Isha Ponti and Andrea Gutierrez aim to claim 'The Next Ones' title

A New Chapter for Emerging Artists

Isha Ponti and Andrea Gutierrez, two rising stars in the music industry, are set to make their debut together with a concert titled “The Next Ones.” The event is scheduled for December 13 at 8 p.m. at the Music Museum. Isha, a singer-songwriter, specializes in pop music, while Andrea, a singer, focuses on bossa nova. This collaboration promises to be a unique experience for music lovers, showcasing the artists' talents without any competition.

Both Isha and Andrea have already released songs, but this concert marks their first public performance where they will introduce themselves and their music to a wider audience. The show is directed by Calvin Neria, with Adonis Tabanda as the musical director.

Andrea expressed mixed emotions about this new venture. "Siyempre, may takot po kasi first time namin gagawin ‘to and then siyempre, happy and thankful (of course, there’s fear because we will be doing this for the first time and then there are feelings of happiness and gratefulness)."

Isha, on the other hand, sees this as an opportunity to pave the way for other artists. "It’s like a way for us to pave (the) way for other artists because we started out as front acts and guests. Sila naman po yung i-ni-encourage ngayon (they are the ones being encouraged to share and show their talents this time)."

A Shared Journey

Isha and Andrea met during voice lessons and later competed in the same singing competition, “Asia’s Best,” where they both became grand champions. They reconnected years later and performed with OPM artists such as Marco Sison and Nonoy Zuñiga. Another OPM legend, Rey Valera, will also be part of their concert.

The concert will feature duets and production numbers, along with songs that the duo has not performed before. "And the songs that we haven’t sung before, we’ll get to do them," said Andrea. As front acts, their song choices were limited by the show's theme, but now they have more freedom to explore different genres.

Isha mentioned that they focus on modern songs but also incorporate old tunes with a contemporary twist. "We will give them a contemporary touch," she added.

A Storytelling Experience

According to director Calvin, the concept of “The Next Ones” is to highlight the artists’ versatility. "But I also want the people or their audience to get to know them through their music and genres." The show will have a story-driven approach, providing a meaningful takeaway for the audience. "There are more than 17 songs," he noted.

The artists may also perform songs inspired by their musical influences. Isha grew up listening to the works of Sarah Geronimo, Kyla, Nina, Regine Velasquez, and Sharon Cuneta. Andrea admires Lani Misalucha and Sitti, known as the Queen of Bossa Nova in the local recording scene.

Andrea recently released the single "Mestizong Gwapo," while Isha has released "Dyahe" and "You Loved Me First." She plans to release two more singles this year: "Kabanata" and "Kung Maalaala Mo Ako."

Looking Ahead

After "The Next Ones," Isha and Andrea aim to record new songs, release an album, topbill shows, and maintain an active presence on social media platforms.

"I do my storytelling when it comes to the songs I write, the lyrics I write," Isha shared. "With the sounds, you can feel the emotions through sounds. When you like interlock all of them, it becomes (or they produce) a whole story that people can interpret and they can feel a lot of emotions, a lot of meaning behind it."

Andrea agrees, emphasizing the importance of feeling the emotions and story behind each song. "Sometimes, the song arrangement affects its essence. I want to feel the lyrics and the story."

A Gift During the Holidays

Since the concert is timed during the Christmas season, Isha and Andrea view it as a gift to their family, friends, fans, and those who believe in and trust them. As they unveil their musical gift, they will showcase their artistic abilities in "The Next Ones."

They are also open to guesting on the OPM countdown show "Vibe" on TV5, which airs weekdays, weeknights, and weekends. They can discuss their songs, music, and journey as artists in the segment "Uprising."

For ticket inquiries, visit https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx?sh=NEXTONES25.