Dhonna, together with guitarist and older brother Barry, and pianist Ash, her younger brother, form the Red Rhythm trio.
Working together is “challenging” and has been quite an adjustment says Dhonna, but together the siblings have has a lot of fun performing.
The siblings’ parents were great singers and always entered local singing competitions – in fact that was how they met. Dhonna fondly recalls them playfully arguing over who won what competition as she was growing up, and says they instilled a love of music in her.
Dhonna sang regularly from when she was young, and won a singing scholarship through her local Catholic church that paid for her four year Degree in Mass Communications in Manila, in return for singing at weddings and other events held at the church.
She spent six years in Seoul, Korea, performing as part of a seven piece show band, meaning her dancing skills were required as well.
“Music is my first love,” she says.
“I cannot live without music. It’s something I can be proud of, and it’s a craft I have – nothing can take that away from me.”
Dhonna is well known on the island for her soulful voice, and names musical influences such as Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey, The Carpenters, Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner.
“At the Dusit we play a real mix – ‘70s, ‘80s, ballads, rock and roll, and jazz, plus new songs. We have to do lots of practice to keep improving and learning new songs, particularly because Ash only started in June so he’s quite new.”
Dhonna also has to learn to sing songs in different languages, catering to the resort’s international clientèle.
As well as performing and practising around 10 hours a week with her brothers, Dhonna is also a full time mum to her and husband Ariel’s 10 year-old son, Johnriel. Despite her singing and Ariel playing the piano, Dhonna says Johnriel is much more interested in Taekwondo than music at the moment.
But no doubt he’ll be influenced by his parents musical talents, and perhaps one day might even join them on the stage himself.
Red Rhythm perform at the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket hotel every evening except Sunday, from 7.30pm to 11.30pm.