Jasmin Lopez is a Filipina singer-songwriter and the lead vocalist of the Philippine band DNA. She is also an eight-time champion in vocal competitions across the Philippines.
Transcript:
JRok: Hello, I’m Angel with JRok Music, and today we’re chatting with singer Jasmin Lopez. Hi, Jasmin. How is your morning?
Jasmin: Hello. Good morning. I’m good so far, but I’m nervous because I’m not really good at English. I’ll try my best.
JRok: That’s okay. It’s really nice to have you here today. We’ve heard a little about your journey in music, and you’ve accomplished many things so far. Before we talk about those experiences, let’s go back to the beginning. When did you first start singing, and what inspired you?
Jasmin: Okay, let me start by introducing myself. Hi, I am Jasmin Villarin Lopez, but people call me Jazz or Min. I am a 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
I have been singing for six years and have been actively involved in singing competitions, live performances, search music, art, choral activities, songwriting, and university performing arts.
At present, I am a fourth-year Filipino education student at Philippine Normal University Visayas. Aside from my studies, music has remained an important part of my life. It has become one of the ways I express myself, connect with people, and serve others while continuously growing as a person.
JRok: That’s good to know. What was your first experience working with other musicians and performing for an audience?
Jasmin: When I was in senior high school, I had the experience of singing at a small department store. I was hired as the vocalist of a small acoustic band.
My talent fee at that time was 200 pesos. It could increase depending on how many beers were sold.
Although it was a small opportunity, it was an achievement for me because I realized that I could actually make money with my talent. For me, it was a good experience and an important part of my journey.
JRok: You’ve also sung with many church choirs. What was the experience like, singing with a large number of other singers?
Jasmin: My church experience has played a really important role in my development as a singer because the church is where I started. It became my training ground. At the same time, I learned a lot from our pianist and my fellow choir members.
At one point, I was challenged to be the psalmist for our church. I’m Roman Catholic, and this was a really challenging experience for me because I was used to singing with other choir members. I didn’t usually sing on my own.
At that time, I was really nervous. I wasn’t familiar with the song, and I wasn’t used to singing in front of so many people. But I did it.
I really did my best, and I managed to overcome the challenge.
JRok: Since entering university, you’ve participated in a lot of singing competitions, such as PNU’s The Talent 2025 in the Philippines. How many other singers are you typically up against, and how do you prepare for these events?
Jasmin: Let me talk about my journey in singing competitions.
When I started competing, I was challenged by veteran singers who were already very experienced. I was a first-time contestant, and I didn’t know what to do or how the competitions worked. I didn’t even know much about vocal techniques.
At that time, I decided to give it a try because I thought I might love this field, and I could learn different vocal techniques through competitions.
When preparing for a contest, I practice a lot. I have a friend named Glendale who serves as my coach. He has been a big help to me because he taught me vocal training and techniques. He even taught me vibrato.
I’m really grateful to him. My journey in competitions hasn’t been a journey I’ve taken alone. My friends, my family, and my loved ones have all supported me, and they’ve been important factors in my journey.
JRok: Typically, how many competitors do you have when joining a singing competition?
Jasmin: It depends on the competition. Usually, there are around 12 contestants. I’ve even joined a competition with 35 contestants.
I never imagined myself competing at that level against so many talented singers. I was surprised by the challenge, but thanks to God, I got through it.
It’s a lot of competition, but I’ve also made friends. My competitors have become my friends. It’s not just about competing; you can also build connections with other people.
JRok: You have a band named DNA, right?
Jasmin: Yes.
JRok: How would you describe the band’s sound and style to someone who hasn’t heard you play?
Jasmin: DNA mainly performs song covers at the moment. We’re still working on our original compositions, and we’re going to get to that.
For now, our style is more focused on chill songs, such as slower songs and Filipino music. We also perform rock songs. We do a lot of covers, so it depends on the song and the style we choose to play.
JRok: Does the band perform often, and what kind of events do you usually play?
Jasmin: We’re still starting out, so we usually perform at events such as fundraising events or shows for a cause. We also performed during the foundation day at PNU.
JRok: That must have been rewarding. How was the experience?
Jasmin: It was great! Seeing people enjoying our music was really great and fulfilling.
JRok: What are some of your current and future plans for your music?
Jasmin: Honestly, I never imagined that years from now I would get to perform on a big stage.
Let me share something about myself. I usually sing because I can make money from it. I believe that many artists also make money from their skills, but I don’t think that’s the main goal. The goal is for people to appreciate your art.
As for my future plans, maybe I would like to establish my career first before setting a goal or vision for my music career. Let’s just look forward to what happens.
JRok: It’s been great meeting and chatting with you, Jasmin. Before we finish, could you give us a short sample of your singing?
Jasmin: Oh my God! I’m actually shy. Okay, let’s do a short song.
JRok: That explains why you’re the vocalist of your band!
JRok: Jasmin, where can everyone listen to your music? Do you have any social media accounts?
Jasmin: You can hear my music on my YouTube channel. I also have a Facebook account under the name Jasmin Villarin. I’m sorry that I don’t have Spotify yet, but I’ll create an account in the future.
I would also like to recommend my band, DNA. We have a Facebook page, so you can follow us there.
JRok: Okay, I think that’s it. Thank you for being here with us today. Once again, I’m Angel with JRok Music. Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you in the next interview.
Jasmin: Thank you.