In the Philippines, where nearly everybody can sing, it’s a given that some of the finest artists actively gigging and making records are underrated. It’s beyond control that only a handful get massive public acclaim. It must hurt knowing you have what it takes to be up there, while someone selling out is the talk of the town.
Well, it boils down to how an artist deals with success. Who says popularity is the gauge when an incompetent clown and hate-monger can win an election via popular vote?
Adjeng, a professional musician tapped as an ambassador for mental health and wellness, is in a position to address the matter.
“I just fix my eyes on doing the work, enjoying the creative process, and striking a balance between fulfilling my roles as a wife and mother while doing work I enjoy and love,” she said.
By saying that, she’s sending the message that the respect she gains from people who matter in her life “weighs heavier than trying to dwell on getting everyone’s approval.”
Adjeng started as a frontwoman in acknowledged bands in the music scene before releasing solo records at the height of the COVID pandemic. Her songs “Be Kind” and “Kaya Mo Yan” have been considered tunes “with messages that highlight the importance of showing kindness during tough times as well as the value of hope and encouragement in the face of challenges.”
This talented, eloquent lady, in my opinion, belongs to the elite female acts who create good music and present themselves on stage in inspiring ways, much like household names Kitchie Nadal and Barbie Almalbis. She’s a working musician, going around bars and performing songs—covers and originals—with her club group AdJunDie. She’s the featured singer in Wolf’s Gang, the band at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse in Newport, Pasay City, which plays numbers exclusively arranged for customers enjoying its fine wine and steaks. She’s set to perform there on June 30.
Adjeng shared, “There’s so much joy in doing live gigs, especially with musicians I’ve trusted and worked with for years. I’m secure knowing that all of us have individual strengths, and I trust in God’s timing and the open doors He has for me.”
It has been over a year since Adjeng released her eight-track album Unravel. She’s due for a new release, so a single, “Good Versus Better,” a track she framed “through the eyes of lovers in a committed relationship,” will be available in digital stores soon. She explained, “In the advent of so many explicit songs about passion, I remember writing it with the thought that intimacy is sacred when shared with the one you love.”
The song, which Adjeng collaborated on with veteran musician Nino Regalado, gives off an uplifting jam vibe that reminds you of the pop sensibility of, say, The CompanY. Adjeng’s voice is sexy in a cute, harmless way, without any of that forced sensuality that other female singers tend to project in intentionally suggestive tones.
She mentioned the word “gravitas” twice or thrice in our latest conversation, and that reflects how she has taken singing seriously, with consistent vocal training. She believes that “it takes a lot of time to unlearn unhealthy habits and embrace the right ones.”
If you’re a musician or an actor working too hard and being appreciated less, take it from a mental health advocate who is one of us on how to handle such stress. Adjeng noted, “Hustle culture pushes people to believe that grinding nonstop equates to success. That’s frightening because it puts pressure on people to the point that some forget the value of rest and taking breaks. Projecting your headspace is crucial.”
The work of the underrated goes beyond a big song or a blockbuster. It is a good body of work that has kept on going because the artist themself knows it should. And that fame—in most cases, just fleeting—is only the icing. There’s the whole cake to enjoy.
