For a generation that grew up watching her evolve in front of the camera, Belle Mariano is now opening a more personal chapter — one told not through scripts, but through melody.

With the release of her new album Like You, the Gen Z star leans fully into music, a passion she says existed long before fame arrived. Acting may have introduced her to audiences, but singing, she admits, began in the most familiar Filipino rehearsal space: the living room videoke.

“I grew up using the videoke, parang ‘yun yung naging practice ko, sa totoo lang. As in laking videoke talaga ako. So parang hindi siya nawala sa akin, I’ve always wanted to pursue music,” she shared.

Music as her diary

After more than a decade working on screen, Mariano describes music as an entirely different emotional language — one she controls herself. Acting follows structure; songs follow feeling.

“Sobrang iba niya sa acting kasi feeling ko [kapag] acting, meron nang character, naka-plot [na] ‘yung story ng character mo, alam mo na ‘yung pupuntahan. Pero sa music kasi ikaw ‘yung magna-navigate ng story mo on your own which is so nice [kasi] para siyang nagiging diary. And ang ganda kasi nung thought na we’re able to translate our emotions through music. I’ve always loved [that] idea [coming from] sa karaoke dreams ko.”

Despite the freedom, she insists neither craft is easier.

“Pareho. Siyempre may sari-sarili silang challenges. Kasi kapag acting, mata [yung ginagamit]. Pero dito kasi, when you’re singing, nararamdaman ‘yung emotion. For this album, since happy ‘yung album na ‘to, happy kami the whole recording.”

The project intentionally centers warmth and familiarity rather than spectacle.

“More than inspiration, we wanted to focus on the relatability of the album. We wanted people that listen to it to be able to relate to it and take inspiration, ‘di ba? Love is a universal language so parang gusto lang namin na ‘yung listeners namin to feel kilig, to feel love, and that’s the tone of the album.”

The songwriter she wants to become

Although she did not write the tracks, Mariano says songwriting is the next mountain she wants to climb.

“Hopefully, gusto ko. I really want to. Sabi ko nga ‘sana matutunan ko talaga’. If there’s one thing I want to learn, it’s to write talaga. Nagsulat na ako before ng dalawa pero kasi I think that’s still something I want to learn. Kasi ako magaling ako na maumpisahan ko siya eh pero hindi ko siya matapos.”

“Hopefully, sana this year maybe, sana makatapos ako ng kanta.”

Her musical inspirations already shape the direction she imagines for the future — including British soul singer Olivia Dean.

“Oh my gosh, [si] Olivia Dean. I love Olivia Dean. I love her songs. Parang ganon nga rin yung vibe ng album (Like You) ‘di ba? Very light. Ang ganda rin kasi ng music niya. Alam niyo ‘yung napapangiti ka kapag napapakinggan mo.”

She also hopes to collaborate with Filipino acts Cup of Joe and BINI.

Back to the big screen

Even as music expands her artistry, cinema remains part of her journey. Mariano reunites with Donny Pangilinan in the romantic drama Tayo Sa Wakas, directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana.

She describes it as her most emotionally demanding role yet.

“I feel like this one is more emotional, mas puno ng emosyon. Feeling ko sobrang macha-challenge ako sa role na ‘to. But I’m excited for that challenge,” she said. “Nung pinitch kasi sa ’kin, may jaw-drop moment na ‘What?!’”

She also spoke warmly about her co-star’s work ethic.

“Kitang-kita mo ‘yung puso the way nagtatrabaho siya… And he never fails to surprise me and us, actually.”

Choosing stories

During a recent event under Star Magic, Mariano revealed she remains open to unconventional roles — including LGBTQIA+ narratives — as long as the message resonates.

“Kung maganda po iyong story, why not po? Feeling ko, ako po ang focus ko talaga, if it sends out a good message sa mga manonood.

Kung maganda po iyong mensahe, kung mga makakapag-inspire. And those are the factors that I consider. And maganda po iyong story, kung maganda iyong story, why not?”

“Parang ever since I had that mindset na, you know, ma-challenge talaga ako.

Kung maganda po ang story ready po ako ang feeling ko kasi naka-focus ako sa mga manonood basta po maganda ang mga story.”

An expanding career

From television to cinema and now deeper into music, Mariano is shaping a career defined not by one identity but by constant evolution. She wants to perform, to act, to write — and eventually to say more in her own words.

“Ever since po kasi, I feel like my heart is really drawn to music.”

“This is something talaga na I’ve always wanted. With everything that’s happening, we want to put something out there na light and very gentle sa puso natin. Hopefully sa mga makikinig pa po ng music ko, na ‘yun yung message na maparating namin.”

For audiences who first met her as a young actress, the new era is less about reinvention and more about revelation — the same artist, but finally speaking in her own voice.