Although he was not successful in his previous attempts to make a big name in the music industry, Jericho Rosales has not lost the desire to share his music to the public. 

"Ito talaga ang isang side ko na kadalasan ay maraming beses na akong nakutusan at [kinukuwestiyon] bakit ko ba hinihiligan itong music," he quipped during last week's press launch of his first album under Star Records in ABS-CBN. 

Change, according to Jericho or popularly known as Echo, actually represents the changes that happened in his life after releasing an album with his then band called Jeans. 

"Maraming changes kasi ang nangyari sa akin, e," he said.  "Sa nakaraang dalawang taon—change here, change here, change my music style, changed my label.  I lot of changes have happened."

Coming from a music band, Echo said that he's still not used to promoting the album without his band at his side. 

"Kapag nagpo-promote ako ng album, right now, wala 'yong banda ko, di ba?  Hindi pa rin ako [sanay].  Gusto ko, siyempre, may kasama sa stage," he told the media. 

He then related how affected he was when the group disbanded to pursue their personal plans. 

Echo described, "Honestly, this is one of the tragedies na dinaanan ko sa buhay ko.  I would say that because when my band had to go away, it broke my heart talaga.  They had to earn money and I had to go back to acting and hindi ko na mabigyan ng time 'yong music.  We had to part ways kasi kailangan namin kumita ng pera.  You know, I lived the life of medyo normal lang ng konti.  I mean, normal sa showbiz level.  I had to stop for a year and earn money from singing every night sa mga bar."

Although earning money in his chosen music career was not as easy as he was an actor, Echo said that he would still treasure the experience. 

He said, "Ako, hindi talaga ako nagsisi doon because I learned a lot being on stage.  Whether there's five people watching me or five thousand people watching me, I'll be able to perform  kasi 'yong training na inabot, e.  There were times talaga na I wanted to cry, I wanted to quit.  I was in front of mga foreigners and konti lang ang nakikinig sa akin.  Hindi ko alam na mga foreigners ang makikinig sa akin, e, mga Tagalog songs ang dala ko.  I only have a few English songs."

Right now, Echo and his former bandmates are currently holding an audition for potential bandmates but he's not yet sure if he will release an  album in the future.

"Madami akong plano, e.  I'm really a band guy.  Depende, malalaman natin 'yan.  But definitely, I really need a band.  I'm a band guy, e," he emphasized.

SONGS FOR HIS PAST GIRLFRIENDS.  During the press launch, Echo mentioned songs included in the album that are dedicated to his past girlfriends: Kristine Hermosa and Heart Evangelista.

First, he talked about "Pusong Ligaw" for his onscreen partner and former girlfriend Kristine Hermosa.  Echo said he wrote the song because, "‘Pusong Ligaw' kasi noong nagbalik-tambalan kami ni Kristine for the soap.  They asked me if I can write one song na para sa soap.  This particular song, medyo lumang kanta ko na ito na sinulat ko at nire-write ko.  I believe they're gonna use this song para sa soap namin [Dahil May Isang Ikaw]."


Echo plays the fiance of Kristine Hermosa in the ABS-CBN teleserye Dahil May Isang Ikaw.