When Edward Benosa auditioned for The Voice of the Philippines (Season 1), no chairs turned around, but he impressed coach Sarah Geronimo with his potential, as well as his looks and charm. Even host Toni Gonzaga was seen screaming from the back room “Umikot kayo, guwapo ‘yan!” and Sarah echoing the same sentiment with her comment, “Edge mo ‘yung looks mo”. He got people to sit up and take notice—and now Edward Benosa’s out to do it all over again.
This time, though, the mestizo singer is determined to prove that first, he’s dead serious about making a go of a singing career, and second, that there’s more to him than just his looks.
The half-Spanish, half-Filipino singer/song writer is hard at work on his debut album to be released by Star Records before the end of 2014.
Since that blind audition on The Voice in June 2013 where he sang his own version of the Bruno Mars hit “It Will Rain”, Edward Benosa has been working hard to prove just how serious he is. He’s been doing double-time on his vocals, taking in the advice that he got from the coaches and other veteran musical artists, spending countless hours listening to music (including the classic love songs of his childhood that he grew up listening to), learning new songs and practicing his singing.
The hard work and improvements in his voice did not escape the notice of Star Records, which agreed to give him a chance.
Edward Benosa even managed to expand his range of talents to include writing his own music. Two of his songs, one of which is titled “Paglisan” and which he wrote after a heartbreaking experience at the hands of a former girlfriend, will be included in the album.
He began singing in high school.“Doon ko na-realize na mahilig akong kumanta,” he says. “Sa classroom, ginagawa akong jukebox ng mga classmates ko. Mag-re- sila ng tapos ako naman, kakanta. ‘Yung mga teachers ko naman, nagagalit sa akin kasi ang ingay lagi ng classroom.”
But it wasn’t until Edward Benosa met award-winning stage actor and singer Arnold Reyes through TV host Boy Abunda (who is a family friend) that he started taking his singing more seriously. Arnold Reyes, impressed not just by his looks, but by Edward’s vocal range— “at ‘yung boses niya, tunog imported” —agreed to help him. Aside from training Edward, Arnold Reyes helped him put together a demo that they took to record companies. Unfortunately, that first try didn’t end so well. “So sabi ko, tigil muna tayo,”recalls Arnold.
After less than a year, Edward Benosa was back and asking for another chance. Their conversation made Edward realize how much he missed singing, and that he really did want to make it a career. He asked for another chance, and thus began months of intensive re-training and studying.
He also worked on his repertoire, sticking to the pop love songs that people have told him suit him best.
And now Edward Benosa is ready to step into the limelight once more, and this time, he’s more prepared. Auditioning for The Voice was just the first step in what is going to be a long, challenging journey. He’s aware that his looks are always the first thing people notice about him, and that because of that, they may not take him all that seriously, but right now he’s just happy to have an opportunity to prove himself again.
Two of Edward’s songs “Iingatan Ko” and “Ikaw Lamang,” were included in ABS-CBN’s teleserye “Moon of Desire“, while his first single “Paglisan” is already playing at MOR 101.9 FM.
Here’s a live version of Paglisan performed by Edward Benosa at 8th Note Studio where he records his debut album: