Laarni Lozada

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Laarni Lozada
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Laarni Losala
Born = June 23, 1985 (age 23)
Origin = Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines
Genre = Pop, Ballad, Rock, Soul, Classical
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 2008 - present
Instrument = Vocals, Piano
Label = Star Records

Laarni Lozada (born Laarni Losala) is a Filipino pop, ballad and soul singer. She is the winner of Pinoy Dream Academy (Season 2), Philippine franchise of Endemol's "Star Academy"garnering more than 100,000 votes over the votes obtained by her closest contender Bugoy Drillon. [cite web|url=http://s2b.pinoydreamacademy.ph/main/article/news/333/Congratulations-Laarni-.aspx |title=News :: Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 |publisher=S2b.pinoydreamacademy.ph |date= |accessdate=2008-10-01]

Biography

Early life

Laarni was born in Pasig Citycite web|url=http://s2b.pinoydreamacademy.ph/main/scholars/id/26/Laarni.aspx |title=Scholars :: Pinoy Dream Academy |publisher=S2b.pinoydreamacademy.ph |date= |accessdate=2008-10-01] to William and Nita Losala. [Guest appearance in both Pinoy Dream Academy (September 14, 2008) and Boy & Kris (September 16, 2008)] . The family moved to Isulan, Sultan Kudarat later on. She has six siblings.cite news |first=Bayani Jr. |last=San Diego |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Working student from Sultan Kudarat tops reality contest l=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080915-160833/Working-student-from-Sultan-Kudarat-tops-reality-contest |work= |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=2008-09-15 |accessdate=2008-10-01 ]

Laarni was a consistent honor student from elementary to high school. When she was in Grade 5, she worked at the local public market and at the family farm. When she was 15, she left Isulan for Manila. to pursue her education. An aunt from the US supported her in her studies at the School of Music of the Philippine Women's University. However, she decided to shift course from AB Music to BS Education, Major in English, when she realized that most of the music students in the school were from the upper strata of society. She feared that she lacked the eloquence to be part of that kind of milieu. Her musical talent, however, paved the way for her to become a university scholar while working as a student assistant of the school. Laarni sang both for passion and for a living. She sang in different social functions, particularly in weddings, joined singing competitions, and accepted guestings. She became a runner-up in the now-defunct "Sing Galing" of ABC5. She won the Rotary Club Intercollegiate/University singing contest, besting 25 other contestants from different schools in Manila by rendering the patriotic anthem "Dakilang Lahi". She also won the National Grand Finals of the "Campus Idol" search by her rendition of "What Kind of Fool Am I?"cite web|url=http://laarnilosala.multiply.com/journal/item/45/Biography_Who_Is_Laarni_Losala |title=The Chronicles Of Laarnia — Biography: Who Is Laarni Losala? |publisher=Laarnilosala.multiply.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-01]

Laarni also joined the PWU Church chorale, the Ambassadors of Light, and the Malate Church Chorale. When she became part of the Coro de San Sebastian, she got the opportunity to sing together with said choral group with the Philippine Madrigal Singers in a Madrigal Et Al concert.

When she once had a job at the Calesa Bar, she had the opportunity to get musical pointers from the bar's musical director, Rudy Francisco.

Voice

Laarni is generally described as a versatile singer as her voice ranges from alto to coloratura soprano, not to mention being a parallel belter. Her musical influences include the country's most popular and competent belters such as Sarah Geronimo, Lea Salonga, Lani Misalucha and Regine Velasquez.

"Pinoy Dream Academy"

Upon learning about new season of Pinoy Dream Academy, Laarni decided to audition. An inspirational song, "Lead Me Lord, " earned for her the 15th slot after a long process of elimination.

After 13 weeks in the academy, Laarni was hailed the Grand Star Dreamer on September 14, 2008 at the Cuneta Astrodome. At the end of the show's two-night finale, she garnered 651,696 votes (35.21% of the total votes).

In-Academy Performances

*"Official Performances"
*# In Your Eyes - Regine Velasquez
*# As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand
*# Fighter - Christina Aguilera
*# Kung Ako Na Lang Sana — Bituin Escalante, "with Iñaki"
*# Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin
*# Let's Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire, "with Apple & Miguel"
*# Too Much Heaven - The Bee Gees, "with Apple & Miguel"
*# ‘Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin — April Boy Regino
*# Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
*# On The Wings of Love / Back at One - Regine Velasquez / Brian McKnight, "counterpoint with Bugoy"
*# The Prayer - Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion, "with Jed Madela"
*# I Am Blessed - Eternal
*# Waray Waray - Lani Misalucha
*# Manalig Ka - "Laarni Losala"
*# Boogie Wonderland - Earth, Wind & Fire
*"Face-Off Performances"
*# And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going - Jennifer Holliday, "with Poy"
*"ASAP Performances"
*# Hiram - Zsazsa Padilla, "with Zsazsa Padilla"
*# Starting Over Again - Natalie Cole, "with Sheryn Regis"

Controversy

Laarni has a highly volatile personality as noted by Director Joey Reyes, one of the mentors in the academy. During the early part of the competition, she seemed to be off-tangent to most of her co-scholars. She was viewed to be a loner and therefore not cut-out to be in a reality show where solidity of emotions was crucial to survival.

In perceiving that she was out of place among the scholars, Laarni had unwittingly placed herself in conflict with some of them. The accompanying tension sent her on crying spells, which earned for her the image of a "cry baby".. Her vulnerability elicited different reactions from her co-scholars. She had been accused of being an insensitive person because she seemed to be always wrapped up in her own world. Laarni's reference to a sad childhood gave clues to her emotional vulnerability. According to the Enneagram of Personality test administered by Dr. Randy Dellosa, the academy's psychological counselor, her artistic yet sensitive attitude can be attributed to her being a four.

When Laarni was placed on probation, there was never an instance that her co-scholars saved her from expulsion. Either she was saved by text voters or by the mentors. After some time, Laarni had learned how to keep her emotions in check, take negative remarks in jest, and focus on improving her craft as well as her relationship with her fellow contestants. In the end, televiewers chose her to be the Grand Star Dreamer. When she was declared the winner, most of her co-scholars joined her on stage to congratulate her.

Career

Laarni's Grand Star Dreamer title has earned her a place in the stable of talents of ABS-CBN. She has made appearances in many programs, especially in Boy & Kris where she has guested four times already in a span of three weeks. On the Cory Aquino special of the said show, fellow scholar, Hansen, confessed that Laarni has a crush on fellow ASAP '08 singer, Jed Madela who she had a duet with in the Academy. [October 1, 2008 guesting on Boy & Kris] Other guestings include gameshows like The Singing Bee, Wowowee and Pilipinas, Game KNB?; and talk shows like Umagang Kay Ganda, The Buzz, Entertainment Live, and even Sharon. She has also guested in the Little Grand Dream Night of [Pinoy Dream Academy: Little Dreamers

Her first single, "Manalig Ka", was written by Ryan Cayabyab. It is included in the Top 10 scholar's album, namely "Scholar's Sing Cayabyab".

Television

* "Sing Galing"
* ""
* "ASAP '08"

Discography

See also

* Pinoy Dream Academy
* Pinoy Dream Academy (season 2)
* ABS-CBN

References