THE 'RELEVANCE' OF GARY VALENCIANO

How does he do it? Well, for one thing, says Gary, it helps that he has three kids, because they keep him in touch with what's out there.

Eldest son Paolo, who has a band and is busy working on his own album, often confers with his father on the technical aspects of music.

"He comes to me for help with his melody and sound and it makes me feel like I'm reaching out to a new generation musically and growing up with them," says Gary.

His middle child, Gabriel is interested in dance music, and in creating remixes using computers, synthesisers and other types of electronic equipment. Gary plans to release an all-dance album featuring all his dance hits like Hataw Na and Sa Yahweh, remixed electronically by Gab.

The youngest and only girl, Kiana, is the singer in the family and has already recorded a duet with her father. She has also sung with him at his concerts. Kiana also does guest vocals on the 2006 version of Wag Mo Na Sanang Isipin, an old pop-dance Gary V hit from the 80s which appears on her father's new album entitled Relevance, released under the Universal Records label.

Helevance, which is all about Gary's music continuing to be relevant to a new audience, contains a mixture of ballads and Gary's signature dance tunes. There seems to be no better time to release the album than now, as Gary celebrates his 23rd year in the industry.

The album's single, the ballad Wait Forever, has already begun airing over top radio stations in Metro Manila.

With this album, which is a balance between the Gary V of the 80s and today's live, alternative band-flavoured sound, Gary makes his music relevant to a whole new generation of music-lovers while still keeping what has made him such a well-loved music icon for 23 years.