Upcoming Palawan teen singer/songwriter Danielle Nicola Tan with a screen name “DaniQla” is all set to release her first music video online this coming Saturday, November 7 for her song “Regalo.” The music video is entirely shot in Puerto Princesa with full production and extras, making it the first full-fledged music video entirely created by homegrown local talents.
16-year-old DaniQla, a Grade 11 student from Palawan Hope Christian School, never thought this will happen someday. She used to write and compose songs since 11 years old and thought it was just for fun, until her family pushed her to let more people hear her songs that she just usually uploads on her YouTube channel.
“I feel ecstatic. I feel really over the clouds. Parang ‘di ko ini-expect na darating ‘yung araw na magkakaroon ako ng full production, full-budgeted na music video kasi dati sa kuwarto lang ako kumakanta-kanta kunwari in a music video–ngayon meron na ako. I feel honored and hopefully to represent my province and my city,” Tan said.
She has already written around 30 songs and half of that was posted online. Mostly presented with her drawing and animation skills, her songs are based on her random thoughts and feelings as a teenager. She identified her genre as pop with retro vintage vibes due to her influences from the songs of the 60’s and 70’s.
“Overall, ang messages na kino-convey ng mga songs ko are mostly speculating around thoughts and feelings that many young people could relate [to]. Maybe they are light or heavy and wala siyang specific unified message, pero nag dedepende siya sa kung ano ang naisip kong isulat, but I guess the main message in totality nung songs ko nagpapakita ng what I am feeling right now,” DaniQla added.
Directing the music video is home grown Corporate Videographer and Filmmaker Vince Angulo of VA Films. He said that there are many challenges that occurred while shooting the 4-minute video, such as brown outs, heavy rains, and of course, the pandemic situation.
“Sa buong music video pinakita namin na si Allyson is rejecting Julio, and Celia is [like], ‘Hey try mo tumingin sa akin para di mo isipin na worthless ka. Dahil sa akin perfect ka’. Parang sa song, ikaw ‘yung regalo ng Diyos para sa akin. That’s why pinapakita namin na ‘yung regalo na word is that guy Julio. Ito rin ‘yung para sa mga manonood na lahat tayo may mga tao na pinapangarap–regalo sa atin ng Diyos.” Angulo shared.
The “Regalo” music video has a total of 21 casts including its 3 main leads, and with over 10 people in the technical and production team. The video is shot at Bakers Hill, Palawan Hope Christian School, and in Holiday Suites wherein they created a whole JS Prom event with full make up and wardrobe, plus a grand lighting system. All of this was conceptualized within three weeks, with three-weekend on-location shoots including rehearsals.
The production team includes: JC Acosta & Renard Austria as videographers, Danica Harder as the Set Designer, Nikki Arcinas as the Wardrobe Stylist, Janine Angulo as the Makeup Artist for main cast, Kim Flores & Baba Igual as the Hairstylists for Main Cast, Ricky Cayapas as the Lighting Technician, and Topstarata of Cleo Diomampo for the gowns and suits of Supporting Characters.
The main cast are: Cris Menchavez as Julio, Farrah Maxine Barber as Allison, and Angelie Gabrielle Therese Estrada as Celia.
The music video’s executive producer is Atty. Joel Tan.
“Yung pinaka-kakaiba dito is we shoot it na maging [as] cinematic as possible, ‘yung pinaka-cinematic na kaya namin, and three locations for a 4-minute video. The cast, maraming extra–may coffee shop scene, may school scene and prom pa kami. Feeling namin na-reach namin ‘yung target na story,” Angulo said.
“Regalo” is set to premier at 12 noon on November 7 via DaniQla’s YouTube channel. It will also be available on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud and Apple Music Store. For more information, you can also follow DaniQla’s Facebook page.