Gladys Reyes goes from kontrabida to recording artist with debut single

Queen of Filipina on-screen villains drops “Primera Kontrabida” and proves she can own the mic, too.

Best known for her antagonist roles in Philippine media, actress Gladys Reyes can now officially add “recording artist” to her long list of showbiz credentials.

The undisputed queen of Filipina on-screen villains recently dropped her debut single, “Primera Kontrabida,” a campy novelty pop track under StarPop, following her live performance of the song at a special “Primera Kontrabida Sings” event on August 1.

Drawing from her iconic characters Clara from “Mara Clara,” Betsy from “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes,” and Salve from “Here Comes the Groom,” Reyes’ song celebrates her title in the local entertainment industry while prompting listeners to reflect on who the real villains are: the wicked stepmother, or the greedy master manipulators of society?

However, while fans might be surprised to see her headlining her own song, her pivot to music isn’t exactly out of left field.

Just last year, the iconic actress stretched her vocal chops on the big screen, starring in her first musical film, “The Heart of Music.” Taking on the rare “bida” lead role of Yaya Madonna, Reyes proved she had the pipes to carry a melody-driven cinematic project. Ahead of her role in the musical film, she took formal voice lessons at the University of the Philippines to prepare her vocals.

Longtime followers of her career also know that Reyes’ musical roots go back decades. During her early years in the industry, she regularly showed off her performing chops as a co-host and performer on the iconic youth show “That’s Entertainment,” starting in 1986, as well as on the Sunday variety staple “ASAP” from 1995 to 2003.

So, while “Primera Kontrabida” might be her first official release as a recording artist, Gladys Reyes has always had a knack for owning the stage—whether she’s plotting against the protagonist or singing her heart out.

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