

The concert features an all-female line-up of guests who will be performing with the former Star in A Million grand champion. Erik revealed that he handpicked Regine Velasquez, Pops Fernandez, Ai-Ai De las Alas, Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto to join him in the event. “Yung mga guests ko lahat sila naging parte ng ten years ko sa business, the five of them. Para maiba naman ako lang nag lalake sa show,” he said.

After celebrating his birthday last October 10, Erik said he is confident that all the preparations for his concert will pay off. “From start to finish intense siya and of course yung mga guests ko intense din. So talagang bawat production numbers ko magiging intense and talagang magugustuhan nung manunuod nung concert,” he added.

When asked to clarify the real score between him and fellow ASAP performer Angeline Quinto, Erik feigned surprise. “May balita ba? (laughs) Sobra kaming magkaibigan and yung nalagpasan na namin yung stage na getting to know each other. Napaka-espesyal ni Angeline sa buhay ko at ako naman special sa kanya. Thank you (laughs). Just read between the lines. (laughs) Joke lang yun, just read between the lines. We’re very good friends,” he said.

Erik said he has not been totally loveless and admitted he was quietly dating a non-showbiz girl. “Akala niyo lang yun (laughs). Quiet lang ako. Ngayon I’m single and nag-de-date naman ako pero hindi talaga siya nag-materialize kaya hayaan na natin (laughs). Matagal na yun. Iba pa rin siyempre pag may love life. Ayoko naman maging single hanggang pagtanda. (laughs),” he said.

>With the influx of new talents in the industry, Erik said there is growing competition in the industry which he is ready for. “Actually tense nga ako kasi madami kaming nag-co-concert, but the way na nag-mature yung musicality ko from Star in a Million hanggang ngayon yun yung nagustuhan ng tao eh. Basically I know my market so alam ko kung paano ko gagawin para mag-enjoy yung mga nanuod sa akin. For the longest time naniniwala ako na yung mga Pinoy ma-ballad talaga eh. Mapa-babae o mapa-lalake man. Kung sakali namang magbabago yung trend, siyempre puwede naman makisabay dun depende sa kung ano yung magbabago,” he said.

The talented performer said he believes he does not have to totally reinvent himself in order to maintain his popularity. “Hindi ako aalis dun sa core ko which is ballads talaga kasi I believe na ang Pinoy talaga ay mahilig talaga yan sa ballads. So hindi ako aalis dun pero as a reinvention mas magiging creative lang ako sa sound ko for my next album. Kung the past ten years maririnig mo sa akin yung mala-theme song na masyadong pa-contest, this time we’ll make sure na iba yung sound na maririnig niyo sa susunod kong album,” he said.