The former vocalist of the all-female rock band General Luna is now making brave strides as a solo artist taking on different genres such as rock, classical, lounge and even broadway.
Nicole Asensio, who was once with Repertory Philippines and played the role of Mimi in the musical Rent, epitomized what a modern woman of rock should sound like. She has everything you could possibly ask for in a rock singer today: soul, heart, emotion, skill, versatility, power and any other compliment you could imagine. Her voice is not one that you can easily get away from. It’s like an insidious cloud of smoke, penetrating its way through the air as it to seduce its way into your eardrums – hands down Nicole is the female rock voice.
As designed by nature, MNL Online had the opportunity to speak exclusively with the absolutely beautiful and equally captivating chic, Nicole Asensio…
Below, she confesses more about her rock n’ roll lifestyle, her upcoming record, her sexiest side, her biggest fear and her favorite hobby: traveling.
Hello, Nicole. How do you start your day?
I’m a big eater. I like food. That’s the first thing I think of when I wake up. Ano ang kakainin ko today. Ano ang mga type kong food. I also like to cook. So, ano ang lulutuin ko mamayang gabi. I simply love food.
When did you start singing?
I can’t exactly remember when. I was really young. [Laughs.]
But you remember the song. Right?
I remember I used to imitate my lola. She was an opera singer.
So, it’s really in your blood?
Parang… [Smiles.] My mom and my lola.
What was your voice like when you were a kid? Can you still remember?
My voice?
Yeah. Was it a squeaky voice? A cute voice… a gorgeous voice?
[Laughs.] Oh, thank you! Kasi beforemy singing style was classical broadway.
Did you join the church choir when you were a kid?
No, I didn’t. But I joined the school choir.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Almost all kinds. I listen to rock because it’s my favorite genre but it doesn’t mean I don’t listen to other things. I still listen to classical music. I listen to jazz. I listen to blues when I’m feeling sexy.
But what if when you are having a bad day?
Snarky Puppy. Hindi lang magaling. Sobrang galing talaga. No questions asked. [Smiles.]
If I open your iPod right now, what are the last five songs you listened to?
Here’s the thing, I can give you my top five but I just lost my iPod. [Laughs.]
Oh, what about on your phone?
Songs of Snarky Puppy. I like listening to Selah Sue right now. She’s really good.
Besides singing, do you also like to play the guitar or any instrument?
Oh, I wish I can play the guitar but I cannot even to save my life. I can play the piano but it’s a private thing.
When was the last time you played the Air Guitar?
Never!
You know, rock is known to be in the men’s turf. How does it feel to be a gorgeous woman in a men’s turf?
It’s noticeable that it is male dominated pero sa tingin ko not anymore. Marami na ring mga babaeng lumalabas in rock bands. Not just rock bands in general, but in all industries. I think that women are gaining platforms in every field. I don’t feel it as much as the women in the ’70s might have felt but I’m always encouraging it. I mean, if a woman has a message and she needs to say it, I’ll support that. I, myself, would like to be able to say my message, like most of my songs are about politics.
What is sexy to you?
Freedom. Resilience is also sexy to me – when you can emerge above struggles with more heart to give than before… and food. Food is immensely sexy to me.
When do you feel sexiest?
I feel sexiest when there is a mutual connection between me and someone, when we are both calm and not consumed by preconceived notions of “how it’s supposed to be”, when we indulge in laughter and languid talks… when we feed off each other’s raw uninhibited vibes.
What part of your body do you consider sexy?
My mind. [Smiles.]
Do you compose your own songs?
Yes, but collaboratively. I write the lyrics and the melody. Pero yung music, kasama ko yung ibang mga musicians because I don’t play the guitar.
What is your classification of good and bad music?
Kapag masarap, good yun. Kapag hindi na masarap, bad yun. Masarap ang gusto ko.
Do you get stage fright especially if the audience is into hard core rock?
I don’t know because I get stage fright all the time. [Laughs.] Not just with rock shows but with broadway shows or classical shows. I don’t know if it has anything to do with the genre I’m singing. It’s just in general, I’m a very nervous person. I have my nervous tics.
Since you like collaborations, is there a specific artist that you want to collaborate with?
I would like to collaborate with Steven Tyler.
Oh, he was just here last year. Did you meet him?
Yes, I know. I was there. I didn’t get to meet him. You know, I don’t have powers. [Laughs.] But yeah, he is my oldie man crush. I love him.
Is there a famous person that people tell you that you resemble?
Some say Marian [Rivera], others Kris Bernal daw… I don’t know. [Smiles.] I think I have a common face.
What makes you, you?
I think I’m a little more socially awkward. I have a feeling that I’m a bit quirkier and weirder. Yeah!!! [Laughs.]
Let’s say the world is a stage. Where is the audience sitting?
What? [Laughs.] I think everyone is sitting on their own different corners. Perceiving it from where ever they are in different ways. I don’t think they are generally positioned in one place.
Since there are a lot of people out there who are aspiring to be like you–
Really? [Smiles.]
Yeah. I mean, women kind of engage in different industries and one of them is rock. What can you say to young girls out there who want to be in your genre?
Well, I don’t consider myself to be so experienced especially sa rock scene. So, I’m just gonna give you the words that someone has told me and that someone is Sampaguita. She was a female rock icon during the 1970s. She told me, “You are always responsible to your listeners so make sure when you put a material out there, you have a message and that message is something you can devote doing –parang anong message mo, anong battlecry mo.”
And that’s what you are doing right now.
Well, I’m not like consciously doing it but yes. I think I am managing. [Smiles.]
Can you talk about the common misconceptions about rock n’ roll lifestyle?
There’s a lot! Like kapag rock music, sabog. Kapag rock music, sinasabi na wala kang future mas lalo na kapag babae ka. Dapat wala ka d’yan, dapat mag-model ka na lang, mga tipong ganun. I think ang rason kung bakit tayo naging musician ay para mag-share ng music. So, hindi porke na rock yung music or hindi siya typical na clean music, we have nothing to say. In fact, all the more may masasabi ka/kami/tayo.
Who are the greatest rock female singers of all time?
Janis Joplin, Skin from Skunk Anansie, Sass Jordan, Etta James, SAMPAGUITA.
Where did you find your drive and passion?
Yung buong family ko, lahat sila singers din. Yung lola ko, opera singer. Sila yung naging inspirasyon ko and because lahat sila singers, naka-relate ako. And gusto ko talaga gumawa ng iba kaya ako nag-rock. Kasi lahat sila nasa classical broadway pop na. Isa yun sa naging driving force ko para maging singer talagapero different genre na.
What activity makes you feel most grounded in who you are today?
Aside from performing – travel has definitely opened my eyes the most. My favorite destinations so far are Bali, Italy, Greece and Turkey. Syempre, Palawan and Boracay.
What simple pleasures would you miss most if they were no longer part of your life?
If for example, I moved to a colder country, I would definitely miss the tropical weather and easy access to the beach. I would miss the cheaper living costs in the Philippines too!
What thrilling, extraordinary experiences do you value most in life?
I find that travel and exposure to other cultures (and parts of your own undiscovered culture) lead to the most extraordinary, spiritual experience. Two of mine include: visiting the house where Mama Mary lived thousand years ago in Ephesus, Turkey – and watching the “Kecak” dance in Bali, Indonesia.
What for you is success in personal terms?
Success is when you are in a position to always help those who can’t help themselves. Success should not always be inward. It should always be about something greater than yourself.
In a perfect world how many albums would you have to sell to be happy?
In a perfect world, hindi magma-matter ang numbers e. Basta marinig ko music ko, okay na ako.
What is your biggest fear?
Greatest fear ko kapag masukahan ako ng isang lasing kasi nga OC ako e. [Laughs.] As a musician naman, siguro if I lose my friends in the music industry. Tipong mag-fall apart kami. Ayaw kong mangyari yun. Dapat friends lang lahat.
What expectations or obligations would you like to let go of?
I’m letting go of holding on to other people’s expectations of me. I learned that I can’t please everyone and I’ve started not to care… my obligations are to take care of the ones I love. I wish I had more control of my schedule too. There are many, many things I would like to do but I don’t always have the time.
What do you read or do for spiritual enlightenment or inspiration?
Gusto ko lang mag soul-quest mag-isa kapag kailangan ko ng inspiration. Mahilig din akong magbasa and I like to run once in a while.
Say if you had a time machine, which time period would you visit?
I would have loved to go back in time to meet my great grandfather. Or check out Woodstock. But at the end of the day, I like where I am now. I think I am at the right place at the right time.
You are now going solo. Tell us more about your upcoming record.
Yes, I am working on my first solo. I wouldn’t say album because it might come in the form of singles. Watch out for my first original single. The song is entitled “Leader For A Day.”
Oh, cool. But why just for a day?
Basically if I became the President of the Philippines for a day, “Ano ang lahat na babaguhin ko.” What I did, I gathered data on Facebook and I asked people kung anong babaguhin nila.
We also heard that you tried acting. Is this true?
[Laughs.] Oh, yeah! That was a one time thing. I don’t know. Maybe it would open windows. I was attracted to the role. It’s an indie film called No Reach Speak. It will be shown in the U.S. You can watch the trailer on YouTube.
Oh, cool! Great talking to you. Thank you, Nicole!
Thank you, MNL Online!
Words by JAYSON PAOR
Photography by DARREL POBRE
Style by JEAR DE MCCUTTAC and GRACIE MILLAN
Styling Associates VINCE ABARRA and TIM DIAGONE
Make up by SAI SAYSON MONTES
Hair by JOHN PAUL STEVEN
