Kaye Cal
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kaye Cal
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Karen Jade Cal
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|2|11}}
| birth_place = Davao del Sur, Philippines{{cite web|title=From Ezra Band to We Love OPM: Kaye Cal's Musical Journey|url=http://www.onemusic.ph/news/the-musical-evolution-kaye-cal-1481|publisher=One Music|date=August 23, 2016|accessdate=August 3, 2018}}
| genre =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Singer
- songwriter
}}
| years_active = 2010–present
| label = Star Music
| associated_acts = Ezra Band
| website =
}}
Karen Jade Cal (born February 11, 1989), professionally known as Kaye Cal, is a Filipino singer-songwriter who rose to popularity after becoming a grand finalist of the first season of the talent competition Pilipinas Got Talent, in which she competed in as the lead singer of Ezra Band. She has since been performing as a solo artist and has released several singles.{{cite web|title=7 Things to Know About Kaye Cal|url=https://www.wish1075.com/wishawards/?p=1195|date=January 14, 2016|accessdate=August 3, 2018}}
Early life
Cal was born on February 11, 1989, in Pasay City, Philippines, to Christian parents.{{cite web|title=Kaye Cal's parents yet to accept her sexuality|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/22/17/kaye-cals-parents-yet-to-accept-her-sexuality|publisher=ABS-CBN|date=March 23, 2017|accessdate=August 3, 2018}}
Career
Cal met her future Ezra Band bandmates in her hometown, Davao del Sur. The group eventually competed in the first season of Pilipinas Got Talent, where they became grand finalists. The covers the group performed on the show were released in the Pinoy You Got It album, which is a compilation of songs from the contestants on the show. Their covers of The Corrs' "Runaway" and Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" were included on the album, along with their original song "Walang Iba" (lit. "No one else").
She garnered attention for her deep, soulful masculine voice, which led to confusion regarding her gender. In an interview with Pep PH in 2010, she revealed that she received surprised reactions from people upon learning that she is a woman since she also "dressed like a man".{{cite web|title=Ezra Band lead vocalist admits being a tomboy, but says no to same-sex relationship|url=https://www.pep.ph/news/26207/ezra-band-lead-vocalist-admits-being-a-tomboy-but-says-no-to-same-sex-relationship|first=Glen P. |last=Sibonga|date=July 18, 2010|accessdate=August 3, 2018}}
The band has since gone on hiatus, starting Cal's career as a solo artist. She started uploading her covers on YouTube regularly, which gained popularity such as her cover of Up dharma Down's song "Tadhana". She released her first single "Isang Araw" in 2015 along with an accompanying music video. The song was part of OPM Fresh, an album that featured up-and-coming OPM artists. Kaye Cal signed with Star Music when the head of the label, Roxy Liquigan, told his team to look for her because he strongly believed in her talent and was attracted to her voice.{{cite web|title=Kaye Cal making it on her own |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2017/03/19/1680231/kaye-cal-making-it-her-own|first=Honey|last=Orio-Escullar|publisher=The Philippine Star|date=March 19, 2017|accessdate=August 3, 2018}}
In March 2017, Kaye released her self-titled debut album which featured nine tracks, including two original songs ("Rosas" and "Mahal Ba Ako ng Mahal Ko"), three covers, and her past singles ("Walang Iba", "Nyebe" , "Isang Araw" and "Give Me A Chance").{{cite web|title=Kaye Cal launches debut album|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/16/17/kaye-cal-launches-debut-album|publisher=ABS-CBN|date=March 16, 2017|accessdate=August 3, 2018}} In August 2017, Kaye won the OPM Revival of the Year at the 2017 MOR Pinoy Music Awards for the single "Give Me A Chance".{{cite web|title=MOR Pinoy Music Awards 2017: Darren wins Album of the Year|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/08/05/17/mor-pinoy-music-awards-2017-darren-wins-album-of-the-year|publisher=ABS-CBN|date=August 6, 2017|accessdate=August 3, 2018}}
She won the Star Music's Listener's Choice Award at the 2017 Himig Handog Awards for "The Labo Song".{{cite web|title=Himig Handog 2017 winners revealed; Best Song recipient teary-eyed upon receiving award|url=https://www.pep.ph/guide/music/27113/himig-handog-2017-winners-revealed-best-song-recipient-teary-eyed-upon-receiving-award|first=James Patrick |last=Anarcon|date=November 26, 2017|accessdate=August 3, 2018}} Cal was a member of ASAP Jambayan from the segment's launch on October 15, 2017, until February 2018.
Personal life
Kaye Cal has stated that she is "a proud lesbian" and member of the LGBT community, although her sexuality is not accepted by her religious parents, which she admitted is a struggle during an interview with Boy Abunda on his talk show in 2017.{{cite web|title=Kaye Cal proud to sound like a man|url=http://tempo.com.ph/2017/03/19/kaye-cal-proud-to-sound-like-a-man/|publisher=Tempo|date=March 19, 2017|accessdate=August 3, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Kaye Cal's parents yet to accept her sexuality|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/22/17/kaye-cals-parents-yet-to-accept-her-sexuality/|publisher=ABS-CBN|date=March 23, 2017|accessdate=August 3, 2018}} In 2010, Kaye initially admitted she was a tomboy and dressed masculine but denied being a lesbian, citing her religion and involvement with the church as a reason, and believed same-sex relationships were wrong but stated she meant no offense to lesbians. She has since been open about her sexuality.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
Kaye's masculine voice and appearance has garnered attention since competing on Pilipinas Got Talent and was a subject of discussion among the public. She addressed rumors surrounding her voice in an interview with ABS-CBN in August 2017 and denied taking testosterone medications along with the rumors that she is transgender while affirming that she is a lesbian.{{cite web|title=Kaye addresses rumors about her voice |url=https://starcinema.abs-cbn.com/2017/8/10/news/kaye-addresses-rumors-about-her-voice-28201/|first=Danielle |last=Aquino |publisher=ABS-CBN|date=August 10, 2017|accessdate=August 3, 2018}}
Discography
- Kaye Cal (2017)
=''Kaye Cal'' track list=
- Ikaw Lang
- Mahal Ba Ako ng Mahal Ko
- Why Can't It Be
- Rosas
- Kung Ako na lang Sana
- Walang Iba
- Isang Araw
- Nyebe
- Give Me A Chance
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
! colspan=5 | Television |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Network ! Notes |
|---|
| 2010
| Herself (with Ezra Band) | rowspan=7|ABS-CBN | Grand Finalist |
| rowspan=2| 2016
| Herself (with Power Chords) | CelebriTeams |
| Magandang Buhay
| Herself | Guest |
| rowspan=3| 2017
| Herself | Guest |
| Tonight with Boy Abunda
| Herself | Guest |
| Gandang Gabi, Vice!
| Herself | Guest |
| 2017–present
| ASAP | Herself | Performer, member of ASAP Jambayan from October 2017-February 2018 |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Category !Award-giving body !Result |
| 2010
|Awit Award for Best Performance by a New Group Recording Artists shared with Ezra Band |{{won}} |
| 2016
|Star Music's Listener's Choice Award in "Nyebe" |Himig Handog 2016 |{{won}} |
| rowspan=2|2017
|Music's Listener's Choice Award in "The Labo Song" |Himig Handog 2017 |{{won}} |
| OPM Revival of the Year for the single “Give Me a Chance”
|DWRR-FM MOR Pinoy Music Awards 2017 |{{won}} |
| 2018
|Best Acoustic Album of the Year 2017 |PMPC Star Awards |{{won}} |
| 2019
|100,000 Subscribers |YouTube Silver awards |{{won}} |
Concerts
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
! Title ! Venue ! Description |
|---|
| August 18, 2017
| Kaye Pop | All opm with Kaye Cal |
| February 14 to 15, 2019
| Valentine Acoustic Night with Kayecal | UAE | February 14 in New Bar Arkadia and February 15 in Boracay Night Club |
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cal, Kaye}}
Category:Filipino women pop singers
Category:Filipino women singer-songwriters
Category:People from Davao del Sur
Category:Singers from Laguna (province)
Category:Singers from Davao del Sur
Category:Filipino lesbian musicians
Category:Filipino LGBTQ singers
Category:Filipino LGBTQ songwriters
Category:Participants in Philippine reality television series
Category:21st-century Filipino women singers