Daily Tribune (Philippines)

High school senior sings with style, confidence

Sofi Fermazi didn't flinch over the technical glitches of her song's backing tracks. Instead, she proceeded to do her second number a cappella

- VIBUZZ Danny Vibas

Sofi is currently working on her debut album, Rain Inside Us, on Star Music. She will collaborat­e with various ABS-CBN talents on three songs.

The name Sofi Fermazi may not ring a bell for now. But at age 17 and still in senior high school, the Pinay singer’s emotions, confidence and style were palpable in a teaser performanc­e at a recent online media meet.

She didn’t flinch over the technical glitches of her song’s backing tracks. Instead, she proceeded to do her second number a cappella.

Sofi is currently working on her debut album, Rain Inside Us, on Star Music. She will collaborat­e with various ABS-CBN talents on three songs.

She will also join the online show “Fun Nights Only” Saturday nights on Kumu.

Despite her foreign-sounding surname, Sofi said she’s a full-blooded Filipino, and her father, who works overseas, is from Iloilo.

The youngest of three children, Sofi said her mother accompanie­s her to singing engagement­s and workshops. While she has won singing contests in school, she has never experience­d trying out in nationwide tilts on TV.

“I’ve been singing at home (Las Piñas) since I was six, and my mom who encouraged me to be profession­ally coached,” Sofi said.

Sofi has been mentored by Ima Castro, who played Kim in Miss Saigon’s Asian tour.

She’s currently managed by MPJ Entertainm­ent, a company led by actor-indie filmmaker Perry Escaño.

Her most recent performanc­e was at the 2022 Asia Pacific Luminare Awards at Okada Manila.

During the 2022 presidenti­al campaign Sofi sang the Tagalog version of the Bonnie Tyler hit “Holding Out for a Hero” for the candidacy of Isko Moreno. It went viral online.

But Sofi can improve on her online performanc­es. She might need a director, judging from her videos posted on You Tube.

It seems her singing has no heart. They were acceptable but unremarkab­le renditions of Moira dela Torre’s “Paubaya,” Zack Tabuldo’ “Binibini,” Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph,” Kitchie Nadal’s “Same Ground” and Blackpink’s “Pretty Savage.”

 ?? Photograph­s courtesy of sofI ferMaZI ?? sofI can improve on her online performanc­es. she might need a director, judging from her videos posted on you tube.
Photograph­s courtesy of sofI ferMaZI sofI can improve on her online performanc­es. she might need a director, judging from her videos posted on you tube.
 ?? ??
 ?? ?? DespIte her foreign-sounding surname, sofi fermazi said she’s a full-blooded Filipino, and her father, who works overseas, is from Iloilo.
DespIte her foreign-sounding surname, sofi fermazi said she’s a full-blooded Filipino, and her father, who works overseas, is from Iloilo.

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