Almost a year ago now, I posted this video and this message:

6 years ago, a series of unfortunate events made me turn away from anything that had to do with my voice. If someone had asked me to post a video of my singing a year ago, I would have laughed in their face. In fact, if someone had told me to do this workshop a year ago, I would have run away.

But with the help of extremely patient and supportive friends, generous duet partners, voice teachers who allowed me to find my voice in my own time, and a family whose love for me never wavered, I am slowly beginning to embrace that side of me again. Needless to say, the stress, anxiety, and fear of letting people hear my voice still lingers, and man do I have a long way to go still, but I’ve at least taken the first steps forward. Small steps, but steps forward nonetheless. So that’s something.  

And now a few gigs, many voice lessons, and many songs later, I am a little more able to readily sing when people ask. And I remain even more thankful to the people who helped me get here. My Portkey girls who started me singing again in the first place, my duet partners Arman Ferrer and David Ezra (in video), who I always feel honoured and inspired to sing with, my voice parents Cynthia and Lionel Guico, who have supported and guided me all these years, and my family who have patiently waited for me to return.

This is something that I have again had to put on the back burner because of my schedule, but at least now I can return to it without fear. It took me a while to get here, but I’m glad I finally found the strength to come back.

To anyone like me who might be reading this, it’s right what they say, “Time heals all wounds.” You can do it. Believe. Trust. Accept. Do. And sing my dear, SING.

“Ah, music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here!” – Albus Dumbledore