Newcomer Isha Ponti pens original songs

She started singing when she was only seven, but amazingly, writing songs also became her wont by the time she was nine.

- By LEAH C. SALTERIO

Nineteen-year-old singer-songwriter Elisha Pontanares, Isha Ponti for short, has penned nearly 20 songs, not just for herself, but also for other artists.

Today, 19-year-old singer-songwriter Elisha Pontanares, Isha Ponti for short, has penned nearly 20 songs, not just for herself, but also for other artists.

Isha is undoubtedly a versatile singer. When she turned 13, she wrote a Father’s Day song, Proud To Say, which she gave as a surprise birthday gift to her dad. She can render varied genres — from ballad to pop to upbeat. She plans to release her solo album next year.

From an emerging talent to an award-winning artist, Isha is not just a singer-songwriter. She is also a dancer, rapper and producer whose artistry has been winning hearts both on and off stage.

In September 2019, Isha joined “Asia’s Best Singing Competition” Season 2 and ended up as the grand champion.

That same year, she also participated in the “Euro-Talent Festival” in the Czech Republic, where she won a cash prize. She was only 13 then and she performed Speechless from “Aladdin” and On My Own from “Les Miserables.”

When she was younger, Isha was into musicals — “Hamilton,” “Cats” and “Les Miserables.” She once tried to make it to television and even auditioned for “Goin’ Bulilit,” although she still hopes to do theater one day.

Tagged as Asia’s Pop Sweetheart, Isha displayed her talent and wowed the crowd when she did the front act to Nonoy Zuñiga’s 50th anniversary concert, “Beyond Gold: Songs of a Lifetime,” last September, with a repeat last Dec. 9, both at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT).

In an era where music is often fleeting, Isha is creating something lasting — songs that connect deeply, performances that light up stages and a story anchored in the love of her most devoted supporter, her mother, Emeelette Pontanares.