International singer Tiana Kocher reconnects with her Pinoy heritage
No matter how far your music or influence reaches worldwide, nothing beats the feeling of shining where you came from. There is something special about returning home and sharing your gift with your kababayans.
For Tiana Kocher, an international artist on the rise, reconnecting with her Filipino roots by performing at Bacolod’s Masskara Festival is both a personal and professional milestone.
Born and raised in California, Tiana is carving her path as an emerging Filipina artist in the US. Known for her collaborations with top artists like AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Citizen Queen, Bobby V, and Latin. J. Alvarez, she seems to be on a mission to reconnect with her heritage through music. The opportunity to perform the theme song for the 2024 Masskara Festival in Bacolod was given to Tiana.
Coming from a showbiz and political clan, Tiana has always been surrounded by the spotlight. However, she is determined to make a name for herself, blending her musical influences from both the West and her Filipino lineage.
“One of my biggest goals in life is to show the rest of the world what the Philippines has to offer,” Tiana shared, taking pride in her roots. Her music career kicked off with the release of “Just My Type (feat. Trinidad James)” in 2023, but it is through the Masskara Festival that Tiana was able to present a deeper, more personal connection to the Philippines.
The Masskara Festival is a grand celebration in Bacolod City, known as the “City of Smiles.” With its colorful costumes, street dancing, and overall festive atmosphere, the event captures the Filipino spirit of joy and resilience. When Tiana was tapped to sing the festival’s theme song, she could not contain her excitement.
“I was truly so honored! Considering the majority of my audience is based in North and South America, I’m so proud to show them a little piece of my heritage,” she said. Her performance at the festival will be a cultural homecoming.
Tiana’s rendition of the theme song embraces both English and Hiligaynon lyrics, a tribute to the local dialect of Bacolod. “I think the song captures the essence of the Masskara Festival perfectly; it’s very upbeat, bright, and lively, just like the festival! I love the use of English and Hiligaynon lyrics to also reach a broader audience,” Tiana enthused.
While she wishes there were more Hiligaynon phrases in the song, she appreciates the opportunity to showcase a part of Bacolod’s unique cultural identity to a global audience. “To me, the lyrics show how proud the people of Bacolod are to be from the city that’s considered the City of Smiles!”
Performing at the Masskara Festival and doing a music video turned into an opportunity for Tiana to explore new parts of the Philippines.
“I’ve never been to Bacolod prior to filming the video, so it was also really cool to explore new parts of my home country and try new things,” she revealed.
It is this connection to her homeland that keeps Tiana grounded as she navigates her career. She said, “I’m so proud to be Filipino. I feel like the rest of the world forgets that the Philippines is made up of thousands of islands, and each island has its own culture, traditions, and dialects.”
One of the highlights of this big break for Tiana is her collaboration with Josh Cullen, one of the members of the highly popular and well-loved P-pop group SB19. The two collaborated on the Masskara Festival theme song.
Although they weren’t able to film together due to conflicting schedules, Tiana is thrilled with the result.
“I really love how the video and the song came out. Josh is talented, and I love the flair and energy he brought into the song and video,” she said, expressing her admiration for the P-Pop icon’s contribution.
The collaboration with Josh inspires Tiana to work more with local talent. “I would love to have the opportunity to work with Josh again, whether it be working on a collaboration or writing with him and SB19,” she added.
For Josh, performing the Masskara theme song was a different experience from his usual work. “Performing the theme song for the festival is a new opportunity for me to explore a different side of my artistry outside of SB19 and as a solo artist,” Josh explained.
He sees this as a chance to infuse his personal touch into the performance while celebrating Bacolod’s traditions. “I hope to bring a fun and vibrant energy that reflects the spirit of the festival. I want to be able to share a piece of my identity while celebrating with the community and the beautiful traditions of Bacolod,” Josh added.
The music video was produced by Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli’s G Studios.
It is heartwarming to see that as Filipinos conquer the international music scene, many remain committed to sharing their Filipino roots with the world. In Tiana’s case, the Masskara Festival is the beginning of her efforts to reconnect with her heritage and showcase Filipino talent and creativity.
Looking ahead, Tiana is excited about the possibility of recording more original songs in Filipino and collaborating with other local artists and producers. “The Philippines truly has some of the most talented and creative people, and it would be nice to share that with the rest of the world,” she said.
