Kapamilya actress and singer Belle Mariano continues to expand her artistry as she strengthens her presence in the music industry, revealing that singing has always been close to her heart even before she became known as an actress.
In a recent conversation on the podcast “Oh My Gan!” hosted by journalist Ganiel Krishnan, Mariano shared that music has long been part of her life, tracing her love for singing back to simple moments spent with her grandmother.
“Music has really been something I wanted to do since I was young,” she said. “Lumaki ako na nagvi-videoke kasama 'yung lola ko.”
According to Mariano, singing was already a passion even before she entered the world of acting. “Before acting, kumakanta na talaga ako,” she added.
When asked if she would choose between acting and music if forced to decide, Mariano admitted she simply cannot.
“Both,” she said with a laugh. “Hindi ko kayang iwan 'yung isa.”
For the young star, the two art forms fulfill different parts of her creativity. “I really love music. It’s different in a way, but both are nice to do. Parang it really fires up my heart,” she said.
Mariano recently released her third studio album titled “Like U,” a project she described as a deliberate shift in sound and mood compared to her previous releases.
“We were very much into the concept of the album because we wanted to release something different from the previous album I’ve done,” she explained.
Belle Mariano. Screen grab: YouTube/ABS-CBN News
While her earlier records leaned toward a softer and more mellow tone, Mariano said the new album was intentionally designed to feel brighter and more uplifting.
“Yung dati kong album medyo mellow, mas toned down. Ito kasi medyo light, feel-good. Gusto naming i-spark 'yung kilig again,” she said.
The album contains eight tracks, with the title track “Like U” serving as the central theme of the project.
“It’s called 'Like U' because it’s our key track, and all the songs are relatable like you,” Mariano explained.
Mariano also shared that the creative process behind the album was collaborative, with her and her team carefully selecting songs that best matched the vision they wanted to deliver.
“Kami ng team nagbotohan kami sa songs,” she said, describing how they worked together to finalize the tracklist.
While Mariano did not write most of the songs on the album, she revealed that she has tried songwriting in the past and hopes to explore it more in the future.
“I tried before, twice. Two songs lang. But hopefully in the future, I get to write more,” she said.
For Mariano, music offers a unique way to connect with listeners on a personal level.
“Whenever I sing, it’s nice because you’re able to tell your story through music,” she said.
As she continues to balance both her acting and singing careers, Mariano remains determined to nurture both passions something she says has always been part of who she is as an artist.
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