Antoinette Taus is a well-known singer, dancer, actress and host in the Philippines. Now, Hollywood is getting to know her as the great performer that she is.
Toni, as friends call her, is part of the group Kinfolk 9 which recently made it to the top 14 in The Sing-Off, a popular American talent show series now on its third season in NBC. Kinfolk 9 has been described in the show as “a professional group out of LA, with members who all have the ability to share lead vocals.”
In an exclusive interview with Asian Journal, Antoinette excitedly shared more about her newest accomplishment.
“Right now I am in an a capella called Kinfolk 9 on the NBC hit show, The Sing Off. It is a competition among 16 a capella groups. The winning group walks away with $200,000 and a recording contract with Sony Music.”
“The show is hosted by recording artist Nick Lachey, who rose to fame as a member of boy band 98 Degrees. Celebrity judges include Ben Folds (frontman of alternative rock band Ben Folds Five), Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men and singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles. Kinfolk 9 is comprised of Mary Akpa, David Fertello, Kari Francis, Jon Hall, Moi Navarro, Jenilee Reyes, Angelique Sheppard, Daniel Weidlein and myself.”
“It is a group of diverse and talented studio musicians and artists in Los Angeles who have worked and recorded in nearly every genre of music. While each member of the group is accomplished as a solo artist and musician, this is the first time the group has sung and competed together as an a capella group,” Antoinette shares.
Talking about her experience, she said in an earlier interview, “Akala ko madali. Grabe, [this is] one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, singing-wise. Kasi if you’re singing a cappella, it has to be extremely perfect. One little mistake, one pitchy part, ruins everything because there’s no music.”
Antoinette said that she’s excited but anxious as well about her joining the contest. “It’s almost like I’m not just doing it for me, I’m also doing it for Filipinos everywhere. It’s really important to me that people know that I’m a Filipino,” said the former teenybopper.
Born Antoinette Cherish Flores Taus on August 30, 1981 in Angeles City, she is the daughter of an American father and a Filipino mother. She started doing commercials at the tender age of 4. Toni is also one of the original Ang TV kids.
Recalling how she started her showbiz career, she told Asian Journal: “My mother was a huge influence in helping me discover my love for singing and performing. I started doing commercials when I was 4 years old. I fully entered show business at the age of eleven when my father suggested we audition for a film looking for a girl and a boy to play brother and sister. (Toni’s younger brother, Tom Taus, was also an entertainer in the Philippines.)”
“The movie was Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo, which was the comeback project of director Marilou Diaz Abaya. Around the same time, I was cast in the role of Gavroche for the musical Les Miserables, produced by Repertory Philippines. I was also cast in my first TV show for ABS-CBN called Ang TV. Everything just sort of fell into place after that. I continued to do more and more movies, TV shows, soap operas, variety shows and even recorded a few albums. I traveled across the country on various concert tours as well as other countries,” she said.
Antoinette’s debut album received a Gold Record Award. As an actress, at the age of 13, she was the youngest to ever be nominated for best supporting actress by the Film Academy of the Philippines. She continued on to star in top-rated soap operas, sitcoms and films. Her music has continued to progress through the years with varying vocal styles ranging from Broadway to Pop and R&B. She has also acted in successful stage plays like Les Miserables, The Wiz, and I Ought to Be in Pictures, and starred in popular TV shows such as Anna Karenina and T.G.I.S.
In spite of her hectic schedule as an actress, singer and dancer, Antoinette found time to go to college at the Ateneo de Manila University. She first took up Political Science, but then shifted to Mass Communications.
Asked about her loves and favorites, Antoinette told Asian Journal, “ I love food period. hahaha! But I especially love oriental cuisine such as Vietnamese food, Thai food, Japanese and Indian. I’m not really a sporty girl, but whenever I can, I love water sports and wall climbing. I’m a sucker for sci-fi and adventure movies. I’m also addicted to TV shows such as True Blood, Dexter, Grey’s Anatomy, Gossip Girl and Spartacus. My favorite singers include Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, John Mayer and Brian Mcknight. My favorite actors are Clive Owen, Leonardo Dicaprio and Brad Pitt. As for actresses, I love Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman and Sandra Bullock.”
After a successful career in her homeland, Antoinette immigrated to California where her American father and brother also now live.
“My mother passed away due to cancer seven years ago and I have to say that it was the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with. She was my everything, my inspiration, my best friend... my soulmate,” said Antoinette, who admits that she’s very close to her family.
“I’ve always been attached to my family. Growing up, it was all about family,” she added.
With her father and brother now living in the US as well, Antoinette is focusing on building a career in Hollywood.
“Everyone always asks me why I chose to come here. I am here in the US right now taking a huge risk. One day, I just knew that this is what I wanted to do. It felt more right than wrong. Deep down inside, the decision to leave felt so right and the thought of staying just felt wrong. It made me feel guilty thinking that I should stay ‘cause that was the ‘safe’ choice...the easy choice. I prayed long and hard and came to the decision that this is where I should be...even if it entailed so much risk, tears and sacrifice, this is where I knew I belonged...whether I make it or not. I had the support of my family, which gave me so much confidence...but more than that, I knew that God was with me and always will be,” said Antoinette.
In her Multiply blog, Antoinette shares the values she lives by. “FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE...3 words I live by...complete faith and trust in the Lord...hope for every new tomorrow & in the goodness of all people...and unconditional love,” she wrote.
Asked about her future plans, Antoinette told Asian Journal: “I recently signed with Haus of M Talent Management. Michael “M” Herrera is actually a dear friend of mine and now we are officially working together on many big projects for the future. One of which involves me working on an album with a number of talented writers and producers. It will be produced in the US for worldwide distribution.”
“In the next five years, I would like to have a few albums released, be in a (or several) hit TV shows, and have a number of blockbuster films out. All in the US. A girl can dream, right? That’s why it’s called a dream. The difference between a dream and reality is actually making it happen. I’m doing my best and working hard to make it all come true. That’s all I can do. The rest is up to God,” said Antoinette.
Watch Antonette Taus in NBC Channel 4 every Monday at 8 pm at The Sing Off. Her group is Kinfolk 9. You can log at www.facebook.com/AntoinetteTausOfficial and follow her on www.twitter.com/AntoinetteTaus to get the details on how to vote for their group during the elimination rounds.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek Sept 28-30, 2011 MDWK pg.2)
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