IS THE MUSICIAN in Jericho Rosales selling out?

Last week, Jericho announced that his group, Jeans, has disbanded. He added that, instead of the ?funky and off-beat? tunes he recorded with Jeans in the albums ?Loose Fit? (2005) and ?Jericho? (2008), he now wants to sing love songs ?to give listeners what they want to hear.?

Formerly signed with EMI Music, Jericho recently inked a one-album deal with Star Records.
More popularly known as an actor, Jericho denied that what he did was ?selling out.?
He told Inquirer Entertainment shortly after signing the deal with Star Reccords at the ABS-CBN compound: ?What I want is to find balance. Right now, I simply want to go for music that?s more embraceable.?

He elaborated: ?My first albums were a little indie-ish. Now that I know what they want, I wish to please my listeners. Then maybe afterwards, I can re-introduce to them my kind of music. That?s give-and-take. Kung saan ako mas maraming maaabot na tao, doon ako.?

Jericho insisted that the next album will still have his personal touch. ?It will feature a couple of original compositions. I?ll make sure everyone will appreciate it,? he said. For the 10-track CD that will be released in June, Jericho hopes to collaborate with veteran artists like Gary Valenciano, Sugarfree and Parokya ni Edgar.

?He sent a demo tape of his songs. When I heard it, my first reaction, honestly, was: ?Ikaw ba ito?? It was a pleasant surprise,? said Star Records managing director Annabelle Regalado-Borja. ?He writes well. We?re hoping to develop that for this CD.?

You?re making good music. Do you have a muse?

I don?t have a girlfriend right now, if that?s what you mean. I?ve been writing music even before I signed up with EMI. I?ve always been into writing poems. Some of the songs on my first album were initially poems. I?m happy because I?m busy with my music. I?m past the writing stage. Now it?s time to record.

Are you and Karylle an item?

No. I?m not courting her. I do go out with her, sometimes to eat or watch shows, but not without other friends from our show (?I Love Betty la Fea?). I can?t lose focus now. I just want to concentrate on work.

Does this mean a romantic relationship with Carmen Soo is also impossible?

I have a good working relationship with Carmen. ?Yun muna. (Jericho is making a movie with Carmen and former girlfriend Kristine Hermosa.) She?s taking up Tagalog lessons right now. She says she easily gets distracted when I teach her new words. Makulit daw ako. She knows a lot now ? colors, numbers, days of the week and even body parts. She always tells me: ?Ang kapal ng mukha mo.?

How different is your music now?

People will hear cool love songs. It will be pang-masa, but high-quality pang-masa. I?m glad that Star Records took time to listen to my work. I know I still have to improve my writing skills. I?m just happy because I?ve never been this much appreciated, musically. I first met with Ate Annabelle three years ago and asked her to listen to my songs. But I used to be too sensitive and didn?t want her to touch my work. I?ve changed. I can now listen objectively to what other people think.

What brought about that change?

I guess I?ve matured. When you?re young, you?re over- idealistic. You think you can change the world all by yourself. I now understand my purpose. I?m not as stubborn as I used to be. My network bosses supported me even during the times when I was very hard to deal with because of my personal struggles. They once called to ask if I wanted my band to record a song for ?Pangarap na Bituin.? My manager (Angeli Pangilinan Valenciano) said, ?Isn?t it obvious that they love you?? I believe it?s time to return the favor.

What will happen to your band?

We disbanded a year ago. Some of the members left for Singapore or China to find work there. I fully understand their sentiments. It?s very difficult for them when I get too busy with my TV shows. Now, I?m going to work with other musicians and producers whom I collaborated with in my past albums.

Email mcruz@inquirer.com.ph