JINKY VIDAL

It's women like this freestyle vocalist that make R&B so damn sexy..

 

The time after her March 2001 shoot has been good for Jinky Vidal and her uber-band Freestyle. They've had hit after hit, scorching the airwaves like wildfire with songs like "So Slow" and " Bakit Ngayon ka lang", and searching their own band of soulful R&B into the collective Filipino musical consciousness.

Maybe FHM deserves a little credit for all of this, and maybe not. All we know is that freestyle's fetching frontwoman is one of the most bewitching babes we've ever had the honor to feature. Based on experience, Jinky, can grab an entire room's attention by sheer looks alone. Oh, and she is really well, too.

 

Were you into the whole singing contest scene like all the other vocally gifted kids?

--Pretty much. My first contest was when I was five-an inter-class thing at my school. I even remember what I sang: "Ako ay Pilipino." It must have been a good rendition, since I won first prize.

The last contest I joined was the Musicmate 5 stars in 1992, where they get five winners to represents certain areas in the Philippines. I was chosen to represent Mindanao.

Is Freestyle your first band?

--No, I was in two bands before Freestyle. The first one was a band of my friends and I had in high school. Nothing serious, really, just for fun. The second one was originally called "Traffic Jam", but we had to change it to First Circle when we got to Manila, because there was already another band with that name doing gigs here. I had to go back to Davao after a couple of months because I really wanted to get into a good college, and I couldn't get into here because I didn't have any connections.

Do you have any problems being the only girl, excuse me, woman in your band?

--I don't really have any issue with that, since our taste in music is basically the same.

Do you have any pesky callers or stalkers?

--There are some male fans who get my number who get really persistent. Sometimes guys approach me after gig and try to get my mobile number so they can txt me. Some guys even ask me to join them after a set. I try to entertain these peoples as much as I can, since it's good PR, and I'm really a friendly person at heart. But there are those who manage to get my number from another source and call me kahit di ko sila kilala. Ang kukulit minsan.!

So what should a guy have for you to really, wholeheartedly entertain him?

--Kailangan mapatawa niya ako.He also has to be a very honest. I'd also like for him to ba artistic, because that way he'd understand my line of work better than someone who isn't. Of course, it'd be better if he was a good-looking din. But looks aren't as important to me but me as the traits I've mentioned. HONEST!

So you have found anyone with all of the above?

--I'm dating someone right now,pero hanggang doon lang muna. I'm really busy right now, and I'm giving priority to my career. I don't want to give him false hopes naman, so date lang muna.

It's a "So Slow" kind thing, I guess. I assume therefore that you still believe in courtship?

--Yes, but not the old-fashioned kind. For me, it's better to be friends first before going on the next phase. I also like it when courtship is medyo mysterious.

On both sides?

--Of course!