Bublé, Foster, Anka: A star-studded lineup for Sofronio Vasquez’s EP
If there’s a thing Sofronio Vasquez has learned in his journey through the stars, it’s this: Even when you’ve touched them, there’s always room to reach a little higher.
Being crowned champion of “The Voice” season 26 last December was nothing short of “magical.” The gigs, concerts, and high-profile public appearances that soon followed have been a whirlwind. And working with his coach, Michael Bublé? “A dream come true,” he says.
But sometimes, just when you think things can’t possibly get any better, they do. And then, the universe sprinkles in a little something extra.
Legends unite
In a recent press huddle, Vasquez revealed that he has actually been working on his first EP—produced, no less, by Bublé. The Canadian pop-jazz icon is also contributing an original song and recording a duet with Vasquez. And if that weren’t enough, the upcoming record will also feature collaborations with two more music legends: David Foster and Paul Anka.
“I used to just imagine what it feels like to work with such people. Now I’m slowly turning that into reality,” he says.
Slated for a late third-quarter release, the EP’s first drop will tentatively be the duet, which is apparently a Christmas track written both in English and Tagalog. It doesn’t get more Bublé and Filipino than that.
“It was fun because I wrote the lyrics. I’m not that good at it—Tagalog isn’t my first language—but I tried it with the help of other Filipino musicians. I loved it,” reveals Vasquez, a proud Bisaya born in Misamis Occidental and raised in Cebu.
He has also been trying to convince Bublé to make a guest appearance in one of his shows in the Philippines, as they haven’t shared the stage since “The Voice” finale. But if Bublé were to fly all the way to the country, he doesn’t want it to be just any performance. “He wants it to be magical for both of us,” the singer says.
Lessons on restraint
With nonstop engagements, a star-studded EP, and Bublé’s continued support beyond “The Voice,” Vasquez’s career is undoubtedly on an upswing. The thing about bigger opportunities like these, however, is that you never really know when they will come. And when they do, you had better be ready to rise to the occasion.
Bublé made sure Vasquez was.
The 32-year-old singer joined “The Voice,” backed by years of experience as a contest regular and as a cruise ship performer. He has a rich, soulful voice that lends itself well to various genres or styles—from rock to R&B, from ballads to jazz standards. He has no shortage of power. You can’t fault him for not having enough passion.
Vasquez had the right tools—it was only a matter of putting them to better use.
Bublé challenged Vasquez to tackle songs he didn’t think he could pull off—or wouldn’t have thought of in the first place—like the Roy Orbison classic “Crying.” It ended up becoming one of his defining contest pieces. He also benefited from Bublé’s technical knowledge, which led to more thoughtful song arrangements that brought his vocal gifts to the fore.
But perhaps more importantly, Bublé taught Vasquez the power of restraint.
“One time during rehearsals, Michael asked me, ‘Are you ready for an honest comment? Just because you can doesn’t mean you should,’” Vasquez tells Lifestyle Inquirer.
He was quite hesitant at first. Long-held beliefs equating good singing with hitting high notes can do that to many singers. But under Bublé’s guidance, Vasquez managed to resist this tendency. His emotive rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” for instance, is proof that sometimes, you give more by holding back. And the more he performed around the United States, the more convinced he became.
“From my experience performing in the US, it’s when I sing solemnly or more emotionally that people get more attached,” he says. “I feel like I became a more effective singer.”
Teamwork and respect
This approach to singing is particularly well-suited for group performances, as he will demonstrate in “Bravo!”—a concert he will headline alongside Bituin Escalante and Jed Madela on Aug. 23 at The Theatre at Solaire. It’s a night that promises electrifying vocals. But if you’re expecting a showdown, this isn’t it.
“It’s all about teamwork and respect,” points out Vasquez, who’s currently based in the United States, but recently returned to Manila for a four-day trip. During his short visit, he sang the national anthem at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address. He also squeezed in some early prep work for the upcoming concert.
“I’m a fan of both artists so I’m excited. I know I will learn a lot—even just by talking to them—and pick up on nuances that make them the artists they are today,” he says.
But still, the competitive fire in him burns. After all, it was what fueled him through the contests he had previously joined, like “Tawag ng Tanghalan” and many other in-app singing tilts. The only difference now is that he no longer needs to look beyond himself to find his toughest rival.
“I don’t think that will be gone from my system—not because I want to be better than others, but because I want to better myself. It keeps me hungry for new opportunities,” he says. “There are many things other singers can do that I can’t. I can use that as inspiration.”
And as Vasquez races toward the best version of himself, Bublé remains one of his loudest cheerleaders—talking highly of him even when he’s not around. “I can see how proud of me he is,” he says.
