(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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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