Kyla (born Melanie Hernandez Calumpad; January 5, 1981) is a Filipino singer, actress, and television personality. Known for her vocal range and melismatic singing style, she has been credited with helping to redefine R&B and soul music in the Philippines. Her sound became a catalyst in the growth and popularity of the music genres, making her a prominent pop culture figure. She has been cited by media outlets as the country's "Queen of R&B".
Kyla started performing in singing competitions as a child, and first gained recognition as a runner-up in the talent competition show Metropop Star Search in 1997. She signed with EMI Philippines and released her debut album Way to Your Heart (2000), supported by the single "Hanggang Ngayon", which won the International Viewer's Choice Award for Southeast Asia at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. Kyla began songwriting for her eponymous second album, which contained elements of soul and R&B. Kyla's I Will Be There (2003) featured English boy band Blue, and Not Your Ordinary Girl (2004) and Beautiful Days (2006) included tracks written by American singer-songwriter Keith Martin. Her succeeding releases were the cover albums Heartfelt (2007), and Heart 2 Heart (2009). Her next album, Private Affair (2010), featured the lead single "Don't Tie Me Down". After signing a new contract with Star Music in 2015, she released her ninth album The Queen of R&B (2018). Kyla's first seven records are all platinum-certified by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.
Kyla made her acting debut with a guest appearance in the drama series Narito ang Puso Ko (2003). She followed this with parts in the television anthology series Magpakailanman (2003) and Dear Friend (2009). Her first major role was as the antagonist in the daytime soap opera Villa Quintana (20132014). Kyla expanded her career into reality television as a presenter of the talent competition show Popstar Kids (20052007) and as a judge in the variety show singing contest Tawag ng Tanghalan (2016). Her accolades include a MTV Video Music Award, three MTV Pilipinas Music Awards, a Star Award for Music, six Myx Music Awards, and eleven Awit Awards.
Life and career 1981–1999: Early life and Metropop Star Search Melanie Hernandez Calumpad was born on January 5, 1981. The third of four children to Ulysses and Olivia Calumpad, she grew up with an older brother and two sisters. Her father, who worked as a lawyer, was a bassist and had aspired to be a folk performer. She began singing and taking voice lessons at age nine. Her interest in music and performing eventually led her to join several amateur singing contests. At age twelve, she auditioned for the television talent show Tanghalan ng Kampeon and won the competition, performing a cover of Jennifer Holliday's "I Am Changing". She then unsuccessfully auditioned for a role in the teen variety show Ang TV. At thirteen, she was cast as a performer in the musical variety show That's Entertainment. Looking back on her participation in the program in a 2003 interview, she remarked: "I was only a singer and never joined the acting skits."
In 1995, Kyla represented the Philippines at the Yamaha Music Quest in Tokyo. She later shifted to performing in hotels and bars before becoming the lead vocalist of a local band, named Heat of the Night, in 1996. This led her to relocate to Brunei to pursue a career as part of the group; her father resigned from his job to support her. The following year, she was a finalist in the reality singing competition Metropop Star Search, placing third. Soon after, her early attempts to launch her solo music career floundered when she was turned down by several record labels. No other opportunities materialized until early 2000, when she was selected by songwriter Raymund Ryan to record his track "One More Try" for the Metropop Song Festival. While she failed to place in the competition, Kyla caught the attention of producer Francis Guevarra, who expressed interest and submitted her demo tape to music executive Chito Ilacad. After listening to her tape, Ilacad signed her to EMI Philippines. She adopted the stage name Kyla at the suggestion of Ilacad, who thought that it was memorable.
2000–2003: Way to Your Heart and breakthrough Kyla's debut studio album Way to Your Heart, containing the lead single "Bring It On", was released in 2000. The album received considerable attention for its R&B and soul influence, and was described as a breakthrough in local music by critics. Arnie Mendaros wrote eight of the album's tracks, including the second single "Hanggang Ngayon", which was released in January 2001. The song's lyrics express a hopeful revival of a couple's faded romance after their parting. The music video for "Hanggang Ngayon" won the International Viewer's Choice Award for Southeast Asia at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. Kyla won multiple accolades for Way to Your Heart, including the Awit Awards for Best Performance by a New Female Recording Artist and Music Video Performance of the Year. She also won the Aliw Award for Best New Artist and the Box Office Entertainment Award for Most Promising Female Artist. At the 2001 MTV Pilipinas Music Award, she was named Favorite New Artist in a Video, while "Hanggang Ngayon" won Video of the Year. The album received a platinum certification from the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI). She then recorded the Jonathan Manalo-penned pop song "Tara Tena" for the songwriting competition Himig Handog sa Makabagong Kabataan, where it won first place.
Kyla's eponymous second album was released in March 2002. She wrote two tracks on the album, which features elements of "pop and ballad tunes", intertwined with her "R&B signature sound". She then featured in a duet with Gary Valenciano on his single "Can We Stop and Talk Awhile", released that same month. Kyla earned nominations at the MTV Pilipinas Music Awards, including Favorite Female Video and Favorite Song for the lead single "I Feel For You". At the 2003 MTV Asia Awards in January, she performed with English boy band Blue, and later collaborated with Irish singer Ronan Keating during the latter's headlining concert at the Araneta Coliseum the following month. Kyla made her acting debut with a guest role in the drama series Narito ang Puso Ko (2003). She followed this with a starring role in an episode of the anthology series Magpakailanman, portraying Sarah Geronimo, who became known for winning the inaugural season of the reality talent show Star for a Night.
On May 22, 2003, Kyla released "I Will Be There", the lead single from her third studio album of the same name. She worked with longtime collaborator Arnie Mendaros, as well as new songwriters such as Jamir Garcia, Janno Gibbs, and Radha. The album's title track was written by singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid. On I Will Be There, Kyla also reunited with boy band Blue for the track "Flexin", and with Valenciano for a cover of his single "Sana Maulit Muli", which won Best Performance by a Duet at the 2004 Awit Awards. The single "I Will Find You" earned her the award for Best R&B Music at the same ceremony.
2004–2009: Not Your Ordinary Girl and Beautiful Days Not Your Ordinary Girl was released in May 2004. It was supported by the lead single "Human Nature", a cover of Michael Jackson's 1983 song. Kyla worked with American singer-songwriter and producer Keith Martin, who wrote four of the album's tracks, including the song "Because of You". A reviewer from The Philippine Star described the record as her best work thus far and referred to Kyla as an "R&B royalty". The critic Baby Gil, also from The Philippine Star, praised her musical style and highlighted the singer's "innate flair for R&B music". She, however, was critical of its lead single, saying, "I do not think Kyla has the chops to relate to it and make listeners understand the angst and sense of disappointment inherent in the song." In support of the album, Kyla headlined an arena concert at the Araneta Coliseum on November 12, 2004, featuring guest performers such as Regine Velasquez, Luke Mijares, and Nyoy Volante. The album earned a double platinum certification from PARI. Not Your Ordinary Girl received an Album of the Year nomination at the 2005 Awit Awards; the single "If The Feeling Is Gone" was nominated for Best Ballad Recording, while three other singles received nominations in the Best R&B Recording category.
In February 2005, Kyla and Jerome John Hughes released a single for the soundtrack of the romantic drama Let the Love Begin (2005). She then presented the reality television singing competition Popstar Kids, which premiered on November 13, 2005, on the QTV network. Media critic Nestor Torre Jr. of the Philippine Daily Inquirer felt she was unoriginal and likened her approach to that of Velasquez, who then-hosted a talent show with a similar format. In 2006, Kyla released Beautiful Days. On the album, she co-wrote the title track with Manalo and re-teamed with Martin, who contributed three songs. At the 2007 Awit Awards, "Beautiful Days" garnered a nomination for Best Ballad Recording.
At the second Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera boxing match on October 7, 2007, at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Kyla sang the Philippine national anthem. Later that month, she released a remake of Taylor Dayne's "Love Will Lead You Back", the lead single from her sixth studio album Heartfelt. A tribute album, it included her versions of Lani Hall's "I Don't Want You To Go", James Ingram's "I Don't Have the Heart", and Patti LaBelle's "Over the Rainbow", among others. Music critics appreciated Kyla's artistry and vocal performances; the Philippine Entertainment Portal journalist Bong Godinez wrote that she was "blossoming into a full-fledged performer who can give justice to both contemporary R&B numbers and classic standards". Gil of The Philippine Star regarded Heartfelt as a showcase of Kyla's musicality that resulted in a production which "flows neatly from one cut to another". She concluded, "This girl has R&B in her system and all those sweet undulating notes just seem to come naturally with so much charm." At the 2008 Myx Music Awards, "Love Will Lead You Back" won Favorite Remake, and "It's Over Now" was named Best Ballad Recording at the 2008 Awit Awards.
In collaboration with Chito Ilagan and Jay R, Kyla co-produced her seventh studio album Heart 2 Heart, released on November 25, 2008. As with Heartfelt, the record consisted mostly of cover versions, with three original tracks incorporated. In it, she co-wrote the songs "Back in Time" and "You Make Me Feel" with . The Philippine Star considered Heart 2 Heart as a mature production, and added that the album remained faithful to Kyla's core as an R&B artist. The album and its singles earned several nominations at the Star Awards for Music, Awit Awards, and Myx Music Awards; winning Favorite Song for "Back in Time" and Favorite Mellow Video for "Old Friend" at the latter ceremony. Kyla took on the leading role of a woman coerced into an arranged marriage in the television show Dear Friend: Three Bachelors, co-starring Jay R, Martin Escudero, and Jennica Garcia. An installment of the Dear Friend series, it premiered on September 27, 2009.
2010–2014: Private Affair and Journey