Meet Fil-Canadian Jovelle Balani, Zack Tabudlo’s opening jazz act in Winnipeg
Photos from Jovelle Balani/Instagram
If you often discover new music through TikTok, then you’ve probably seen Jovelle Balani on your For You Page.
The Filipino-Canadian singer-songwriter has used the platform since 2022 to share her growth, artistry, and passion for jazz music through soulful covers, live gigs, and original songs.
After garnering over 3,000 followers on the app, Balani continues to find her footing in the local and international music scene with the help of this generation’s most in-demand OPM acts.
On Nov. 11, Balani opened for Filipino pop singer Zack Tabudlo’s “The Morning Tour” in Winnipeg. She performed at the Centennial Concert Hall, where she documented her experience as front act for the OPM artist.
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Balani and jazz go way back. Before performing at Tabudlo’s tour, she already found her niche in the genre as a child. Growing up on Frank Sinatra and the Carpenters, Balani is a certified old soul, frequenting vintage stores and her growing vinyl collection to hone her musical skills through jazz and bossa nova.
In an interview with The Free Press, she considered the songs on her Walkman as some of her first musical influences. “One of my earliest musical memories was carrying a Walkman when I was four. I remember listening to The Beatles and ‘The Sound of Music.’ I fell in love with them.” She proceeded to take voice lessons at 12 until singing eventually became her bread and butter.
Balani grew up in the Philippines and migrated to Canada in 2018. Despite living overseas, she never forgets to carry the impact of OPM abroad. Last March, she also opened for OPM balladeer Moira dela Torre at the Canada Life Centre. Balani deemed it “one of the best nights of her life,” having fulfilled her dream of performing in front of thousands of people.
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Moving forward, Balani is ready to reintroduce jazz as a breath of fresh air for her fellow music enthusiasts and storytellers, old and new. With three singles under her belt, including her latest holiday carol “My Christmas Wish,” Balani’s steadfast efforts to open doors for Filipino jazz singers are certainly not in vain.
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