For Kenan Quitco, the journey from science educator to volleyball coach and recording artist was never something he carefully planned.
Each opportunity simply led to another, eventually bringing him to The Clash and into a career in music.
Today, he balances his passion for coaching with his life as a singer, embracing both with gratitude, faith, and hard work. In this City Stories interview, Kenan talks about his journey, the challenges of pursuing two passions, his experience in music, and the lessons that continue to shape him as an artist and coach.
You first gained wider attention through The Clash. Looking back, what made you decide to take that leap and join the competition?
That was during the pandemic, when the world literally stood still.
Prior to joining The Clash, I was already recording some cover songs and uploading them to my YouTube channel. Since everyone was literally stuck in their respective homes, the audition process for the show also changed.
Instead of having a live audition, they accepted online submissions. Since, at that time, I had already uploaded several song covers to my channel, I simply chose from those and submitted them to the show’s email address.
So perhaps it was convenience that led me to try it out and try my luck, especially since this was the first singing competition I had ever joined.
How would you describe the Kenan Quitco who entered The Clash compared to the artist you are today?
I am way more confident now than I was back then.
During the show, I felt really small and very insecure. My fellow contestants not only navigated the competition more easily than I did, but they also had much bigger voices and wider ranges than I do. I even fanboyed over some of them during rehearsals because they were just that darn good.
Now, I guess, I somehow sing more for expression than for show. I really worked hard and am very proud of the tracks I’ve already put out. When I perform them, I pour my heart and soul out on the stage.
It’s sort of like an out-of-body experience. It’s euphoric.
What did your experience on The Clash teach you about yourself as a performer and as a person?
It was very validating. It made me realize that a lot of people actually like my voice because, for a time, I thought only my family and friends liked how I sounded. It never crossed my mind that I’d receive compliments from strangers on the internet telling me how good I was and how much they loved my sound. It made me more confident in singing and believe that I could truly pursue this art form.
As a person, it also gave me a peek into the “artist life”: the early call times and late finishes, the all-day makeup retouches, the sudden wardrobe changes, the long queues for takes during taping days, and so much more. It made me appreciate artists even more because that kind of schedule requires massive amounts of patience, perseverance, and grit.
When I got cut from the show, I felt really exhausted—and I was only there for about a month. We only see the glamour of an artist’s life on social media, but there is so much more happening behind the scenes.
You have built a career in education while pursuing music. What inspired you to keep both paths going?
I guess I’m just fueled by my passion for both.
Teaching is my bread and butter, and the classroom is my happy place. Music does the same thing for me. It saved me from my misery and anxiety during the pandemic.
As long as my schedule permits me and my body can handle the stress of juggling both, I’ll keep pursuing my dreams in these endeavors of mine.
What does being a teacher mean to you, and how has teaching influenced the way you approach music?
Teaching, for me, was something that I literally was: somebody who wanted to impart what he knew to young kids, particularly in the field of science. I majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry.
The discipline I teach in the classroom is pretty rigid, as science is very empirical by nature. However, my approach to teaching it is one that is grounded in FUN. A former colleague of mine kept saying that “science is FUNdamental,” and I really kept that advice to heart.
I tried to keep the lessons relatable to the kids’ experiences and strived to deliver complex topics in a manner that my students could easily grasp.
I guess the FUN part of my teaching practice is something that influences my music to some extent because when I’m on stage, I just let loose and have tons of fun.
You are also involved in volleyball coaching. How did your journey into coaching begin?
The career jump from teaching to sports coaching was rather serendipitous.
I got accepted into a postgraduate degree program at a university in the UK, and because of that, I took a leave of absence from the school I worked at. This was so I could process my papers and student visa, for which I was required to show a financial statement proving that I could pay for my tuition fees and estimated living costs for my entire stay at the university.
Since I didn’t qualify for any scholarship, I used the time I had then to actively look for funding from different agencies and personalities that I could reach out to. This was when the opportunity to coach suddenly presented itself.
A former teammate of mine from the university I graduated from asked if I would be willing to help out with their girls’ volleyball program for one season. I gladly said yes, and fast-forward to now, I am a full-time sports coach.
Music, teaching, and coaching require very different skills. What similarities do you see between the three?
I think teaching and coaching share a lot of similarities, especially since I somewhat apply my philosophy of teaching—which leans toward a behaviorist and constructivist approach—to my approach to coaching. With both, transfer of learning is paramount.
Music, on the other hand, is more on the “creating” and “crafting” side of things. It’s completely different from teaching and coaching, which are more logical and rigid, whereas music is more artistic and free.
But the reason why I’m juggling all of them together is simply out of sheer passion. I just love doing them.
How do you balance your responsibilities as an educator, coach, and artist?
Right now, I only balance coaching and singing. I’ve already spent 11 years in the academe, and now I’m choosing to pursue the other two.
I firmly believe that my credentials and experience make me employable in the academe should I wish to return. But for now, and while I still physically can, I will keep pursuing coaching and singing because they simply add so much color to my life.
Has there ever been a moment when you considered choosing just one career path? What made you continue pursuing all three?
As I’ve mentioned previously, I only juggle two of them now.
The opportunity to coach with the team I’m currently with, the National University Girls and Women’s Volleyball Teams, and the chance to be signed under the record label I’m with right now, Sony Music Entertainment Philippines, are both breaks that don’t come by often, especially for an ordinary person like myself.
So, I value both dearly, which is why I work my hardest to balance and juggle them both.
What have your students and athletes taught you that you could never have learned from being on stage?
During matches, I would always remind my players to let loose and just enjoy the game. I always remind them that the pressure they’re feeling is normal, and that it only means the game matters to them that much. They play their best when they simply enjoy the game and rely on our preparation.
I guess I try to give myself the same pep talk when I have performances. If I think too much about stumbling or making a mistake, I eventually might. That’s why I really try to enjoy every stage I get to perform on.
I’m thankful for every opportunity and always try to make the most of them.
Conversely, how has being a performer influenced the way you connect with your students and athletes?
During live gigs, I would usually be the first one to perform since I’m the newest. I have no hit singles, and most of the audience would be hearing me for the very first time.
When the big artists hit the stage, the audience readily sings their hits with them. At times, they even sing entire choruses because those songs are simply their jam. If I succumbed to that feeling of envy, I’d easily find myself comparing myself to those big artists.
But instead of feeling that way, I choose to admire them and aspire to one day have an audience of my own who will sing my songs with me.
I think it’s common for kids today to constantly compare their lives with others, especially with their exposure to different social media platforms. This is one reminder I always tell them: comparison is the thief of joy.
It’s you versus you, and no one else. Individual timelines for greatness aren’t the same. They need to learn to accept that achieving success is a process, not an instant, whimsical spell that happens in a snap.
What kind of music speaks to you personally, and have your musical influences changed as you’ve grown as an artist?
I think it’s been pretty much the same. I’ve always enjoyed listening to songs with meaningful messages and those that spark nostalgia. I still listen to the songs I used to jive with during my teenage years.
As you continue developing your career in music, what kind of artist do you want people to know Kenan as?
I’d like people to know me as someone who sings from the heart. When I record the tracks I release, I really put my heart into them. I hope they can feel that sincerity when they listen to my songs online or hear me sing them on stage.
What is the biggest misconception people might have about you when they see you as a singer, teacher, or coach?
That I am snobbish. In reality, I just overthink a lot, which is why when I’m in my own bubble, I tend to keep a very straight face.
How do you handle moments of self-doubt, especially when pursuing multiple dreams at the same time?
I try to live in the moment. Of course, I have big dreams for myself in both music and sports coaching, but if I lose sight of what’s in front of me right now, I may never get to the places I wish to be in the future.
Keeping myself busy and preoccupied with the things that I have to do helps me throw all my doubts out the window.
What has been the most challenging moment in your journey so far, and how did you overcome it?
I shout a lot when I coach, and at times, it really leads to vocal strain or, worse, vocal loss. So, trying to do my job well as a coach while keeping my vocal cords healthy has been quite a struggle for me.
Also, my team trains six days a week, from 6 AM to 11 AM, so getting ample sleep has also become an important part of my daily regimen.
Is there a particular performance, student, athlete, or experience that has had a lasting impact on you?
I always seem to land opportunities that I never really thought I would have, and I thank God for all of them.
The opportunity to coach with my current team, the international stints and competitions that we get to participate in, and all the other blessings that He freely gives us are all things I’m incredibly thankful for.
This career in music that I currently enjoy is also a blessing from Him. It’s something I never chased. One thing simply led to another, and before I knew it, I was already signing a record deal with a label.
All of these blessings are reminders that God is gracious and that He is good. And right now, a grateful life is all I’m living.
What would you tell someone who feels pressured to choose only one dream or career?
That life is finite, but opportunities are endless. God has ways of derailing you from a dream you once had and diverting you toward another. Oftentimes, we question Him, especially when that goal was something we had been pursuing for almost our entire lives.
Just stand firm in your faith and trust that where God guides, He provides.
If you could go back and speak to the Kenan who auditioned for The Clash, what would you tell him?
Enjoy the experience and just do you.
Finally, what is next for Kenan Quitco—in music, education, coaching, and beyond?
I have no idea what the future has in store for me. All I know is that I will keep pursuing my passions for as long as I am physically able to.
Life is finite, but opportunities are endless.
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