MANILA - The Kia Theater in Cubao was jampacked on Saturday for the first night of Moira dela Torre’s first-ever concert "Tagpuan."
The show featured star-studded guests including Richard Poon, Yeng Constantino, Inigo Pascual, AJ Rafael, spoken word poetry by Bela Padilla, as well as her boyfriend, Jason Marvin. The concert was directed by John Prats and co-produced by Cornerstone Concerts and Bright Bulb Productions.
Known for her acoustic tender singing voice and tunes about heartbreak, Moira is being tagged as “the voice of modern pop.” She is not only a good singer but a good songwriter as well. She has a deep well to draw from when it comes to writing her songs, including one that took two years to finish, "Malaya," as one of the "hardest songs" she's ever written.
That changed one day, when during a long drive on the expressway the right words came rushing in her head just looking at her boyfriend, Jason. She finished the song in 10 minutes, and it ultimately became about hope and healing, not heartbreak.
Moira’s new songs were heard for the very first time on her concert. "Si Kuya Pratty po overflowing po siya ng ideas. I had him listen to my songs and kuya Sam Milby listened to my songs and because they know the story ang dami na po nilang nai-imagine na kahit ako ay nae-excite po," she said.
"Ako po dream ko po simula pa po ng bata ako is to be part of Star Music family. This is something that I've really waited for. Something na hindi pinilit. Something that came at the perfect time. So 'yung tagal po ng hintay, I think that included paving the way for it po also," said Moira.
"Tagpuan" is also the title of her latest single under Star Music, which will be releasing her brand new album soon. After ng lahat nang pinagdaanan ng songs, ito po 'yung conclusion and this is where you find hope pala. Dati po kasi when I would write song, ayaw kong iiwan sila sa sad state. I want to inspire listeners to feel free to feel their songs but at the same time rise from it and 'Tagpuan' is about that," she said of her new single.
Moira started out doing online covers and commercial jingles. After joining the first season of ABS-CBN’s The Voice of the Philippines, Moira has kept her music career in traction by lending her fetching voice to TV commercials and radio ads for big brands that you had been singing along to without knowing it’s her: Lewis & Pearl’s Sweet Paris, Perla’s Hawak Kamay, Johnson’s Baby’s Signature Of Love, Imodium’s Lonely Is The Night, Surf’s Pinalaki and Ang Bango Ng Perfume, Goldilocks’ Merienda Na and even the soothing tune to McDonald’s Hooray For Today.
Since then, the music production student has been tagging along local musicians like Yeng Constantino, Markki Stroem and Thor to serve as the opening act. It wasn’t long until big shots in the music industry started to notice. With interest in making music armed with songwriting background, a big break was bound to happen. So it did when Moira caught the interest of Ivory Music which led to a recording contract for her self-titled debut album with the label.
Aside from Malaya (from Camp Sawi), some of Moira’s hit songs were Titibo-tibo, Sundo, Be my fairytale, Tagpuan, Saglit, Love me instead, Torete, Huling Gabi, If you tell me you love me, After your heart, Tuwing Umuulan, Home, Little Drummer Boy, Happily Ever After among others.
In the future, she hopes to collaborate with KZ Tandingan, Yeng Constantino and Richard Poon.
