The Sessionistas Return to Cebu: Voices That Carry Lives and Music
There are voices that impress, and then there are voices that stay with you long after the final note has faded. The Sessionistas, a renowned Filipino vocal ensemble, firmly belong to the latter category. This is not merely due to their impressive vocal power but because every note they sing resonates with the depth of lives fully lived. On April 18, 2026, they will bring this profound musical experience back to Cebu for a special performance at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Philosophies of Performance and Authenticity
For Princess Velasco, each performance is imbued with a clear sense of purpose. "With any song that I perform, whether it be recorded or live, my intention is to sing it as truthfully as I can," she explained. "My only hope is that the listener resonates with the song’s message and through my rendition, it connects with them on a deeper level." This belief underscores her signature simplicity, as she adds, "I believe a good song can stand on just the words and melody."
Duncan Ramos shares a similar commitment to emotional clarity in his musical approach. "If we truly embrace life, joy, sorrow, pain, relationships, the divine... that soulful sound in different shades will come out naturally. The heart and voice will sync musically," he expressed. For Juris, the key to interpretation lies in understanding. "It’s important to understand the story of a song," she noted.
Exploration and Evolution in Music
Sitti Navarro embraces both exploration and return in her artistic journey. "It’s fun and necessary to go out of my comfort zone... For my YouTube channel Sitti Lite, I collaborate with other artists in other genres. In 2018, I released an electric album called ElectroSitti," she shared. "But also, like when one travels to different places, when I come back to bossa nova, there’s always the ‘there’s no place like home’ feeling."
Nyoy Volante views identity as a constant evolution. "I don’t think you need to, honestly. In the midst of improving and discovering, a part of you stays loyal to your roots anyway," he said. "I don’t see no reason not to reinvent out of fear of losing your original persona. Your current identity is your identity."
For Ice Seguerra, authenticity is about alignment. "Authenticity for me now, is really about alignment. Kung sino ako offstage, dapat hindi malayo sa kung sino ako onstage," Ice shared. "Now it’s more about peace… Success now is sustainability. Emotionally, creatively, even spiritually."
The Enduring Legacy of OPM
As Original Pilipino Music (OPM) continues to evolve, the Sessionistas see this not as replacement but as expansion. "Music now compared to how I started has become way more diverse," Duncan observed. Princess added, "I have always believed that Filipinos have an innate musical talent that is in our blood — our music is loaded with love, pain, and hope and will endure for generations to come."
Ultimately, for the Sessionistas, it is connection that truly defines them beyond the music. "When we are together, we just see ourselves as a bunch of friends who love to sing," said Princess. In the end, the Sessionistas remain rooted in what they have always been: lives carried by music and voices carrying lives forward.
