Janna Cachola
Encyclopedia
Janna Cachola, born 29 October 1989, is an actress, singer based in New Zealand
. She has been performing since 2005, but rose to fame in 2010, when she was cast in Miss Saigon
in New Zealand.
"mestizo
." Attracted to performing at a young age, she was trained in vocals at the Ryan Cayabyab
Music Studio and was a child model/actor before departing for New Zealand. She spent most of her life in South Auckland
, New Zealand.
In 2006, she auditioned for New Zealand Idol (season 2)
but failed to go through the first rounds. The same year, she performed at various bars in Philippines and recorded a demo
literally entitled 'Self-titled'. After that she was part of several musical groups.
In 2008, Cachola was discovered by a Kiwi
rapper Joshua Webb and chosen to be a backing vocalist for Parachute Music Festival
2008, one of the biggest Christian festivals in the southern hemisphere. Soon after, she appeared on two tracks - 'Society is a warzone' and 'Keep on' - for Webb's album. Later that year, another Kiwi rap artist Jzaman (Shaun Jervis) chose her to appear on his track 'Back against the wall' for his album 'Comfort Zone'.
Cachola has performed all over New Zealand and Philippines as a backing vocalist under the stagename 'Lyka', however changed it due to confusion with Filipino R&B artist Kyla
.
She moved to Dunedin in 2009 and was casted in local musical theatre.
In 2010 she was in Miss Saigon musical in Dunedin, New Zealand. With Tina Braganza and internet sensation Kimpoy Feliciano.
, who named Cachola 'Petite Model of the Week.'
(Sampaguita Pictures actress), Jean Altavas (beauty queen, model, and now producer of Kisapmata productions '2010 Romeo at Juliet' with Alessandra De Rossi
and Victor Basa
), and Febe Magbanua-Pantoja (former member of The Company). Her great-grandmother, Marcelina Cachola, was a World War II
heroine who went face-to-face with the Japanese to appeal for their men, which included her husband, Vicente Cachola.
Janna's first language is English and she struggles to speak Tagalog
(Filipino). She is also a trained dancer skilled in hip-hop, salsa, and tango.
Several photos have shown up on Twitter
and Facebook
of her recent projects, proving herself to be an action heroine and stunt actress.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. She has been performing since 2005, but rose to fame in 2010, when she was cast in Miss Saigon
Miss Saigon
Miss Saigon is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby, Jr.. It is based on Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly, and similarly tells the tragic tale of a doomed romance involving an Asian woman abandoned by her American lover...
in New Zealand.
Early life
Cachola was born in Manila, Philippines to a solid Christian family. Her father is Joe, a Filipino-Hawaiian. Her mother is Emma, a Filipino/SpanishSpanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
"mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
." Attracted to performing at a young age, she was trained in vocals at the Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab is a Filipino musician and was the Executive and Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts...
Music Studio and was a child model/actor before departing for New Zealand. She spent most of her life in South Auckland
South Auckland
South Auckland is an imprecisely defined area of Auckland, New Zealand, often stereotyped as a socio-economically disadvantaged, and sometimes rough, urban area with a relatively large Polynesian and Māori population. The name South Auckland is not an official place name but is in common use by New...
, New Zealand.
Music
Cachola started taking singing seriously at the age of 14 after a 'life changing' visit to the United States. As she returned to New Zealand, she joined her church's performing-arts team.In 2006, she auditioned for New Zealand Idol (season 2)
New Zealand Idol (season 2)
The second season of New Zealand Idol commenced on 3 July 2005. The judges were Paul Ellis, Jackie Clarke and Frankie Stevens.-Auditions:The auditions were held at the following locations:* Telstraclear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau...
but failed to go through the first rounds. The same year, she performed at various bars in Philippines and recorded a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
literally entitled 'Self-titled'. After that she was part of several musical groups.
In 2008, Cachola was discovered by a Kiwi
Kiwi (people)
Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The name derives from the kiwi, a flightless bird, which is native to, and the national symbol of, New Zealand...
rapper Joshua Webb and chosen to be a backing vocalist for Parachute Music Festival
Parachute music festival
The Parachute Music Festival is a Christian music festival held annually at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.The festival is run by Parachute Music and lasts for four days and three nights. 'Parachute' is the Southern Hemisphere's largest Christian music festival, primarily...
2008, one of the biggest Christian festivals in the southern hemisphere. Soon after, she appeared on two tracks - 'Society is a warzone' and 'Keep on' - for Webb's album. Later that year, another Kiwi rap artist Jzaman (Shaun Jervis) chose her to appear on his track 'Back against the wall' for his album 'Comfort Zone'.
Cachola has performed all over New Zealand and Philippines as a backing vocalist under the stagename 'Lyka', however changed it due to confusion with Filipino R&B artist Kyla
Kyla
Melanie Hernandez Calumpad Alvarez , better known by her stage name Kyla, is an R&B singer, songwriter, producer, TV host, and occasional actress from the Philippines....
.
Discography
| Year | Title | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Lyka | 'Self-titled' | |
| 2006 | Disneyland | Lyka | |
| 2006 | You | Lyka | |
| 2008 | Society Is A Warzone | Joshua Webb feat. Lyka | Nothing in this world EP |
| 2008 | Keep On | KOD feat. Lyka | Nothing in this world EP |
| 2009 | Back Against The Wall | Jzaman feat Lyka | Comfort Zone |
| 2009 | Ambulance | Lyka | |
Acting
In 2009, Cachola took a step back from music, to pursue her first passion, acting. She got herself an agent in Auckland that got her parts as a background actor in various tv shows/commercials/music videos filmed in New Zealand.She moved to Dunedin in 2009 and was casted in local musical theatre.
In 2010 she was in Miss Saigon musical in Dunedin, New Zealand. With Tina Braganza and internet sensation Kimpoy Feliciano.
Theatre/Television/Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | New Zealand Idol (Season 2) | ||
| 2009 | Power Rangers RPM | Venjix Worker | |
| 2010 | Miss Saigon | Female Company | Director: Stephen Robertson |
| 2011 | Mirage | Private | Director: Michael Spicer |
| 2011 | Detective Doctor Felon Mystery Woman | Scarlet Mason | Director: Will Allan |
| Bella Bandida | Isabella | ||
Modelling pursuits
In 2011, Cachola admitted that she was feeling depressed and was low in self-esteem, so she signed on to do confidence/modeling course with the local Dunedin modeling agency Ali McD. She trained in Modeling with New Zealand Next Top Model (cycle 2) 'twins' Nellie & Elza Jenkins along with the agency owner herself, Aliana McDaniel. Despite her small stature, the 5'1 ½ was signed into the agency as a petite model. She was then discovered by a US based blogger, model and author Isobella JadeIsobella Jade
Isobella Jade is an American author, petite model and inspirational speaker. She became known as one of the first people to do something notable inside an Apple store, typing her first draft of her manuscript Almost 5’4”, a modeling memoir, at the Apple Store on Prince Street in SoHo in New York...
, who named Cachola 'Petite Model of the Week.'
Personal life
Janna is related to Filipino entertainers Juvy CacholaJuvy Cachola
Juvy Cachola was an actress for the Philippines' Sampaguita Pictures.Her younger sister is a beauty queen, model, actress turned producer Jean Altavas. Her Grandneice is New Zealand actress/model Janna Cachola.-Movies:-External Links:...
(Sampaguita Pictures actress), Jean Altavas (beauty queen, model, and now producer of Kisapmata productions '2010 Romeo at Juliet' with Alessandra De Rossi
Alessandra de Rossi
Alessandra Tiotangco Schiavone , better known by her stage name Alessandra De Rossi or Alex de Rossi , is an Italian-Filipina actress...
and Victor Basa
Victor Basa
Victor Basa is a Filipino model, actor, vj and TV host.Basa is the middle child of three, with a younger brother and older sister.-Modeling career:...
), and Febe Magbanua-Pantoja (former member of The Company). Her great-grandmother, Marcelina Cachola, was a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
heroine who went face-to-face with the Japanese to appeal for their men, which included her husband, Vicente Cachola.
Janna's first language is English and she struggles to speak Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
(Filipino). She is also a trained dancer skilled in hip-hop, salsa, and tango.
Several photos have shown up on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
of her recent projects, proving herself to be an action heroine and stunt actress.
External links
- Janna Cachola on IMDb
- Janna official TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...