When a young artist manages to balance talent, vision, and authenticity, it’s more than just promise—it’s the start of legacy. At 19, Isha Ponti is doing just that.
Crowned ‘Best New Female Artist’ at the 2024 Aliw Awards, Isha is no longer just a rising voice, she’s a force in motion. Her path is marked by both creative courage and a sense of purpose rarely seen in artists her age.
This year, Isha reached a dream milestone—collaborating with OPM legend Rey Valera on ‘Kung Maaalala Mo Ako’. For Isha, the experience is nothing short of surreal. It’s a dream collaboration to her defining moments. “It’s a dream come true,” she shares. “To be working with someone whose songs helped define generations, it’s humbling and inspiring.”
But this collaboration is just one of several defining moments in her unfolding story. Her name is appearing more and more alongside established OPM icons. On November the 28th, she’s joining Chad Borja’s ‘All That Sound’ concert at the Music Museum. Then, on December 9, she’ll perform in the repeat of Nonoy Zuñiga’s golden-jubilee celebration, ‘Beyond Gold: Songs of a Lifetime’, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
And as if that weren’t enough, she’s capping the year with her biggest challenge yet, her own headlining concert, ‘The Next Ones’, happening December the 13th at the Music Museum. Co-starring Andrea Gutierrez, directed by the brilliant Calvin Neria, and with musical direction by Adonis Tabanda, this show marks Isha’s transition from rising star to full-fledged performer-producer.
While many young artists rely on others to shape their sound, Isha writes her own songs, and her own narrative. Her latest single, ‘Dyahe’, written and produced under Ponti Entertainment Production, showcases her growth as both songwriter and creative entrepreneur.
“I don’t want to create music just to sound international,” she says with conviction. “I want my songs to speak from my own experiences. ‘Dyahe’ pushed me outside my comfort zone, but it’s still very much me.”
This self-awareness is what sets Isha apart. Her music doesn’t chase trends, it tells truths. Whether it’s ‘Tangan’, ‘Kabang Kaba’, or ‘Dyahe’, her songs feel intimate yet relatable, tapping into the emotions of youth while maintaining a timeless sensibility.
Beyond the spotlight, Isha is quietly reshaping what it means to be a young artist in the modern OPM scene. As managing director of Ponti Entertainment Production, she’s hands-on in every aspect, from concept to creation. It’s a bold move for someone so young, but it reflects her belief that artists should have agency over their art.
Her leadership came into full view during Nonoy Zuñiga’s anniversary show, where she performed her originals backed by the League of Monsters dance group. Sharing the stage with industry veterans, she held her own, graceful, confident, and clearly ready for bigger stages.
Despite the growing attention, Isha remains grounded. She often credits her mother, Emeelette Pontanares, for being the quiet strength behind her journey, a constant reminder of where she came from and why she creates.
Each performance, each song, each risk she takes reflects a deep gratitude and sense of purpose. As she prepares for ‘The Next Ones’, her upcoming concert isn’t just another event, it’s a declaration. It’s where all her efforts as a singer, songwriter, and producer converge into one defining statement…Isha Ponti is ready for her era.
Her rise is not an overnight story, it’s a carefully crafted one, fueled by artistry and anchored by authenticity. And as the stage lights up this December, audiences may not just be witnessing another concert, they may be witnessing the birth of the next great name in Original Pilipino Music.
Because if there’s one thing Isha Ponti has proven so far, it’s this, she doesn’t just dream of music, she builds it, note by note, truth by truth.
