The launching of Lora Love's album outweighs all the heartaches and legal headaches the project left in its wake.
Produced and originally intended for a 2009 release, the Star Circle alumna's self-titled effort started on the right note only to lose momentum as it approached the final stage.
With album production completed following months of recording, part of the deal fizzled out, resulting in an estafa court case filed against veteran songwriter and album producer Larry Hermoso, for allegedly "pocketing P600, 000 in value" intended for "radio and television promotions, mall tour, press launch, and other miscellaneous services."
Lora and Australian executive producer Benjamin Cass, who bankrolled the entire recording project, made the complaint formal last June 2 at the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office. (CLICK HERE to read related article)
MOVING FORWARD. Lora, however, doesn't see the need to wallow in self-pity.
The show must go on and one's life journey continues even while in the middle of a setback.
Last August 18, at the Discovery Suites Hotel in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, an optimistic Lora faced members of the entertainment press and gladly shared both her music and thoughts concerning the issue surrounding the album.
There's no reason to cry over spilled milk, said Lora and the desire to release and still promote the album was a mutual decision shared by the singer and everyone in her camp.
The album, after all, was a product of hard work, a culmination of Lora's lifelong dream dating back from the days when she was still with the ABS-CBN formed group, Girl Talk.
Romance and heartbreak figured prominently in the album as stressed by the songs "Mahal Na Mahal Kita," "I Should've Cheated," "Naiiyak Muli Ako," and "Nang Dahil Sa Pag-ibig."
A cover of James Ingram's Pinoy karaoke staple hit "Just Once" added genuine poignancy to the entire record.
Although Lora is known as a versatile singer-performer, she opted to embrace radio-friendly ballads to allow her to reach a wider market since Filipino listeners are known to easily embrace pop tunes.
Curiously, the single "Mahal Na Mahal Kita" was written by no less than Larry Hermoso himself. Considering the controversial composer-producer's overall involvement in the album and the bitter fallout that ensued, Lora has done an admirable job in handling the entire situation since day one of the promotional efforts.
Regardless of the pending court case, Lora still never fails to acknowledge Hermoso's contribution in the album even in public.
"As a musician and songwriter, saludo ako sa kanya," Lora said about her former mentor. "Hindi naman ako doubtful sa skills niya, sa talent niya and no one's questioning pagdating sa pagiging writer niya, sa pagiging composer niya—I put my hats off to him. Kasi talagang magaling naman siya, like with Jeremiah [Hermoso wrote the group's biggest hit, "Nanghihinayang"], he helped them come out with good songs. I never expected na darating to this unfortunate situation."
The court complaint, stressed the sexy singer, was "not about the money" but rather to help other struggling artists "who are going through the same situation katulad ng sa akin."
She added, "I do acknowledge him na siya 'yong writer and I really respect him as a musician. But other than that, no comment."
LONG ROAD TO SUCCESS. Born in the province of Iloilo, Lora started her showbiz career at the tender age of 16. She started out as a member of ABS-CBN's Star Circle Batch 8 (her batch mates include Leandro Muñoz and Janette McBride).
Lora, together with her group named Girl Talk, recorded three songs on the soundtrack of the 1998 romantic-comedy film, Labs Kita Okey Lang?
She further developed as a singer-performer after she was enlisted to perform weekly at the Café De Malate and Hyatt Hotel's Calesa Bar.
Lora then went to Australia to pursue her tertiary studies in Melbourne, where she took up Marketing and Business Administration at the Swinburne University. Australia's entertainment group, Australian Entertainment Services, signed the Filipino talent to perform weekly at Crown Casino—dubbed by some as the "largest casino and entertainment complex in the Southern Hemisphere."
The big break allowed Lora to meet Australia's legendary vocal coach David Jaanz and Paxus Productions big boss Craig Paxus.
It was on October 2008 when Lora returned to the Philippines to start recording for her solo album.
Lora Love's self-titled album, released exclusively by D' Concorde Records, is now available in all Odyssey and SM record bars and Puregold stores.
TRACK LISTING.
- I Wish I Wasn't
- Mahal Na Mahal Kita
- I Should've Cheated
- Just Once
- Naiiyak Muli Ako
- Nang Dahil Sa Pag-ibig
- Heaven Sent
- Someday
*Bonus Tracks: Album Instrumentals
Catch Lora Love perform at SM Sta. Mesa on August 28. The mall show and promo event will start at 4:30 p.m.