Joanna Quintin
Did you grew up knowing you were gonna venture into singing? Tell us how it all happened for you...
Not really because I am such a stage fright, I could only imagine myself singing to the crowd in my room. It took me long enough to be able to go up voluntarily performing alone on stage. Even though I am such a stage fright, I am a music box to my family. Every time we go for a family vacation when I was a little girl, I could sing endlessly and won’t stop until we reach our destination. Back in high school, if there was a singing competition that has to do with singing on stage, and alone for that matter, I’ll get cold feet pretty easy. Every time they call up my name, I feel like running away. I know it’s kind of a silly reaction because when I’m not on stage, I cannot stop from jumping around singing in front of my friends. I have no idea why I cannot get rid of those but I guess, it’s just some unconscious behavior I had since I was young. As time passes by, something hit me sometime ago. I said to myself, we only live once, so I decided to confront my stage fright and persuaded myself to sing in front of crowds. When I perform, seeing the audience’s reaction towards the song that I sing, it grows this unaque feeling inside of me all of the sudden and as I discover, the unique feeling was the ultimate happiness in the inner part of me that I adore so much being on stage.
Who are your musical influences? Musical inspirations?
One of my musical inspirations is my grandfather although I never listen to him sing and play his handmade instruments but knowing what I know from my father, he was a great musician. Also, my father because as a child, I used to listen to him singing and playing his guitar with a voice recorder on the table every morning. My mom’s lullaby songs when putting my sisters and I to sleep is also one of my musical inspirations. I also get inspired listening to Cyndi Lauper, Queen, Andrew Sisters, No Doubt, Pink, Katy Perry, The Distillers, Flyleaf, Kate Nash and Puppini Sisters. Their type of music always turns me on but I am still a universal listener. I don’t pick which and which should be my musical inspiration because I believe we have the ability to listen to all kinds of music, so I don’t limit myself to just listen to one genre, as long as it catches my heart, that song will be on the list of my musical Inspiration.
How do you feel after winning the Open Mic Nite Series?
Very happy and excited. The thing that makes me happy is not only because of the win but also because of all the sweats and worries me and my back up band had put. It finally paid off along the competition. Before heat 3 of the Open Mic, my voice cracked up so much that I was unable to sing. I almost cancel the audition but I refuse to. Thank god my cousins, John Molison & Joel Molison helped me with the guitar. We only had a full practice the morning before the competition. I was shocked that I got into the final round. During practice for the finals, adding up 2 more band mates, Mac Chua and Kevin Daniel really helped me to complete the music. We always had problems with the sound balance of us all but I am always grateful with all the patience my band mates had. Thinking of all that had happened to us, and how blessed I am to have such a great band mates, I thought, I am grateful of everything and all the friendships I have with all the finalist during the audition and the competition.
That’s a whole lot of cash prize, how did you spent your first few Ringgits off the RM3,000 win?
I distributed the 3,000 cash equally to my band mates and to my sister, the composer because without them I wouldn’t be able to perform and to win the competition.
During the competition, you sang a couple of songs written by your sister. Do you plan on writing songs of your own in the future? If yes, what would your songs reflect on?
First and foremost I would like to say, Calvin Myae and Jessica Sam (My elder sister) are genius. Both of these people seriously blend well in composing a great music but if I were to compose a song of my own, probably it will reflect on the Universe, love stories, Mother Nature, changes in the world and the thought I was thinking at that particular time.
Apart from the Open Mic Nite, have you entered any other singing contest? Did you win? How was the whole process like from those competitions?
Before Open Mic, I entered some competition like Giant Idol and Handasan Café singing competition among others. The whole process was just the same, I went through heats and to the final round. But it was different in Handasan café though, when we have to practice our songs almost everyday because we have to get use to the piano, which is kind of tiring but fun. I started to be active involving myself in singing competition since last year. I was in third place in Giant Idol, First place among the youngsters in Handasan Café. Although some competitions I didn’t make it to the final round but it is always a sweet experience.
Will you continue to sing and pursue a career in it?
If I got the chance, I will be so happy to pursue. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to live up dreams. So why not! We live life only once.
If a recording label come up to you and offer you a contract deal to release an album, would you consider it?
I would love too and would be very happy too.
Any last words?
My last word will always be a Million thanks to all the people who have been such a great supporter during the Open Mic Competition. My father & mother, The Universe of course!, my two beautiful sisters Jessica (The songwriter and composer) and Venice, Calvin Myae (music composer), my band mates John Molison (Lead Guitar), Joel Molison (Rhythm Guitar), Mac Chua (Drum) and Kevin Daniel (Bassist). Sylvia Batin, Hezron Diman, Bryan Eddy, Lester M. Not forgetting all the mamas, cousins, friends, BandWidth Street Press especially Arthur, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu and the judges during the Open Mic final for the opportunity. Last but not least, I would like to say do not let your weaknesses weaken you, but stand up and be brave to face everything.
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