looking through the mirror

Sheila’s Reflection

At first glance, Sheila Barrios is an unassuming girl. But when she starts to smile and talk, she opens a doorway for you, a doorway that leads to a secret room where her untapped singing voice and passion for music glitter in full color. Somehow, she has this undeniable charisma with her voice. Forget about Ariel of Walt Disney’s Little Mermaid, Sheila is no fairy tale character but a real girl dreaming for simple and little things in life. But her voice is big (and angelic, too). The first few notes she utter defines what she is capable of. And yet, she doesn’t want to be called a “little diva” but someone who loves to sing. Expression is a fulfillment for Sheila.

A true-blue Ilongga, Sheila hails from Barrio Obrero in Iloilo City, Philippines. The youngest sibling of seven and the gifted of them all enjoyed music in whatever form it is. At 16, this bubbly teenager is both an academic achiever and active in extra-curricular activities. She can dance well and sing live with assurance that her audience will be entertained. Her inclination for music has always defined her passion to get inspired by American international songstress Rihanna and Beyonce. Pinay international pop sensation, Charice is also one of her musical idols. But the closest relevance she has for music is her cousin Reyn Callao, another rising Ilonggo RnB singer. Both of them compliment and encourage each other for music. To be specific, both of them promote Ilonggo music, a gesture of taking pride for Ilonggo’s cultural identity by singing in local language. They know that the sentiments of their songs can be easily understood and romanticized by radio listeners and music lovers.

rslphoenix music, a team of Ilonggo artists with passion for local music saw this girl’s untapped potential. Though she sometimes choose not to flaunt much of her musical capabilities, Sheila is undeniably good when she starts singing. She starts to shed a new personality and vibrant face with her voice even in her young age. When she continues soaring with her fascinating vocal flexibility, you get to see the real her—a girl with big voice in an unassuming face, a rare package that catapulted many unexpected divas and songstress in the field of music. But the first step of making her little dreams come true is to start accepting, embracing, and look at her reflection in the mirror wholeheartedly. This writer believes the heart is a compass of dreams and passion. It even conquers the impossible.

Sheila’s journey begins on May 1, 2010 with the release of her independent first single entitled “Ginpalangga” which she co-wrote with rslphoenix and inspired by the song of Rihanna. It will be aired first in several local Iloilo FM stations and can be seen exclusively in her own youtube channel with a teaser video of her first fashion photo shoot. Filipino international photographer, Jose de Luna and rising Ilonggo designer, Ram Silva merged their artistry to transform Sheila into a singing fashion chameleon.

Now let her music unfold.