Nagbunga na ang matagal na paghihintay at pagtitiyaga ng mag-asawang Jeffrey at Charlotte Mae Bactong ng Sweetnotes Music dahil kinikilala na ang husay nila sa pagkanta at marami na ang sumusuporta sa kanilang singing career.
Nag-umpisa sa pagtatanghal sa mga hotel sa iba’t ibang lugar sa China ang Sweetnotes Music.
Maraming aral silang natutunan mula sa kanilang mga karanasan sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.
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“For us, yung buong China experience ang unforgettable sa amin because that was our first job as husband and wife,” pahayag nina Jeffrey at Charlotte sa ekslusibong panayam sa kanila ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
“We are happy that we were able to do things together and earn money from it. We explored and learned new things in China and it made us stronger as individuals.
“We worked in two hotels — Hilton Dali Hotel Resort and Spa in Yunnan, China and Cachet Boutique Hotel in Shaoxing, Zheijang, China.”
JEFFREY AND CHARLOTTE ON CHINA EXPERIENCE
Ikinuwento nina Jeffrey at Charlotte ang maayos na pakikisama ng mga Chinese, pero may mga pagkakataong walang nanonood sa show nila na hindi naging hadlang para mawalan sila ng pag-asa.
Lahad nila, “Chinese people are very hardworking. They treated us well.
"Regarding fans, I think hindi rin kami nakabuo ng fanbase doon since hindi naman kami kilala during that time.
“There was even one time na wala talagang guest na tumatambay sa lobby hotel, but we are still playing and singing songs since it was our job.
“So after the set, we went back to our rooms. Pero noon pa, mahilig na talaga kami na mag-Facebook Live, kahit walang nanonood.
“Masaya na kami kapag may 30 to 50 people na nanonood. We also made friends there, they became our family in China. We attend their local church and we go out together during our off.”
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RETURNING TO THE PHILIPPINES
Umuwi sa Pilipinas sina Jeffrey at Charlotte noong 2019 at hindi na sila nakabalik sa China dahil sa coronavirus pandemic.
Pero nagkaroon ito ng magandang kapalit nang maging masipag ang dalawa sa kanilang live performances sa social media.
Mula sa tatlumpo hanggang limampung Facebook Live viewers, meron nang apat na milyong followers ang kanilang Facebook page at 1.5 million subscribers ang YouTube channel nila.
“We are thankful that many people loved our music, and now our contents.
“Hindi rin namin ine-expect na aangat talaga ang Sweetnotes since ang gusto lang talaga namin before is ma-document ang memories at songs namin para next time, pag tumanda na kami, may mapapanood kami at ang mga anak namin.
“Pero binigyan pa kami ng bonus ni Lord, lumawak yung reach namin, and now umabot na kami ng 4M followers sa Facebook and 1.3M sa Youtube.
“Our Tiktok and Spotify viewers and listeners are also growing. We feel extremely blessed dahil alam namin na blessing lahat ni Lord ang mga nangyayari," reaksiyon ng Sweetnotes Music couple.
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MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS ADVOCACY
Natutuwa sina Jeffrey at Charlotte dahil popular sila sa mga OFW na kasama sa kanilang mental health awareness advocacy.
Saad nila, “According sa mga nababasa namin na comments and other messages from our OFW supporters, they love how they remember their home through our song covers.
“Also, since they live away from their families, listening to our cover songs helped to comfort them in their mental and emotional needs.
“Sweetnotes Music’s advocacy is to promote mental health awareness and well-being through music. We aim to be advocates for therapeutic benefits of music in managing stress, anxiety, depression. We aim to promote relaxation and emotional healing through our music.
“We also encourage our followers to share how music has impacted their mental health positively, creating a supportive community where people feel heard and understood.”
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ON BEING COMPARED TO MYMP
Ano naman ang reaksyon nila tungkol sa madalas na pagkukumpara sa kanila sa popular acoustic duo na MYMP?
Tugon ng mag-asawa: “We actually didn’t know that we are being compared to MYMP, pero if it’s true, we are thankful.
“Sino ba naman ang hindi magiging thankful, MYMP na yan, but I believe we have our own craft and style in music.
“Since MYMP is an acoustic duo, kami naman sequencer band. Iba-iba kami ng style.
"And we guess same lang kami ng mission — ang makapagpasaya at mabigyan ng magandang musika ang mga nakikinig at sumusuporta sa amin.
“As husband and wife, it’s a good thing that we share same passion together.
“We do music together and we can provide for our families by doing the things that we love together.
“Isa yan sa advantage ng Sweetnotes Music, we are authentic and we don’t need to fake everything onstage since mag-asawa nga kami.
“Pero minsan, may misunderstandings talaga but, we think, normal sa mag- asawa ang nag-aaway.
"So, nagko-communicate talaga kami sa isa’t isa whenever that happens. Importante talaga ang clear communication sa mag asawa.”
May pangarap ba rin silang makapasok sa mainstream music industry tulad ng ibang social media stars?
“For now, wala pa kaming decision regarding that matter. If ibibigay ni Lord, why not, di ba?
“But being in the mainstream industry is no joke as well. Siguro for now, kailangan pa namin na pag-isipan at pag-usapan,” sabi nina Jeffrey at Charlotte.
Simula sa Oktubre hanggang Disyembre 2024, magkakaroon ang Sweetnotes Music ng U.S. tour na naging posible dahil sa kanilang social media popularity at sa tulong ng Edren Entertainment and Onstage Promotions.
May dalawang anak sina Jeffrey at Charlotte.
Habang nagtatanghal sila sa Amerika, ang kanilang mga magulang ang mag-aalaga sa mga bata.
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