Isha Ponti, Andrea Gutierrez ready to prove they’re ‘The Next Ones’
Jerry Donato - The Philippine Star
October 31, 2025 | 12:00am
Emerging artists Isha Ponti and Andrea Gutierrez come together for their first-ever concert, “The Next Ones,” on Dec. 13, 8 p.m. at the Music Museum. Isha is a singer-songwriter, while Andrea is a singer. Pop is the former’s choice of genre, and bossa nova is the latter’s.
Isha and Andrea promise music enthusiasts a showcase of their strengths and potential as performers and not a showdown.
Although both have already recorded and released songs, Isha and Andrea will introduce themselves and their music to the public. The show’s director is Calvin Neria, while the musical director is Adonis Tabanda.
“It’s mixed emotions,” said Andrea of her initial reaction upon learning of such a career endeavor in a recent chat with The STAR. “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).”
As for Isha, she agreed to the idea because 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).”
Isha was referring to their singer-friends who, like them, carry on in chasing their singing dreams.
The two Pinay singers got to know each other when they attended voice lessons. They also participated in the same singing competition, “Asia’s Best,” and became grand champions. Years ago, they met again and graced shows of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artists such as Marco Sison and Nonoy Zuñiga. And another OPM legend and songwriter, Rey Valera, will also grace their concert.
“There are duets and production numbers,” said Andrea about what the audience can look forward to aside from the solo segments. “And the songs that we haven’t sung before, we’ll get to do them.” As front acts, their choices of songs were limited and based on the show’s theme.
Isha added that they’re “more on modern” songs, but old tunes are also part of their repertoire. They will give them a contemporary touch.
According to director Calvin, the concept for “The Next Ones” is to showcase the artists’ versatility, “but I also want the people or their audience to get to know them through their music and genres.” With that, the show will be somehow story-driven, which means “there’s a takeaway” after one watches it, added he. “The main focus is their artistry and the repertoire. There are more than 17 songs.”
They might also sing songs of their music influences. Isha said she has grown up listening to the records of Sarah Geronimo, Kyla, Nina, Regine Velasquez and Sharon Cuneta. Andrea likes Lani Misalucha and Sitti, the local recording scene’s Queen of Bossa Nova.
Andrea has recently launched the ditty, Mestizong Gwapo. The most recent singles of Isha, on the other hand, are Dyahe and You Loved Me First. She has two more to release this year: They are Kabanata and Kung Maalaala Mo Ako.
After “The Next Ones,” they see themselves recording new songs, releasing an album and topbilling shows, plus content on their social media platforms.
“I do my storytelling when it comes to the songs I write, the lyrics I write,” Isha gave her two cents on singers as storytellers. “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.”
“From there, I’d also see myself as a storyteller. I feel like it’s because of the way other artists deliver their performance or music (that also makes them a storyteller),” added she.
That’s why Andrea needs to “feel the emotions, the story (of the song). Minsan, diba, kapag na-a-areglo, nawawala yung essence nung song (sometimes, the song arrangement affects its essence). I want to feel the lyrics and the story.”
Since their show is timed during Christmas season, they consider it their gift to family, friends and fans and those people who believe in and trust them.
As they unwrap the musical gift, Isha and Andrea will show what they’ve got as artists in “The Next Ones.”
They are also game to the idea of guesting in the OPM countdown show, “Vibe,” on TV5, which airs weekdays, weeknights and weekends. They can talk about 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.
