At 24, Julia Duncan has to her credit a number of appearances on the pages of fashion magazines and newspapers. Her face and figure have become more popular than her name in her eight years as a model (she started part-time modeling at 16). But that’s about to change as she reveals a deeper aspect of her persona — that of a crooner!
Singing is actually embedded in her genes being the daughter of the late Filipino-American Theodore Duncan, a folk singer who was a regular performer at The Hobbit House in Manila.
She began singing when she was eight. She even sang in her father’s band while still in her pre-pubescent age and joined a company choir for a year. Inspired by her father’s musicality, she grew up listening to different types of music from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today’s songs. Usually, when given a chance, she would jam with the show band she’s watching just for fun!
A professional singing career was something she never expected to happen. She was seen in Honolulu and was asked if she would be interested to record an album. A dream come true for her, her soon to be released album is being produced by Richard Merk’s Manna Records.
“I actually jammed here before early October or November and I was asked to do a concert for Good Harvest here also at Merk’s. That was my very first concert locally and it felt good. And it’s an honor that Richard Merk is producing my album,” she related.
She added that she was influenced by the music of the Carpenters and Astrud Gilberto, especially that of Verni Varga and Jacqui Magno whom she drew chunks of inspiration for her singing. Music lovers can expect a fussion of genres in her debut album like Bossanova, Samba, and even Filipino, French, Portuguese and Spanish tunes. In preparation for her album, she has also honed her vocal stylings with Entertainment Arts Center in Makati and Annie Quintos.
