Rhona Nolasco / Duke Gonzo

Singer / Musicians

New-Manila got the chance to interview the talented songstress Rhona Nolasco, the lead vocalist of Duke Gonzo. Her childhood started in performance almost naturally and has now blossomed into an exciting promising future in entertainment.

Emotionally driven to make life-changing decisions, to further her love for performing arts, Rhona has set her sights on reaching goals, where they may lead her, she herself cannot say. But this is the exact reason why her free-spirited approach to life, is the most liberating and rewarding, to realising a dream in the most purest forms.

What are your current plans?

I am currently working on two shorts with director / producer Richard Reyes, ‘it’s a mind thing’, which is about relationships and ‘it’s a guy thing’, about guys hanging out.

It’ll be my first time, Richards been before, he keeps teasing me, he’s like ‘so oh you’re a Cannes virgin, you’re gonna love it’. We’ll be promoting the shorts, bring about awareness for the feature which we’re working on and will be shot in Borocay in October. Its gonna be amazing.

How do you find the time to do all of this?

To get your name out there. It’s the passion and the persistence.

You will go though really shitty dips and I did especially after uni, I was in a black hole and I didn’t know what I was doing but to be honest I didn’t think I was gonna go to uni

My best friends who I still work with, who I can ask anytime to dance for me at a professional level I found here, I got the film work and the job at Chisselwell Dance Space from here. It is a good source, I know university isn’t for everyone and I thought that. It’s about the networking and it’s who you know, not what you know.

What do you think you have done to push boundaries?

There’s nothing more frightening then standing on stage and just there in front with their drinks, the people. Oh my god, do they like us? You come off stage and the people are really warm, they find that the keyboard and the violin are two opposite instruments of the spectrum, but for some reason it creates a specific sound. One said ‘its really cool, because you don’t know what the next songs gonna be, cuz its all very different, very original’. People are genuinely impressed by the originality of the music.

How would you describe your musical sound?

It’s not pop on its own, it’s not rock, somebody said a really interesting thing, ‘if I was to describe your music into a genre, I would call it electropop, elickapop, there isn’t a genre for it, it’s almost inventing a new one.

Nick is the one who has the ideas in his head, and he can’t even explain it but it’s his creation?

As a musician I think he’s very talented, because he has that influence of just hearing music and making a unique sound.

Who inspires you, like a person?

My house hold inspires me, I live in a creative household. Nick’s a well-talented musician, Julian’s a brilliant guitarist, Sean does media, so he’s quite an influence on me, my best friend who is an inspiring dancer and people I meet, like Richard the director, he is so inspiring, I am learning so much from him, I don’t know anything about film, but what I’m learning now is to get me started, and he’s really paving the way for me, I am inspired by the talent.

Promote yourself

I network, its word of mouth. Now I’ve made my links with Richard and Nick, I keep meeting more people, and now I’m being taken to Cannes in May, I’m probably gonna meet more people, I just met like the whole GMA 7, and all the Filipino cast in manila, through Richard, their his contacts, I wouldn’t have know them otherwise. I think it’s more about building your links.

Were you born into this or did it develop over time

As you do, 3 year old little girl, my mum takes me to ballet, tap, jazz, piano, violin, clarinet, every bloody instrument under the sun. It started out as a hobby. Drama school and Europhil played a really big part in my life, that’s when I started doing the musical theatre stuff, the Mud series on television.

From 3-14 I was constantly on stage at the ‘King and I’ at Sandlers Wells. I’m quite fortunate I didn’t do just one thing, I did many.

That’s your playground as a performer. Studios are good for the creativity, but when you’re in front of an audience, that’s when you need to react and be comfortable with that space, find your performing elements that make you.

It wasn’t until I project managed my last dissertation here, where I had a taste of being a choreographer, production manager, crew, cast, working with seven dancers, two creative dancers and a musician. That I realised I want to work in production. I just loved it, and when I helped Richard out, he really did help me find my inner-bitions.

What is it like studying at the Laban Centre?

Dance college is physically and mentally demanding, there is also a high percentage of written work here. I cannot even express into words what you go through when you’re here, it’s one of those experiences. You’re here Monday to Friday, from 8:45am and finish class at 6pm , you have to stay and rehearse to do your work and rehearse other people’s work that you’re dancing for. Then you have to come in on Saturday to rehearse. Although you skim a lot of things, it opens your eyes to what is available in that field.

Describe your uni years, work and living in three sentences

I stopped working in my last year. Obviously this has set me back, because now the debts have built up, at first I didn’t think it was worth it, but now I think it is.

Health wise, you live on toast and tinned beans. You were either a party-goer, or you were one who got down to business. Third year, went partying to realise the tension, it was stressful but it was balanced, if you don’t go out, you won’t have any steam, you’d go insane.

Responsibilities – I was really bad at time-keeping, when you’re out of uni, with those deadlines, it’s real people and real money.

How did you balance friends and family

All my friends lived in Tottenham, we used to party every weekend but I left them and didn’t see them for 2-3 years. I couldn’t cope doing here and there. At the end of the day, what proves that their my friends and they’re my bestest friends still, is that they’re there for me. We’ve gone our separate ways now, but when we see each other, its like times stood still.

My family weren’t use to the idea of me living out, and my younger brother… its tough, but in the end, they see the results and they’re proud, they’re happy.

How has this changed your lifestyle?

How I am today and how I was in first year is so different. Now, I’m more independent, more aware, and more a woman, I’m a woman! Back then, I was not as focused and less-confident.

I use to refer to myself as a girl, now I’m in the real world, I’m described as a woman, and to hear that maturely in a mature context, shit I’m not a child I’m not a teenager, I’m a woman. Experiences make you who you are.

Memorable moment

My dissertation, before I started the course I never would have been able to pull off what I had did in 3 rd year. That day when it got chosen to be put into the show, I felt like...

One of life’s lessons

Whenever friends or family came, I wasn’t able to give them my full attention. That’s One thing I regret, having all these people help you and weren’t able to say thank you, that’s the biggest thing I’ve learnt, to always say thank you, and just be sensitive and respectful to people who have helping you.

What advice would you give to someone looking to venture into the same field?

Keeping your mind open to things and just keep trying things, see what fits you and what’s good for you, and if you realise it’s something you think you might wanna explore, just try it. Cuz if you don’t try it, you won’t know.

www.myspace/dukegonzomusic.com

photos by merielle mendiola / maryanne tadina