Former Viva cutie child star Martin Venegas is now back in the arms of Viva as a handsome 18-year-old chinito crooner and matinee idol.
The singer-actor just signed a new five-year contract with the media and entertainment company on October 21, a day after he celebrated his 18th birthday.
Martin graced several TV commercials (Anchor Milk and Ajinomoto to name a few) as a cutie five-year old prior to becoming a Viva child actor.
He had since then appeared in TV shows such as Jollitown Season 4 (2011), Manny Many Prizes hosted by Manny Pacquiao on GMA-7 (2011), Budoy on ABS-CBN (2012), and horror-thriller mini-series Barrio Kulimlim (2016) aired on Sari Sari Channel.
He also played parts in movies including Moron 5 and the Crying Lady starring Luis Manzano, Billy Crawford, DJ Durano, Martin Escudero and Marvin Agustin (2012), the romantic-comedy film The Gifted top-billed by Anne Curtis, Cristine Reyes and Sam Milby (2014), and Bahay Ampunan together with Jhake Vargas and Renz Micheal (2015).
He was thirteen when he took a break from acting. And he used up that time to hone his musical talents. Thus, when he made a comeback in 2018, he signed up with Star Music (ABS-CBN’s recording arm) and made a few singles with them including “Miss” and “My One and Lodi.”
Now 18, he’s back in the arms of Viva. And this time, he’s ready to juggle up both his acting and singing career.
"Masaya," Martin tells pikapika after the contract signing. "Since ano kasi, eight years old, nag-Viva na ako. Actually, nandito na ako way back 2011, 2012, ganu’n. [Year] 2016, 2017 lang ako nawala [dito]...Tapos ayon, nagka-break time, bumalik uli ako dito. Masaya. Parang naka-uwi ako sa bahay, parang ganu’n yong feeling. Parang bahay ko na din kasi itong Viva.”
Martin recalled that when he left Viva around three years ago to explore other options, he was informed by the management that he is always welcome to come back.
"Bago po ako pumunta sa Star [Music], nagkausap po kami nina Boss Vic na anytime p'wede naman po ako bumalik dito, free lang na bumalik dito," he shares. "After ng panahon ko sa Star, parang naisipan ko p'wede naman ako bumalik dito. Bumalik ako. Sabi naman ni Boss Vic feel free lang na bumalik dito. Parang naging comfortable na ako dito."
Besides acting and singing, Martin revealed that he has also developed his skills in songwriting and musical arrangement.
"Halos two years ago lang. Nu'n ko lang na-realize na, 'Ay kaya ko pala sumulat. Kaya ko pala gumawa ng kanta.' Kasi before, bago ko pa ma-realize 'yon, puro acting, modeling, dancing..."
He says it was his older brother that influenced him in these aspects.
"Basta 'yon, natuto lang ako sa kuya ko sa paggawa ng kanta. Pinag-aralan ko, parang napamahal na ako, naging passion ko na. 'Yong kuya ko po, actually, s'ya talaga 'yong mahilig sa music. 'Yon talaga 'yong pinaka-passion n'ya. Kasi mula bata pa lang puro instrument na 'yong nilalaro, e. Mga gitara, drums...Tapos ayon, habang pinapanood ko s'ya [habang] lumalaki ako, na-adapt ko na mga ginagawa n'ya."
So far, his compositions are mostly love songs but he says he can also take inspirations from current events or sad scenarios such as the ongoing pandemic.
"Kadalasan love song, e," he shares. "Kunwari, kapag naisip ko 'yong babaeng gusto ko. Ayon, parang... gagawa ako ng kanta na ine-express ko para sa kanya.
"Then, minsan, sad song pero hindi 'yon tungkol sa love. Kumbaga parang ito... sa pandemic. Like, kung ano na nangyayari sa mundo, kung ano nangyayari sa ibang tao... kasi even sa online classes din madaming nagka-problema."
In fact, he is currently working on a piece related to the global health crisis.
"Actually, hindi pa s'ya tapos. Ginagawa ko pa lang. Balak ko [gawing project with Viva], kasi 'yon e, parang trip-trip lang. Kung maganda p'wede kong gawing project 'yon."
And to those who are wondering what music genre Martin is into, he says it's a combination of Underground, R&B, and Hip-hop.
"Parang sila ALLMO$T. 'Yun 'yong genre ko talaga. Tapos sila Just Hush, sila Because... Mga ganu'n po,” he says listing down the country’s top young hip-hop artists who also happen to be Viva Records artists, too.
"Mas vibe ko 'yong ganu'n. Kumbaga, mas feel ko 'yong ganu'ng type na kanta. Imbes na sa mga ballad, parang mas trip ko 'yong mga ganu'ng genre.”
Now that he’s back with Viva, all these are possible now since he’s also signed up with [Viva] Records.
"Actually, gusto ko din mag-acting Lahat ita-try ko. P'wedeng model, artista, actor, ganu'n. Gusto nila ako gawing artista. Tapos singer din. Nag-sign din ako sa music nila."
How about having a love-team partner? Is he ready for that, too?
"Hindi ko alam, e. Nahiya ako pag dating sa babae, e," he says, showing up his chinito smile. "Hindi pa ako nakaka-experience ng [magka]-love team kasi more on, kapag mga teleserye at sa movie, more on support [character], kapatid ng bida, anak ng bida. Ganu'n 'yong mga nagiging role ko. Wala pa akong experience sa mga love team kaya hindi ko pa alam."
But given the chance, he wants to try acting alongside Kadenang Ginto actress Andrea Brillantes, whom he finds attractive.
"Siguro sa partner... Hindi ko alam. Kasi ang pinaka-crush ko talaga sa showbiz si Andrea Brillantes. E, may ka-love team na so... Wala. Wala akong maisip as of now.
"'Yong smile n'ya. Saka attractive 'yong kilay n'ya, 'yong kapal nu'n. 'Yon, kabog lang s'ya. Ang kulit. Mabait din. Basta ang ganda nu'ng smile n'ya.
"Nagkaroon kami ng project sa ABS [CBN] before, 'yong Wansapanataym [Louie's Biton episode]... Ayon, doon lang kami nagka-trabaho. Doon ko s'ya nakita ng personal. Naging crush ko talaga s'ya," he confesses.
Martin also names some of the Viva recording artists he would love to do music collaborations with if he would be given a chance.
"Madami. Ayon, sila Just Hush, sila ALLMO$T, si Because, 'yong kumanta ng ‘Marikit,’ [Juan Caoile and Kyle], gusto ko rin sila maka-collab," he says.
The singer-songwriter also did not forget to thank his fans and supporters.
"Ayon, support lang kayo sa'kin and thank you sa mga hindi nagsawa d'yan sa pagsuporta and sana makita ko uli kayo. Meron akong fans club, Martinatics. Shoutout sa mga admin ko, sila Ate Camille, Ate Jen. See you soon sa lahat. God bless sa inyo," Martin concluded.
Catch Martin Venegas on Vivariety Show hosted by Janno Gibbs and Jerald Napoles on October 30 at 8 PM on Viva Entertainment Facebook page, and on October 31 via Viva Records YouTube Channel and Viva TV on Cignal.
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