SOFIA: The Bossa Nova's “Accidental Tourist”

(I have met this crystalline-voiced fair lady at the Gateway Mall Cubao to have some shots of her musical ideology, more so of her being a Bossa Nova heroine).

As gracious as the soothing sound of Bossa Nova, it is well again an unparalleled opportunity to meet and converse with an apt and coming artist, no other than the 'fresh voice' and comely face of Bossa Nova, Sofia.



Sofia must have been working her own professional thing in a white and four-cornered wall laboratory clad with her best bib and tucker, if not only for the well-off event that occurred to her life. This 22-year old pretty voice is an alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas, graduated with a degree in Medical Technology, now coupled with the license to practice.



Things are going professionally well and steady with her further studies in Japan for a research scholarship grant to study Hematology, when she was asked to gather viable materials for a Bossa Nova project of Ivory Records. “I'm a licensed medical technologist, and I just passed the board. Then, I have been working for three months in the laboratory. After that three months, I have a one week period to fix my papers because I had the scholarship for Japan, research in Hematology or blood diseases,” explains Sofia. The package includes a demo tape which she herself made as part of the recoding company's orientation regarding the new found project. Sofia further explained, “they asked me to help out for the project, so I gave them research materials...since I know also a lot of Bossa Nova People, like Carlos Jobim.” This was so considering that Sofia is an undisputed Bossa Nova advocate since her high school days.



Being part of this musical lineage is not just a sole enterprise for Sofia, it includes indulgence of supportive friends pushing her to the edge of her career. “What happened is, I have a friend in high school, she knows a lot of languages, it's her passion. So she knows French and Spanish. And one of the things that she gave me is to make tape of a lot of Spanish, Portuguese and German songs. So it was really funny, one of the songs there is Desafinado,” Sofia thankfully explained. During the unpacking of the submitted demo tape, the song “Desafinado” stands out to spearhead her present career. The recording company's apparent plan to scout for a talent to fit the project was justly preempted by Sofia herself – unexpectedly, causing her to be called the “accidental artist.”



Sofia clarified, “ang sabi ko no'n i-coach ko lang yong singer (gaya ng) accent, ganon. Kasi pagpalagi mo syang pinakikingan, kahit hindi ka formally tought, mapi-pick-up mo rin sya. Di naman ako expert, pero sobrang interesado lang ako kaya mataas ang respeto ko sa Bosaa Nova.” In fact while I'm doing the interview, Francis Liwanag (Ivory's Ad Prom for print) keeps butting-in. Asserting that just after the performance of “Desafinados” the staff just made-up their mind – affirmatively jesting they've found the one.



Her voice and glamor automatically fits the project, causing the recording company to feature her and finally coming up with her debut album “Bossa Latino Lite.”



Sofia, clinging to her sense of understanding, cannot believe her thought that she have brought-out such bulky and overwhelming musical destiny.



She awesomely explained, “lahat na nandoon na eh, kaya nga feeling ko bakit ako, parang tama ba, para ba sa'kin to. Kasi nandoon na lahat, nandoon na yung line-up except nga yung singer. So parang, ako ba talaga?” In addition to, Sofia's chances seems becoming more accurate when prominent radio stations started to look for her and began hailing her voice on the airwaves, while the recording planned to release her not as an artist yet.



On the other end, Sofia got more claims on her own. An artist who knows not only to sing but knows the foreground of the field shes moving now. She made knowledgeable research on it, learns from it and sings with it by heart. Further, she doubles her effort at the performance side by playing guitar, violin and percussions.



Well, Sofia address it as a plus factor or a sort of 'claim to fame?' “Mahilig talaga ako sa instruments. Parang it's part of me na. Di ko sya ginagawang parang I'm over them. It's part of my identity na. Minsan pag wala akong gitara, parang kulang,” asserts Sofia.



While Bossa tries to find an auspicious leeway amidst the contemporary uproar of Rock, Alternative, Hip-hop, Pop and Metal, Sofia tries to console and coach as how to love it, she goes, “a lot of artists know this that if you're too deep into your type of music and you present songs that are too far from the general assessment of the public, na parang masyadong malalim, so hindi nila maiintindihan. So kung gusto mong i-introduce talaga yung tao sa Bossa, dapat medyo Pop-bossa muna.”

“Lahat na nandoon na eh, kaya nga feeling ko bakit ako, parang tama ba, para ba sa'kin to. Kasi nandoon na lahat, nandoon na yung line-up except nga yung singer. So parang, ako ba talaga?”

True enough, today's generation have gone more attuned to the metallic drive of silver-coated strings. She told us further, “Kasi hindi naman ako nag i-expect na maintindihan agad ng public yung Bossa, kasi medyo maypagka jazz sya eh. So as much as possible, I'll have popular songs. Kasi pag original Bossa parang ang bigat, so hindi nila masyadong masabayan. Gusto ko rin kasi nag-eenjoy yung audience. Dapat may balance doon. Minsan may kantang pagbibigyan ko ang sarili ko at saka yung banda. Pero pagkatapus noon kakanta na ako ng popular na song na medyo Bossa Nova style. Para hindi sila masyadong parang out of place na parang, yung nag eenjoy lang yung artist. Parang i-introduce mo muna, wag mong biglain.”

“...lahat ng nangyari sa akin parang ang galing, parang sakto lahat. Saka hindi ko naman to plenano eh. Alam kong biyaya nga talaga to ng Diyos.”

It seems that the present career is offering her a healthy and promising daylights in her life, well she be able to take back and practice the professional career recently hanged dangling in the mid-air? Sofia confirmed, “Oo. Alam mo kasi lahat ng nangyari sa akin parang ang galing, parang sakto lahat. Saka hindi ko naman to plenano eh. Alam kong biyaya nga talaga to ng Diyos.”

“They asked me to help out for the project, so I gave them research materials...since I know also a lot of Bossa Nova People, like Carlos Jobim.”

Practicing music and choosing a certain genre is synonymous to putting on a dress on your body, where individuals judge you the way you liked to be perceived. Music is even suggestive, it's even stereotyping and eponymous – and finally becomes an identity. Bossa Nova gives Sofia a genuine feel of her musical side, though her thought is open ended to the opportunity of doing music outside the realm of Bossa Nova. “Puede rin. Kasi I'm also listening to rock, reggae...noong high school ako nag-folk din kami. Noong college nag-reggae din kami, pero hindi sya professional band,” reassures Sofia.





TICK TACK TALK



What's your favorite word?

Rockin'!



Are their music you dislike?

None. I can listen to any type of music!



If you could invent a new instrument, what would it sound like?

A cross between the cello and the guitar.



Do you think music can heal sick people?

I believe music can inspire the soul.



If you were not a singer, who would you be?

An E. R. doctor or a writer.

What do you think the world would be like without music?

...can't imagine life without music.

If you were a song, what song would you be and why?

Naku...ang dami eh...



If you could hear what someone is thinking for a day, who would you choose?

The President. Aba, gumaganon pa ako (laughs).



If you had only 24 hours to live, what would you do?

Visit my family and friends and then go to the mountains to think, o kaya sa tabi ng dagat. Somewhere that is beautiful and peaceful.



If the whole world were listening, what would you say?

I love you! (smiled)



If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

Indifference...or maybe world hunger.

How do you know if a guy is really in love you?

If he's ready to sacrifice things for you; if he treats you as an equal but values you, treasures you, take care of you.

What is the sweetest compliment you ever heard about you?

Hmm...(raises her eyebrow, smiles..then we proceeded to the next question).



If you could have any one supernatural power (flying, being invisible), which would you choose and why?

Free time. So I can do all the things I want to do without growing old (laughs).



If you could not differentiate beautiful from ugly, how would choose your spouse?

If he has a beautiful soul. If he works hard, prays hard.

CHITO MIRANDA: Standing Still Over The Years

Striding few kilometers has never been this consoling just to meet this 'chopsuey' legend of comical music. It's a long way kicking up few distances with winding route before I stepped the immaculate floors of the coveted Glass Garden venue nestled somewhere in Pasig City.

Where the boys are?

Well, they're all in. Parokya Ni Edgar's giving me cool willies at this time. Plus the presence of some other rock acts such as MYMP, Cueshé and other solo artists. Together they'll be hauled from time to time into Boy & Kris taping session.

Meanwhile, brushing shoulders with Parokya's manager Richard Tan, it's like meeting a casual friend who doesn't give much ado of giving second thought but delivered me smooth and straight to the point. For another chance, I've been into dialogue with Chito Miranda, the lead vocal of Parokya Ni Edgar. One thing, Chito including his cronies seems to exude a brighter and healthier aura at this juncture. As long as physical appearance is concerned, they're fairer than ever. This might runs counter to the typical notion we attribute to rockers – dirty look. Hey, perhaps for a minute or two they're just conscious of their looks on TV.

Just got my brows relaxed after few acquaintances gestures with some other members of the band, now we're (I and Chito) inching for a cozy couch nearby. Moments later Chito's on board my record.

Even a 'star' learns to take a bow himself with few admiring thoughts to the following demigods of music. He commenced, “Rico - Sobrang genious at galing niya talaga. Ngayon nga 'yung album n'ya (Your Universe) ang fave ko. Ely - Pagdating sa music he's my god and their albums 'yun ang bible ko. Bamboo - Sobrang friends ko sila. Ano talaga s'ya 'Ultimate Rockstar.'”

Cracking jokes to himself he continued how his achievements affect his character ever since, “Oo naman. Sobrang yabang ko na ever since. Tanungin n'yo lahat ng mga kaibigan ko, sasabihin nila yumabang na ako. Loko lang, syempre hindi, I'm still me.”

Consulting how was it playing same music and same story every now and then, is it giving him nausea? He told us, “No. Kasi kahit paulit-ulit 'yung kanta each gig has different experience. And we have no choice but to play our old music, old songs. We've been doing it for more than thirteen to fourteen years already. And per set we always add the new songs s'yempre.”

For considerable times that they've been playing their music, they're not getting younger anymore and so their audiences who are getting old with them, save those who are still coming up for them now – the younger audiences. “Nakakatuwa kasi most of our fans who grew up na isip bata pa rin sila (laughs). So 'yung mga ka-batch namin dati na tumanda na and who listened to us nung nasa Dredd pa kami. Kahit nag-iba na y'ung trip nila sa music, y'ung iba trip pa rin ang 'Parokya', I'm very thankful for that. Y'ung mga kids naman nakakatuwa din na they appreciate our music kahit sobrang vintage band na kami (smiles), It's nice to see them watching our gigs. That means naaabot pa rin namin y'ung new market. When they grow up hopefully they still like us. Nakakalungkot naman kung y'ung mga ka-batch lang namin y'ung nag-e-enjoy sa music namin di ba. Until now kahit matanda na kami our music is so juvenile in our lifestyle. Para pa rin kaming high school, hindi pa ako ready for life outside high school eh,” Chito asserts.

Inspiration has never been a problem for Chito. He's quoting lots of new bands that carry him along to punch more lines of songs as they inspire him. “Hindi ako mauubusan ng inspiration when writing song. Kasi laging mayroong bagong banda eh. Y'un talaga ang inaamin ko sa sarili ko I'm such a big fan of OPM. And I'm a groupie talaga ng Urbandub, guilty pleasure ko ang Hale. I'm friends with the new bands also like Sponge Cola. I always time out with my friends from Quezo, Kamikazee. You can never run-out o inspiration basta laging may bagong banda. As a fan I'll buy all their CDs talaga, basta may maglabas. It always inspires me to continue what were doing,” he explains. Not much, but beyond all these, it's them. It's their circle that gets him going. He explains that it's like a successful marriage that despite their being comical it's love that really binds them deep down and beyond their antics. “My bandmates. Sobrang inlove na inlove ako sa mga kabanda ko. Sobrang inlove kami with each other talaga, its like successful marriage. Kahit okey na kami, they have their own families, stable na kami with our lives we still choose to be in a band. Kasi it's what we love to do. So once we get bored iwan namin without looking back. It's just the memory na masaya pero as of now na-i-enjoy pa namin eh,” Chito buffs.


TICK TACK TALK

Do you have anxiety every time you release an album?
Hindi anxious ah...we never come out with album na hindi ako, kami masaya. Whether it sells or not as long as we are happy with the materials. I mean kahit hindi s'ya maging hit single/s basta I'm proud when it comes to my song writing. Honestly, sinungaling naman ako kung sasabihin ko na hindi it matters sa akin kung mag sell or hindi. Kasi it’s always nice to sell albums, it's always nice to come out with hits. Our priority na lang is for us to enjoy para hindi kami ma-burn-out.

Can you see a time when you would stop making records?
Once I get tired, I'll quit, ganun lang kadali y'un. There's no point being in the band na ayaw mo na . Kaya nga ako nagbanda para mag-enjoy not for anything else. And nakaipon na naman ako, so anytime na I want to quit, I'll do it. And have a luxury lifestyle kasi never naman akong gumastos, I just saved since day one.

When you're on stage you give a lot of yourself. What about when you're off stage?
We enjoy it more. Dalawa lang yan eh, its the performing sobrang saya nun and our lifestyle outside it. We do live not as a rockstar talaga, kasi kapag rockstar they splurge money, they go out and party. We never party, we party on stage pero pag outside stage we hang-out with our families lang. Ang saya lang kapag outside stage kasi wala kaming responsibilities. Hindi na kami nag-aaral most of us naka graduate na so its very convenient. Being in the band is not work it’s just having fun. That's the wholeness being in the band. Wala akong nakilala na kaya nag-banda dahil gusto n'yang trabaho. Gusto ko ma-realize ng mga kids na gustong magbanda, magbanda kayo dahil enjoy.

Do you considered yourself as The Icon?
Y'an ang hindi ko talaga ma-gets (laughs). Being an old guy in the industry doesn't make you an icon. Siguro mas familiar lang sa mga tao since ganun na kami katagal. Pepe Smith, Ely Buendia 'yan ang icon. Makikita mo talaga na pag sinabing music they're way up there. Parokya hindi kami mako-consider, hindi porke tumagal kami icons na eh. Ang nakakabilib siguro sa amin y'ung tumagal kami with the same group of friends.

What's your difference with other vocalist?
Siguro advantage namin minahal kami ng mga taong despite our lack of talents. Makikita mo talaga y'ung difference sa song writing. Kapag nakita mo si Rico alam mo ang nagsulat. He has every right na maging songwriter slash rockstar kasi si Rico Blanco s'ya. Si Ely naman what they did for the music scene walang ibang makakaulit nun. Aside from them si Gary V. we just considered ourself as kids who grown-up in the band scene. And stayed together for the longest time and we're still together, y'un lang y'un.

How important is religion to you as an individual?
Religion is very very important. For me no matter what kung ano man ang religion mo, muslim or christian. I don't know what I called my religion pero I'm very religious person, I'm almost in constant prayer. We always pray before our gigs. It's very important na part ng buhay ng tao. Pero once its divided dun ako against sa religion. Once nag set-up s'ya ng walls na ito ang christianity, ito ang muslims and it causes division. Religion dapat nand'yan yan to spread good vibes and love. Kailangan kasi natin nang may paghuhugutan ng strength eh. If anything goes wrong once you hit track bottom you have no choice, but to pray. For me and my bandmates hindi kami magla-last ng ganito katagal if weren't that religious. Walang tama o maling religion as long as you believe on it.

With your extensive experience with the recording industry what words of wisdom might you have for up and coming players?
Sobrang fan talaga ako kasi, grabe y'ung mga materials na nilalabas nila ngayon like Urbandub, Updharma Down. Dahil sa dami ng banda ngayon you really have to put out good materials, something brilliant. Y'un ang nagngyayari ngayon sa music scene. At the same time for you to stand out sobrang galing nun. Kapag ganun mas kailangan mo pang galingan. Hindi ko p'wedeng sabihin sa kanila how to inspire then when it comes to their music kasi definitely much better 'yung materials nila with what we have. Siguro ang lamang lang namin sa kanila we were able to choose our bandmates na mahal namin. And we were brought up properly ng mga kabanada ko. We never argued about money or music. Kasi pinapriority namin y'ung pagmamahal namin sa isa't-isa. Sana makuha rin y'un ng mga ibang banda. Unahin n'yo ang friendship. Mas masaya magbanda kung y'ung mga kabanda mo, ang makakasama mo sa tagumpay mga kabarkada mo.

Who are the artists you find yourself returning to again and again?
Everyone naman na naka-trabaho namin we never invite sa album na hindi namin trip ka-trabaho. We were able to jam with Francis Magalona, Ely Buendia sa Christmas album, The Teeth, Bayang Barrios, Kamikazee, Sounds, Quezo and all of them are good friends. Hindi lang friends idol na idol ko talaga sila. The fact na naka-jamming namin si Francis M. bago pa kami magbanda, icon na siya. You could just imagine how flaterring it is for us. Hanggang sa umabot s'ya makipag-jam sa album namin. Isa pa siya sa mga icons talaga.

What kind of legacy would you like to leave?
Gusto ko matandaan nila ako as someone na kahit walang talent, kahit walang good looks just by having fun I survived on being a vocalist. And as a band member that's what I did sa buong buhay ko eh, masaya na ako dun, y'un lang.

♫♫♫