From the lively streets of Tabaco City, Albay emerges Kirschen Xyvrl Balajadia, who goes by her onstage name “XYVRL”—a shining star in the music industry, captivating hearts with her extraordinary journey from a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) student to becoming Bicol’s youngest female rapper.
“Proudly, I am a singer, songwriter, performer, at rapper din,” Balajadia declared, reflecting on her diverse musical journey. “Maraming nagsasabi na very versatile po ako. Let’s say I can do rap; I can do acoustic.”
Since the tender age of two, melodies have flowed through Balajadia’s veins, filling her Tabaco City home with soulful tunes.
“No’ng two years old daw ako, kinakanta ko na daw ‘yong Alone by Heart. As in, memorized ko ‘yong buong melody noon,” she fondly reminisced, tracing the roots of her musical passion.
The pandemic acted as a catalyst for her artistic evolution, urging her to share her talents online and embrace the digital landscape.
“‘Yong music po kasi, it was just a hobby for me. Hindi po ako sumasali ng contest or ano…nahihiya nga din po ako mag-post ng covers online. But then when the pandemic hit, doon ko po na-realize na I could do something with music. And I decided to share my talents online,” she said.
Incorporating influences from various musical genres, Balajadia’s unique style fuses hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul, creating a sound that is distinctively hers.
In her song-writing journey, Balajadia emphasized that she starts with creating a melody or beat first, followed by lyrics, as she highlighted the importance of emotions.
Being one who wants to penetrate by breaking the stereotypes of female rappers, Balajadia goes through great lengths and draws inspiration from her experience.
“Pero lalo na babae ako, I really want to voice out social issues, I like to talk about kung ano ‘yong simpleng buhay ng ibang tao, or like buhay ko—experiences, lessons, social issues (or) ‘yong mga napapansin ko online,” Balajadia furthered.
Navigating the challenges of the music industry proved daunting for the young artist, with doubts and insecurities clouding her path. When Balajadia started her music career, there were some circumstances where she felt left out for her age.
“Pero ‘yong feeling ko…hindi naman nila ako sineseryoso,” she said, reminiscing about her first performance at the Tabaco Hip Hop Festival at the age of 15.
“No’ng pumunta ako [sa Tabaco Hip Hop Festival],…parang naiiba talaga. Like, parang feeling ko outcast ako, kasi babae ako, bata ako, tapos sila puro lalaki. Pero may babae naman [na nasa 20s na]. So, when I started performing, feeling ko… tama ba ‘yong ginagawa ko?” she said.
Yet, XYVRL’s resilience and determination propelled her forward, leading to collaborations with industry veterans and national acclaim. Remaining grounded amidst the whirlwind of fame, Balajadia emphasized the importance of self-preservation and authenticity.
Despite facing the adversities of the music industry, Balajadia wants to remain resilient and commit herself to using her platform for social good.
“I just take care of myself more and keep it on,” she asserted. “I hope my music can really inspire them to be true to themselves.”
Balajadia extends her gratitude to her supporters and encourages aspiring artists to pursue their dreams authentically.
“Just go for it (and) fight for it. But at the same time, for me, originality and individualism [are] really important,” she advised.
Balajadia, along with Franco and Carlo Campit, is part of the group “Ang Mga Supling Ni Angela,” with whom they are set to represent Albay in the grand finals of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) KANTO KULTURA: BaRAPtasan 2024.
“Being able to represent Albay and also the Bicol region is really such a great honor. Kasi po, this is a national contest, and madadala po namin talaga ‘yong pangalan ng Tabaco City, ‘yong culture ng Tabaco City,” she proudly said.
Balajadia expresses her profound gratitude to her incredible fans, who serve as her driving force. Without their unwavering support, she might have considered halting her musical journey long ago.
She emphasizes her commitment to inspiring and connecting with her audience through her music, vowing to persevere and give her best efforts to not disappoint them. Balajadia promises to continue creating music as long as they continue to support her, sending them her love and appreciation. I Kimberly Palenzuela
