I remember the first time I saw Sitti perform. It was in a pleasant little bar in Quezon City on a weekday night, before the sales of her first album went multi-platinum, and well before she became a familiar presence on TV and radio and the sound systems of countless restaurants and malls. That night, she glided effortlessly through a set of bossa nova and jazz-flavored standards—an utterly charming performance, accompanied by her excellent backing band. She was aware of what her voice was capable of, and used it well; she also handled the appreciative crowd huddled inside the bar with grace and humor. I thought: this girl deserves to be a star.

Happily, sometimes people get what they deserve. Her debut album, Café Bossa, topped the charts, and she followed it up with a live album (Sitti Live!) and an album of remixes (Sitti in the Mix). Her massive popularity and her penchant for covers has earned her some not-always-constructive criticism—not to mention a parade of bossa nova bandwagon-jumpers—but that’s to be expected. Her recently-released second album proper, My Bossa Nova, offers more of what people enjoyed so much from the first: well-chosen, sometimes surprising covers, delivered in Sitti’s inimitable style. (Among the highlights: The Style Council’s “My Ever-Changing Moods,” Madonna’s ”Take a Bow,” and, yes, the Spice Girls’ “2 Become One.”) There are more originals this time around, though, and even a song composed by Sitti herself. Call it sweet sonic comfort food.

LUIS: On My Bossa Nova, your new studio album, it seems that you’re veering slightly away from straightforward bossa nova and more into a kind of broader smooth/mellow musical vibe. Was this deliberate?

SITTI: I guess in a way, yeah. My name has been strongly associated with bossa nova, and while for me it is a blessing, I wouldn’t want to be “boxed” in that image. Café Bossa was a mixture of pop and bossa nova, the new album veers more into easy listening, though it still has the bossa nova rhythm as its structure.

What are your thoughts about this shift?

My thoughts on it? Hmm, not being restrained to bossa nova is one, though I really enjoy singing the genre. I guess Warner Music just wanted to reach out to a broader audience, as well as offer something new just when the competition is leaning towards a “purist” approach. Personally I would have wanted an album with more originals than covers. But as it is, I am just really thankful for the chance to record another album, a studio one at that, and I just did my best with the songs. I am very much myself in this album. I wasn’t singing safely, but freely.

If you were to sit down with someone who had never heard any of your music before, which three tracks would you play for them to win them over? This hypothetical person is not necessarily a bossa fan, but he or she doesn’t hate the genre, either.

Hmm. I think I would play “Girl from Ipanema,” just as a basic introduction to bossa nova, “Para Sa Akin,” an original, and “With or Without You,” just to show that any song in your music library can be given a bossa nova approach, provided that it doesn’t lose its essence.

You mentioned that for your second studio album, the label chose the songs for you to cover. If you could choose any songs at all—old, new, foreign, or local—to cover for your third, which ones would you choose?

I would like to put a few standard songs in, such as “They Can’t Take That Away” and “My Foolish Heart.” Our covers of some OPM rock songs like “Narda” [by Kamikazee] and “Sundo” [by Imago]. Bebop and swing, as well as some really quiet and laidback ones, like “So Many Stars” and “Things We Did Last Summer.”

If you could talk to the younger you—the one who was working her way through college, singing in hotel bars—what would you say?

I would say two things: one, all your efforts will pay off, just hang in there and work hard, and second, ironically, treasure your lounge act memories, where you are freer and there is no pressure at all from anyone. [smiles]

If you were totally free to choose, what would you like to work on? In other words, what is your dream project?

I would like to have an all-original album. One that transcends all genres, plays with a lot of emotions. At once otherworldly, at times playful and sweet. A musical journey but one that is still palatable to the masses. An album too that features indigenous musical instruments, fusing Filipino music. I would also like to do theater someday.

What do you think of what’s happening to the music industry now? Do you have any ideas on how it should adapt or change?

The advent of piracy has really made it financially hard on record companies and artists. We don’t earn from the music business as much as we could have years ago. But then again, major record companies nowadays are not an artist’s sole avenue to be heard; technology has made it easier for a lot of musicians. You don’t need a costly studio to record your stuff now, you could just set it up in your own room—with, of course, a few sacrifices in sound quality—upload it on the internet and voila, you could be an instant star. But then again, internet piracy is a two-edged knife; while it may substantially contribute to an artist’s popularity, again, there is a loss of potential music revenues. Sumakit ulo ko just thinking about these things. [laughs]

How should it adapt? No idea. [laughs] I just think that competition is a good thing. It pushes one to be better than the rest so that she or he will be heard. And with so many Pinoy artists right now, while it is good that the variety has broadened the Filipino’s choices, there really is pressure to, you know, really make it good on musicality. With piracy, I think literally everyone, from the record companies to the artists themselves, to the fans, should work hand in hand to combat this.

What are a few of the most memorable and significant things about your singing career so far?

Doing shows, whether out of town or in the metro, and being constantly surprised that they are well-attended; the opportunity to do out of the country shows; and still, people coming up to me and telling me that my music helps them in some way. [smiles]

Sitti has a show with the Las Piñas Boys’ Choir on Dec 13, called “Sitti... I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” It will be at the Bamboo Organ Courtyard. For more Sitti info online go to stonehouse1.multiply.com. Send comments, questions, and secret recipes to Luis at thekingofnothingtodo@yahoo.com.