Friday, December 16, 2005 11:42 AM HST Hawaii's Idol, Jasmine Trias, plays tonight by John Burnett Tribune-Herald Correspondent
It's been nearly two years since Jasmine Trias finished as second-runner up on "American Idol." And while other AI non-winners, such as Ryan Starr, are trying to keep themselves in the public consciousness by going on reality shows such as "The Surreal Life," "Battle of the Network Reality Stars" and "All-Star Reality Reunion," Trias has a successful self-titled album, a budding movie career and a growing fan base in the United States, Asia and the Pacific Basin. The most active and ardent of her supporters are known as "Jasmaniacs."
In fact, KTLA-TV News in Los Angeles called Trias "the most successful Idol alumni from season three," beating out winner Fantasia Barrino, first runner-up Diana DeGarmo and early favorite LaToya London. The Mililani native is headlining a concert tonight at the Hilo's Sangha Hall, 398 Kilauea Ave. It's not only her first show on the Big Island, it's the 19-year-old singer's first visit.
"This is going to be my last show of the year before Christmas," Trias told the HT-H. "I want to spend time with my family for Christmas, because last year and year before that I was away because of the show and touring the Philippines. So this time, I wanted to spend some time with my family. I'll sing some songs off my album and some Christmas songs. It will be really fun."
Also on the bill are Panaewa, Ho'okoa, DJ XTC, comedian Mel Cabang and a special guest appearance by actor Jason Scott Lee. Advance tickets are $20, available at MJS Music, CD Wizard, Big Island Surf, Byrd's Audio and Mele Kai Music. Tickets are $25 at the door.
Trias' first album, which was released July 12 in the U.S. on Clockwork Entertainment, is selling well nationally, but has been flying off the shelves in Hawaii and Asia, especially in the Philippines, where both her parents were born, and where "Jasmania" has hit fever pitch.
"I've played a lot of shows there, but they've all been around Metro Manila," Trias said. "I'm going to be going to Cebu in January. I'm very excited, because it's very close to the place that my dad's parents came from."
Her dad, Rudy, a Pearl Harbor shipyard engineer, is originally from Cavite, while her mom, Nora, a nurse who has taken time off from work to accompany her on tour, is from Zambales. Her debut album, which was released in the Philippines on Universal, is No. 1 there, with four songs not on the U.S. release. Two of those extra songs are in Tagalog, a language that both her parents speak, but that Trias herself is learning. She told reporters there that she had to change a word in the song "Sana Lagi" because she couldn't pronounce it.
"I speak (Tagalog) pretty well now, because I've made a couple of trips to the Philippines," she said. "In the end -- when I finally understood what I was singing -- I think I did a pretty good job."
Good enough to make her a national TV spokesperson for some of the Philippines top advertisers, including Smart Telecommunications, Happee Toothpaste, Bench Clothing and McDonald's. In fact, the Philippine division of the Golden Arches came out with a special meal called the "Jasmine Trio."
"It was a strawberry float, fries and a CD single of a jingle that I sang for McDonald's," she explained. "I sang 'I'm lovin' it' in Tagalog. It's 'Love Ko 'To.'"
December has been a whirlwind month for Trias. She performed three songs at the Honolulu City Lights Christmas show on the grounds of Honolulu Hale Dec. 3. Three days later, she was at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. She made a guest appearance at a Side A concert in San Francisco Dec. 9. The following night, she appeared on FOX's MAD-TV and then came back home for a Dec. 12 spot on the KHON-2 Morning News. Last night, she sang three songs on KUMU-FM's monthly "An Evening at the Tropics" concert series broadcast live from the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.
Trias' visibility also means unplanned public appearances whenever she leaves the house for any reason.
"Whenever I go out anywhere, there's always something," she said. "I was at Wal-Mart the other night running some errands and people wanted to take pictures. It's everything from little kids to older people. Actually, it's great. It just lets me know how wide the audience was for (AI)."
Trias says she is looking forward to her show tonight, as well as her holiday break with the family. After that, it might be awhile before she can spend time with family and friends. Jasmania hits the road in January.
"I'm going on (an economic development) tour in the Asia with (Gov.) Linda Lingle," she said. "I'm the new spokesperson for Dole there. I'll be on tour with Southborder. They are kind of the Boyz II Men of the Philippines. It's going to be a Pan-Asia tour.
"Next year, I'm going to be working on all these big projects. 'All Girl Band' (a movie with Hilary and Haylie Duff) is still in the works.' I'm going to be working on movies in the Philippines, as well. And that will be an interesting challenge, because I'll be doing them in a different language."
Source: http://idolforums.com/