DIEGO GUTIERREZ was officially introduced to the press by his manager, Leo V. Dominguez, at Frazzled Cook in February of last year. He was supposed to go the States then to record his first single.
But the pandemic came and his career was stalled. Now, after a year, he is finally releasing his first song, “On a Dream”, but it was no longer recorded in the States.
“My parents said it’s not advisable for me to travel due to the pandemic,” he says. “So we just recorded the song here at Mango Room studios.
I myself wrote the song with my friend from grade school, Wilde Quimzon, and my uncle, Mark Feist, who has recorded songs with the likes of Beyonce and Celine Dion, and Eric Wahls helped us.”
How did he feel when the lockdown happened just as his career is about to take off?
“Siempre po, nanghinayang. But I believe everything happens for a reason and at God’s own right timing. So it gave me time to really refine the song, which we launched last Sunday in ‘ASAP’.
"At first, kabadong-kabado ako. Pero ang babait ng lahat ng tao sa ASAP kaya na-relax ako. It’s also very exciting for me na nakasama ko roon ang Ate Janine Ko. First time ko siyang nakasama sa work.”
How about his grandma Pilita Corrales?
“Of course! My mamita is very encouraging. She says gusto niya akong maka-duet, kahit ano raw ang kantahin namin, basta siya ang maga-adjust sa akin.
"I’m excited, sana magawa namin. I’d also like to do a duet with my dad (Ramon Christopher), who’s really a good singer. And also my Ate Janine na mas madali kasi magkasama na kami sa ASAP.”
His song ‘On a Dream’ has a music video and he was asked to give a sample during his zoomcon. He quickly obliged. The song has a combination of Tagalog-English lyrics and has a potential to be a hit.
“My friend and I wrote it noong may pinagdaraanan kaming relationship problems. We felt out best way to express our feelings is through this song.”
He admits he has a non-showbiz girlfriend and they’re still on. “College batchmate ko siya. Four years na kami. She’s very supportive naman sa pagpasok ko sa showbiz.”
Everyone says he has matinee idol good looks and should try acting.
“As of now, ayoko muna pong mag-artista, i want to focus on my music to perfect muna my craft in music. Siguro later, in the future, i will try acting. I’m not closing my doors.
"I’ll soon take acting workshops para later on, ready na ako. I come from a family of actors, from my lolos (Eddie Gutierrez and Christopher de Leon), to my mom (Lotlot de Leon) and my Ate Janine, they’re all award-winning actors. So ayokong basta pumasok sa acting na unprepared.”
Obviously, he feels pressured about acting.
“Yes, may pressure, kasi nga I come from a family of established actors. But I consider it a challenge for me to strive to do good. Because of them, I’m inspired and motivated para mas galingan ko ang ginagawa ko.”
“No one in particular. Open ako to anyone. But I’ll be super honored if I’d be given the chance to work with top leading ladies like Liza Soberano, Kathryn Bernardo or Julia Barretto.”
He also plays basketball professionally and is in good shape. Can he do daring sexy pictorials as an underwear model?
“Sa ngayon, parang hindi ko kaya. Basta, I want to concentrate first on my music. I want to build a fan base here muna then my Uncle Mark later wants me to try singing internationally.
"My singing is more R&B, mga tipo ng songs nina Ed Sheeran and John Mayer. My idol is Kobe Bryant, who passed exactly one year ago. I practice his Mamba mentality to work hard to achieve your own dream and whatever you do, basta work hard for it.”
You can download Diego’s song, “On a Dream”, at Spotify, iTunes, Amazon and all the other music outlets starting February 5, and also check out his music video, released via Hitmakers Entertainment.
You can stream “On a Dream” : https://foundation-media.ffm.to/onadream Watch the music video on: https://youtube/oSoLps2ojqQ
