Key Points
- For Carl De Villa, music is about a conversation that allows for healing.
- They began singing in a church choir when they were eight years old.
- Two of their most important theatre roles to date have been 'Lola' in 'Kinky Boots' and 'Angel' in 'Rent'.
Theatre is the art of looking at oneself; and for thespian, Carl De Villa, playing iconic queer roles on stage allows them to express who they are and discover who they want to be.
"Music is how we, as artists, converse with people. It’s how we put words into a meaningful sound. It’s healing for both us and the audience," they said.
(*As someone non-binary, De Villa uses the pronouns 'they/them'.)
‘The centre of attention’
Even as a young child living in Cebu, De Villa said they knew they wanted to be in music.
I started singing in a choir when I was around eight or 10; even then, I imagined myself being the centre of attention.Carl De Villa
“Starting so young gave me the confidence to be on stage and it helped me realise what I wanted in the future,” De Villa said.
The former eight-year-old choir member never stopped singing. They became a singer in a band and a cover artist who lived and worked in Manila, Japan, the Republic of Palau and Singapore.
“Then I moved to Sydney in 2012. I was still singing in cover bands,” De Villa shared, “But I felt like I wanted to do more.”
Carl De Villa moved to Sydney in 2012 to sing in cover bands but said they "wanted to do more". Credit: Supplied
“I was doing tribute shows and singing songs from acts like Queen, James Brown, and Bruno Mars; but whilst doing the shows, I also got into musicals," they said.
"I was part of the ensemble for '42nd Street' and I was an understudy for Thuy in 'Miss Saigon'. I also did 'Dream Girls'."
Lola from 'Kinky Boots'
In 2023, De Villa moved to Melbourne temporarily to play the role of Lola in "Kinky Boots".
Lola is a free-spirited drag queen who helps save a struggling conservative shoe factory from closing down.
"We performed in Chapel Off Chapel, which is a very intimate venue. Because of the space, you notice every detail, you feel everything," they said.
"There were butterflies in my stomach the first time I stepped on stage. I cried after the show ended because the emotions were just too much."
De Villa shared that many queer Filipinos related to Lola.
I think many of us who grew up in The Philippines, especially in the gay community, have the essence of Lola.Carl De Villa
"Like Lola, a lot of families back home aren’t supportive when it comes to expressing a different identity or sexuality, feelings or a different kind of artistry. There’s this hindrance to let all of that out," they said.
While De Villa shared that their family had been supportive enough to let them pursue their career and art, the song "Not My Father’s Son" hit quite close to home.
"It’s emotional for me to sing songs that relate to family. This particular song says so much … you have to let your child grow their own way, let them find what they want to be and do," De Villa said.
"Not just because your father is an engineer, for example, means you must be an engineer."
The song talks about the past of struggling to sing, to say I’m not the image of what my father dreamed of. And it also speaks of the present, of the strength to live how I wish.Carl De Villa
De Villa shared that more than the pain of the past and the strength of the present, what he relished about the musical and the role was the celebration that came with them.
“The musical is about the celebration of life, the celebration of freedom.”
Angel from 'Rent'
Currently, De Villa is starring in the role of Angel in "Rent", a production that is touring around Australia.
Angel is a queer street drummer who saves and falls in love with Tom Collins. Both characters are HIV-positive.
While some think that character of Angel is a transgender woman, others speculate that they are a drag queen.
“Angel is a positive light like Lola," De Villa said.
“What I love about the character of Angel is that they have gone through a lot of past trauma, but they don’t delve deeper into it. This resonates not only with me, but with the audience."
Angel shows us that we all have trauma. We all have drowned before; but it’s about asking ourselves how we can swim back up.Carl De Villa
Queerness
De Villa said they could relate to the fact that while queerness wasn't all that Lola and Angel were, their identities were a big part of who they were.
I identify as non-binary.Carl De Villa
The closest term in the Filipino language is
"The difficulty is The Philippines is a very religious country and we’re bound by that; so I don’t want to be associated to anything at all – whether it be political or religious," De Villa said.
"I don’t want to be represented by anything. I just want to be represented by and as myself."
