Veteran composer Vehnee Saturno offers advice to budding musicians

Maureen Marie Belmonte

<div><img src='' alt='102313-Vehnee_Main.jpg' width='305' height='290' align='left' border='0'>In the advent of singing and songwriting competitions, the emergence of new media, and the dominance of covers as well as international hits on the airwaves, veteran composer Vehnee Saturno reminded budding musicians to work hard and stay true to their craft.</div><div><br/></div><div>Coming right on the heels of the recent victory of Mitoy Yonting as the first <i>The Voice of the Philippines</i> champion, Saturno, who is behind the success of a lot of performers these days as well as classic OPM hits like “<i>Sana Kahit Minsan,</i>” “<i>Be My Lady</i>,” “<i>Someone’s Always Saying Goodbye,</i>” and “<i>Till My Heartaches End</i>” among others, has shared a few tricks and tips to those hoping to break into the music industry.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Sa </i>singers <i>siyempre walang</i> overnight <i>na </i>success. <i>Pag-iisipan mong mabuti kung paano ka papasok. Bago ka pumasok iisipin mo kung,</i> ‘Are you ready to be part of the music business?’” shared Saturno via an exclusive interview with <a href='http://Push.com.ph'>Push.com.ph</a> at the recently-concluded press conference of his new talent Marion Aunor.</div><div><br/></div><div>According to him, failing is one of the hardest hurdles that every musician has to face at one point in their lives. <i>“Napakasakit no’n, para kang nakipag</i>-break<i> sa isang</i> boyfriend. I<i>big sabihin dapat talaga eh</i> physically and mentally <i>eh alam mo ang direksyon ng gagawin mo,</i>” he said, as he continued, <i>“[Dapat] alam mo ang klase ng</i> music<i> na papasukan mo</i> and then <i>ilang taon mo ba ibibigay sa sarili mo na susubukan mo na pumasok sa industriya.</i>”</div><div><br/></div><div>Having a clear vision of one’s career goal as a musician is what he believes can make a huge difference, as well as having a fallback or what he calls an alternative career that a singer can pursue should things not turn out as he wants them to be.</div><div><br/></div><div>While a notable amount of stars today end up being successful after taking a risk in joining the business, Saturno admitted that acknowledges the fact that not everyone who tried eventually thrived. The point he said, “At least <i>ginawa mo ‘yung isang pagkakataon na sinubukan mo na kasi </i>because love <i>mo ‘yung</i> music. <i>Nag</i>fail <i>ka man o hindi, at least nasubukan.”</i></div><div> </div><div>Taking the risk, he underlined, has always been the gameplay of most artists and given the prevalence of singing and songwriting competitions these days where musicians trudge on for a “shorter route” to stardom, Saturno said the stakes couldn’t have been any higher.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Minsan kasi kahit na magaling siyempre iba-iba ‘yung tenga eh. Hindi lahat ganon ang pakiramdam sa isang</i> artist. <i>Sa akin pwedeng magaling, pero sa iba hindi magaling</i>. Well <i>ang </i>disadvantage <i>ng ganon eh kung hindi </i>outstanding <i>ang</i> performance <i>eh ilalaglag kana eh. ‘Yun situation na ‘yon</i>,” he shared.</div><div><br/></div><div>According to the composer behind Jessa Zaragoza’s “<i>Bakit Pa?</i>” and Jaya’s “<i>Dahil Tanging Ikaw” </i>and “<i>Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig</i>,” failure must never dampen a musician’s spirit.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Dapat,</i> if you have the talent, <i>dapat i</i>-try mo.<i> Kasi </i>at the early time <i>kapag sumuko kana eh talo kana agad. Sabi nga</i> no pain, no gain. <i> Kailangan ipaglaban mo ang </i>career <i>mo ngayon</i> or <i>ang talent mo na baka sakali [eh ma</i>-discover <i>ka],</i>” he supplied.</div><div><br/></div><div>More than being merely brazen enough to risk trying to get into the music industry, at the end of the day, talent and dedication to the craft is what really gets a musician through.</div><div><br/></div><div><i>photo from saturnomusic.net</i></div>

Veteran composer Vehnee Saturno maintains that talent and hard work still plays a huge role in an artist's success.

Veteran composer Vehnee Saturno offers advice to budding musicians | PUSH.COM.PH