MANILA, Philippines - Although renowned as a bossa singer, Sitti is trying to explore new grounds with her music, which will be heard in her album due out early 2011.

“Sabi ko sa Warner, ayaw ko nang gumawa nang cover album. Kung gagawa ako man ako ng cover gusto ko all original. Kaya nga natatagalan kasi we’re looking for materials,” explained Sitti at the press conference for her pre-birthday concert, "Sitti Live at Metrobar," which will be held on Nov. 21, 8 p.m. at Metro West Avenue, Quezon City. Her guests are Erik Santos and Aljur Abrenica.

Majority of the tracks on Sitti’s previous albums are cover songs.

“‘Yung second album has four originals, ‘yung first album has one original and the latest album has one also. The rest they follow the formula na covers," she noted about her previous releases.

Although she will not do covers in her latest album, the bossa sound will still be there.

“Most definitely hindi mawawalan ng bossa, pero merong pop ballad,” she said.

The reason for the change is to present her as a versatile performer. “We want to offer something new. We also want people to know that I can also sing other genre.”

But of course, the bossa nova sound is a staple in her “ASAP XV” stints.

"Sa 'Sessionista' kasi, they want me bossa lang eh. Kahit anong kanta ‘yan bossa ‘yan,” she explained.

In most of her gigs, her audience likewise clamors for the soothing bossa sound.

“Para sa akin, kahit saan ako pumunta ‘yon ‘yung favorite ng mga tao. Hindi mawawala ‘yon. Mga favorite nila, ‘yung 'Para sa Akin,' 'They Didn’t Know,' 'Kung Hindi Rin Lang Ikaw'."

Sitti believes that being the bossa nova singer is not limiting her as a performer.

“Hindi naman. Limiting lang siya when it comes to let’s say sa 'ASAP.' Pero when we do our live gigs, we do everything. That’s what we’re trying to break away from with the new album kaya antagal din, eh. Kaya ibang-iba siya. Me bossa pa rin siya. A little for the fans.”

But trying a new sound like pop rock or pop ballad is something that she’s exploring not out of boredom.

“Hindi naman sa boring. Basta ayaw ko nang mag-cover. 'Yung formula ng Warner with the four albums, isa lang ang original. Majority pa rin cover pa rin. Sabi ko sa Warner, I just really want to do an album na all-original. Kung hindi man, ang iko-cover ko lang OPM. We’re still waiting kasi ang hirap ngayon maghanap ng material.”