How did a once-shy high school girl from the University of Santos Tomas suddenly take the world, and now the country by song? Geca Morales, the newest power vocal, makes waves as she dishes out her smooth rapping skills and powerful rock renditions with confidence.
“Since I was child, I loved to sing. I would even grab the microphone from hosts and singers at the fiesta,” reveals Geca, born Maria Angelica Morales, with a chuckle. “But I became very shy when I went to high school.” At 13, she joined the school choir, and on one occasion, was requested to sing a solo. “I didn’t sing in front of a crowd or anything, but inside a booth.” Her voice was broadcasted around the campus through the school sound system. While she was hidden from view, that didn’t diminish the pressure she felt in performing. “It was my first time to do a solo and I was so nervous, and then I made huge a mistake!” she shares, cringing at the memory.
It was a moment that left Geca utterly devastated. Though she wasn’t teased by her classmates, she felt a sense of shame. She wasn’t able to rise to the occasion, and gave in to her “stage fright”. Because she felt so embarrassed, she quit the choirand instead focused on playing musical instruments.
Geca’s mom, Lorie was admittedly surprised when Geca decided to stop singing. Knowing that her child’s voice was a gift that was to be shared, Lorie urged her daughter to sing again. With a little prodding from her mother, Geca enrolled at the Center for Pop Music Philippines– and there, her passions were reawakened.
Geca Got Her Groove Back
Geca found a sense of peace and place singing the memorable hits of Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and Mandy Moore, whom she greatly admired. She continued to hone her craft at the Center for Pop Music Philippines, training under the best vocal coaches. In time, she found herself competing against her peers.
She joined the Center for Pop Music Philippines’ Voice Recording Excellence competition and won 1st runner up .Soon, Geca was invited to be part of the school’s prestigious roster of artists. Geca also paired up with other female vocalists at the Center to form the girl group, Las Chicas.
Over the next few years, Geca would prove to be unstoppable. She joined bigger and more prestigious competitions to challenge herself. She won the Outstanding Performer Award from GawaMusika in 2016. Then, that same year, she was named Senior Solo Vocalist for Team Philippines at the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) held in California, US. WCOPA isthe first and only global “Talent Olympics,” and it’s the same competition where renowned balladeer Jed Madela was discovered.
Geca competed against hundreds of participants from over 50 countries. She sung and danced her way through the numerous rounds and into the finals. In the end, she won the Gold in the Female Vocal Rap Category, and the Silver Medal in the Female Vocal Rock Category.
Today, Geca has not only found her voice, she is excited to share it with the rest of the world. Set on becoming a full-fledged performer like her idols Sarah Geronimo and KZ Tandingan, Geca launched her first single, Oo, Ikaw, under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines), and her first music video.
“My debut single was really an exciting experience. I had had this song for the longest time,” she reveals. “This song represented me and the music that I wanted to make so many years ago. It’s a little alternative, a little light rock, but very truthful to who I am as an artist,” Geca shares with a smile.
For her first original song, Geca explores young love, the fear of rejection and taking risks. “I am already happy hearing my song on the radio, and seeing how people react to it. I’m overjoyed when people tell me how they’ve been touched by my music. I hope everyone gets the chance to listen to my single, and enjoy it as much as I do.”
Geca has, indeed, found her voice, and the world is now ready to listen.
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You can listen and download Geca Morales’ debut single, Oo, Ikaw on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer and Youtube. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/GecaMoralesOfficial