ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA - A name can make or break anyone with dreams of becoming a star. But when you’re a 14 year old Filipino-American pop and R&B singer named Gahlya- derived from the name Adi Gallia, a “Star Wars” female jedi master under the call sign “Shooting Star” - the only way to go is up!

Gahlya is the newest teen sensation set to sky rocket to Hollywood in a huge way. She has performed as front act for The-Dream, the Grammy-award winning R&B singer and songwriter who has written
hits like “Umbrella” for Rihanna and “Single Ladies’’ for Beyonce, as well as with songstress Christina Milian at the UC Irvine Bren events center in California.

People say that a minute can change your destiny, but for this singer it was gumption and a surprise email that gave her a US recording contract and set her on the road from her former name, Rachel Razon, to taking over America as Gahlya.

“I just thought, this is my chance, this could be the beginning of possibilities and opportunities,” Gahlya shares, remembering when she received the email to fly to Los Angeles and do a demo for Manny Mijares, owner and executive record producer of Upscale Recording, a music company with R&B greats like Musiq Soulchild and Christina Milian among their talents. Gahlya had met Mijares before at a music convention in 2008 when the teen joined the World Championship Of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood.

SPEAKING WITH SURENESS

Gahlya won Junior Grand Finalist for the song “Good Morning Baltimore,” but it was the chance meeting with Mijares that changed Gahlya’s course.

“Manny was giving a talk and I raised my hand to ask how a young teen like me from the Philippines could make it in the U.S. recording industry,” Gahlya continues. The record producer called her to the stage, and asked Gahlya to sing and she sang “Big Girls Don’t Cry”. Mijares was in awe of Gahyla’s spunky confidence and fresh R&B vocals that after the demo he signed her up with Upscale Recording.

Gahlya speaks with sureness past her 14 years. At the snap of a finger she describes her music as “a fresh new sound mixed with old school R&B with a new school futuristic twist” citing the ‘90’s hip hop group TLC’s laid-back swag, and Lady Gaga’s no nonsense avant garde edge as influences.

“I love the late Aaliyah too, and Lady Gaga, she’s bold, she’s different, I mean if it is who you are then it is who you are. That’s what I want to incorporate as Gahlya.”

A taste of Gahlya’s sound can be found in “Hypno,” her single released in September, smacking
of teen electro pop, while her upcoming single “Be the One” a remake of singer Stevie B’s song has a more breezy, peppy, pop groove.

ONE DREAM AT A TIME

Mijares also pushed for the change from Rachel Razon to Gahlya.

“There are a lot of Rachels, but we wanted something strong and futuristic as well. The name Gahlya not only comes from the Star Wars character Adi Gallia, I flipped up the name and included the Y to incorporate my two inspirations Lady Gaga for her boldness and Aaliyah for her swagger to make Gahlya,” the teen singer explains.

Gahlya is beaming with Filipino pride when speaking of the world champion Philippine All Stars artists and hip hop dance crew, as her mentors particularly choreographer Sheena Vera Cruz. Gahlya is also a proud performer for Trumpets Playshop Teens.

When asked if she would like to have a music career in the Philippines, Gahlya breezily answers with a broad smile. “I think I want to take one country at a time.” After all, Gahlya is still a teen- a high school freshman, an avid book lover, a “Twilight” series fan, and a fashionista with an irresistible penchant for shoes- simply coping with the jet setting surrealism of it all, taking it one shooting star at a time.