Jennylyn Mercado goes back to her first love

“Ultimate, Jennylyn Mercado” album cover

MANILA – Kapuso actress-singer Jennylyn Mercado gave another chance to her first love.

“Sa music po kasi ako talaga nagsimula, e… Eto talaga ‘yung first love ko (I started [my career] in the music industry… This really is my first love),” she said in a report by the Manila Bulletin.

Unknown to some, Mercado entered the entertainment industry as a singer prior to emerging as the winner of GMA’s now-defunct reality competition ‘StarStruck’ Season 1.

“[Pagkanta] talaga ang no.1 para sa akin (Singing truly is no.1 for me),” she added. “Music ang nagbibigay ng inspiration sa akin… Napapaganda niya ‘yung mood ko, nagiging maayos ang pakiramdam ko, lalo na kapag maganda ‘yung mensahe nu’ng [songs] na napapakinggan ko.”

(Music gives me inspiration… It lightens my mood, my feelings, especially when the songs I listen to carry beautiful messages.)

The 29-year-old actress-singer has already released five solo albums under GMA Records and Viva Records a few years back.

Now, she has recently released her sixth album titled “Ultimate, Jennylyn Mercado” under Ivory Music and Video. The track list included seven singles: “Hagdan,” “Huling Paalam,” “Lampara,” “Magkaibang Mundo,” “Nakaw Tingin,” a remake with Christian Bautista on “Suddenly,” and a collaboration with Silent Sanctuary on “Bulalakaw.”

“Gusto namin ng something different… Gusto kong sumubok ng iba,” she shared. “Hindi naman ako sumasayaw. Ayoko rin nu’ng danceable na kanta… Pero gusto ko ‘yung may beat.”

“We wanted something different… I wanted to try something else. I don’t dance. I’m also not into danceable songs… But I like songs with beat.)

With her album’s high ranking on iTunes, Mercado hoped to hold a solo concert soon.