"It's great, it sounds great but I'd like to encourage more originality, becoming more of an artist and creating your own identity as opposed to taking from someone elses and doing that well. This country has so many talented people that is a shame almost to see people who don't really use that."

I'm still fishing for a soundbyte from beneath all her niceness but Amber's not biting. I ask with people like Kyla and Nina who arguably dominate the Filipino female artist market, are they not setting her a level of standard to achieve?

"Definitely," she begins cheerily. "I look up to Kyla and Nina. Obviously what they are doing has worked and they're very talented but I don't really like to think of it as much trying to achieve what they've achieved or work out what they've done. I look to them as inspiration to do what I do and choose to see I can accomplish but not so much off of that but to try and create my own identity but then also respecting what they've achieved."

I mention that Kyla recorded a song with Blue. I get a blank look, then a smile. I describe them as similar to Westlife, who only a few weeks ago performed in Manila and are also distributed by Viva. Amber nods politely.

"You know what? Honestly I'm not too familiar with names. I'm more of a song kind of person. I think collaboration is part of growing of an artist too. It's getting deeper into influences. When I made my album; those around me were putting their two cents in, making suggestions and making it better. The key to getting good music is having really talented people influence you. You learn from other people's songs and artistry. Collaboration is something that I want to do more of. Whoever it's with I think that's an honour."

Amber is simply too nice, hopefully she won't finish last.

Interview by Andrew Mclean 2006.
Photography © Andrew McLean 2006 & Amber 2006