4th Impact's next chapter unfolds; ready to conquer global stage once again

4th Impact’s next chapter unfolds; ready to conquer global stage once again

4th Impact is poised to conquer the global stage with a more distinct sound and a new management.

Their first presscon for 2024 is bittersweet.

In high spirits, the Cercado sisters—Almira, Irene, Mylene, and Celina—officially announce the release of their self-titled album, featuring five tracks: “Distorted,” “All At Once,” “Round and Round,” “February,” and “Hate That Girl.”

Eight years after making a big splash in the 12th season of the British reality TV music competition The X Factor, the group has more or less found their “voice” that, hopefully, will hush the incessant question, “Why are you always singing covers?”

The ladies had a hand in choosing the songs, and, according to Almira, took note of their fans’ preference for “fast and high-energy performances,” like “Bang Bang,” their most viral cover originally sung by Jessie J with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.

Dreamers troop to SM SkyDome for the album launch of 4th Impact

Dreamers troop to SM Skydome for the 4th Impact album launch, which is produced by Fourth Impact Music Productions and directed by the notable TV and concert director, Frank LLoyd Mamaril. PHOTO: Karen AP Caliwara

At the group’s album launch held at SM Skydome on January 21, 2024, Almira also assures their fans, a.k.a. ka-Dreamers, that they are not birit pieces.

Almira says, “Marami pong nagsasabi na, ‘Ano ba iyan, parang ayaw niyo kaming pakantahin sa mga songs niyo,’ so [with our album] now, sana makakanta o masabayan niyo kami.”

The energetic Irene throws in, “Pang-sing along… kahit paulit-ulit po namin silang kakantahin, hindi po kami… hindi po siya nakakasawa.”

4th impact’s journEY

Back in 2015, after getting worldwide recognition from their fifth-place finish in The X Factor, the future—to them—was so bright and full of promise.

Read: 4th Impact joins Top 5 of The X Factor UK Season 12

The four ladies then joined The X Factor Live Tour, delivering “the best act of the show,” according to the producers’ polls.

Read: 4th Impact first Pinay girl group to have a concert tour in the UK

They were also invited to perform in the UK, Dubai, Ireland, Norway, and Gibraltar.

In December 2016, they returned to the country with Invas10n, their homecoming concert which also celebrated their 10th anniversary as musicians.

In 2017, they signed with Cornerstone Entertainment, which manages the singing careers of singers Sam Milby, Erik Santos, Kyla, Yeng Constantino, KZ Tandingan, and Moira Dela Torre.

The sisters were off to a good start, launching their original debut single titled “Unleash The Diva” with the help of Star Music Philippines in January.

In August, their Invas10n Tour was brought to New Zealand and Australia.

In the next two years, they recorded “It’s Not The Same Anymore,” the official theme song for the Star Cinema movie Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes, and collaborated with U.S.-based music artits Tony Valor.

They also served as front acts for the concerts of Boyzone and Rita Ora.

Then the pandemic happened in 2020, stalling their progress as the entire entertainment industry took a hit.

In 2021, they transferred to ShowBT Entertainment, the agency that launched SB19.

Read: SB19 resolves ownership issue with former agency ShowBT

The eldest and youngest members of 4th Impact: Almira and Celina.

The eldest and youngest members of 4th Impact: Almira and Celina. PHOTO: Karen AP Caliwara

This was the period when Almira began feeling “frustrated,” even doubting their marketability as a group.

Fast forward to 2024, the eldest Cercado sister, without naming names, admits there was a misstep in their decision.

Celina is the most emotional among sisters while talking about their missed opportunities.

“After X Factor po, ang daming tumawag po sa amin na mga managers, and lahat po yun, nag-promise sa amin that they will give us albums, they will put us here and there. Pero, sa totoo lang po, wala po talaga nangyari po.

“Hindi po kami parang nabigyan ng opportunity to expose ourselves after X Factor.”

Going independent and taking the reins of their careers entail a lot of work.

While having the talent already got their foot in the door, they need resources and connections in order to achieve greater heights.

Irene reveals selling their cars just to have funds for their music video.

“Kasi, siyempre po, hindi po madaling maging independent artist lang.

“Especially kung napanood niyo po, maybe when you see the music video that we did in L.A., sobrang hirap po kasi.

“Sa U.S., mahal. So lahat po nung mga, yung kotse ko po, nabenta ko, yung kotse niya [referring to Mylene], nabenta niya po.”

4th Impact’s Mylene and Irene Cercado

4th Impact’s Mylene and Irene Cercado PHOTO: Karen AP Caliwara

Mylene adds, “Actually, last year po, muntik na naman po kaming gumive up na magkakapatid bago po namin ma-record yung album.

“Nag-iyakan po kami, gusto na naming umuwi ulit, bumalik ng Pilipinas dahil nami-miss na namin sina Papa…

“Homesick tapos mahal.”

Breaking down in tears, Celina, who is referred to as “bunso,” says, “Hindi po namin plinano na maging independent.

“It just happened that, maybe, masyado kaming mabilis magtiwala sa mabubulaklak yung mga salita and stuff.

“So now that we are independent po, parang nag-i-start pa lang po kami…para ma-fix po yung career path po namin.

“And, ayun po, bumabalik po kasi kami talaga sa hindi yung, para mas marami po kaming likes and followers. Hindi na namin po yun iniisip ngayon kasi ang focus po namin is our family.

“Of course. Let’s face it po, siyempre. Our parents are seniors already.”

Irene interjects, “Nakukuha ko yung point ni Bunso… Kami po kasi magkakapatid. Parang tinake over na rin po yung pagba-budget, as in lahat po.”

And since singing is their bread and butter, the time they were stuck, Almira admits to asking this repeatedly, “May times na nag-question kami, ‘Bakit wala [work]?’ Parang ganun.”

Throught it all, the ladies are glad to have the support of their dad Dominador, mom Erlinda, and eldest sister Elvira.

4TH IMPACT MOVING ON

Now that they are in charge, it’s easier to make plans and arrive at a consensus.

Irene, the second oldest sister, puts it this way, “Parang nakaka-proud po kasi kami yung talagang nagwu-work hard po para namin mapaganda yung career namin…

“Sabi nga, man’s rejection is God’s redirection. So feeling ko po, si Lord, maire-redirect na kami to have a mas maganda pang plano para sa amin, which is global…

“We invested on ourselves. Kasi, parang ano po siya, how can you, parang we believe in ourselves so others can believe in us, too. Parang gano’n po.

“So nag-invest na kami sa music video.

“Talagang, we try our best to connect with yung talagang, talagang dito, yung mga top-tier na photographers, videographers, stylists…

“We are so proud that we produced it and we directed it.

“And, feeling ko po, through the years na nandito kami sa industry, we learned a lot of things.

“And I think we’re ready to, you know, be in the position na kami na po yung mag-take over sa career namin.”

Mylene, the chill lady among the sisters, points out that aside from performing, they have been putting their other strengths to good use.

The tasks—conceptualizing, planning, promoting on social media, to name a few—are done seamlessly.

“Nagiging parang voluntary. Actually, hindi po namin nakikita na family business ito…talagang love lang po and passion namin sa music.”

Smiling, Irene is quick to add, “Sa awa ng Diyos, kumikita…”

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR 4TH IMPACT

Do they still have plans of joining a singing contest abroad?

Irene answers, “Ano po kasi, pag sumasali po kami parang, ‘Andito na naman itong mga ito.’ Parang ganun na po yung mga tingin ng mga tao.

“Pag nakapila na kami, ‘Ito na naman itong mga ito.’

“Pero after po ng X Factor, feeling po namin, last na po yun.”

Mylene jokes, “Siguro po parang ang hirap na labanan ni ‘Bang Bang.’ Wala nang tataas kay ‘Bang Bang.’”

And as they eye the global stage, Irene’s request is: “Sana po, ang hinihingi po namin is the support of our fellow kababayan.”

When they had their managers, Almira had wanted to say, “Andito pa po kami, baka meron po kayong trabaho sa amin.”

She’s saying it again, but this time, with an album they are proud of, a music video they worked so hard for, and a resolute attitude that soon, they will conquer the world again.