The extraordinary Zia Quizon

I knew that Zia Quizon is special after I heard her sing the standard I Wonder Why with her father, the legendary comedian Dolphy in his recent album. There was something uniquely pleasing and mature about her tones. But I was still unprepared to find out how special she is when I listened to her first album, Zia. Magic happens right from the first note. This girl is not just special. She is really quite extraordinary.

Zia has just turned 20 years old and is a Literature major at La Salle University. She is the youngest child of Dolphy and Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla. She is sister to Karylle and Vandolph and granddaughter to Carlos Padilla Jr. and related to other showbiz denizens. That means she has the right genes. But Zia has until recently been just casual about her music or anything about show business. In fact, she learned to play the guitar by herself through lessons from the Internet and later advanced to writing her own songs. 

What she had plenty of while growing up was listening. Mom likes pop, R&B and diva stuff. Dad likes jazz and standards, plus world music. Then there are assorted brothers and sisters running around the house with their own sounds. Zia soaked up everything and came prepared with what she wanted when she finally decided to give singing a try.

Zia is the result and it is a wonderful mix that is unlike anyone else’s. I hear a bit of the Zsa Zsa trill in her high notes but that is all. Truth to tell she has more of Dolphy in her style, jaunty and easy and time defiant. Zia’s CD has music that is pop but not really, a little jazzy, a little R&B, some swing and other things that will from now on be identified as only Zia’s. It is very smart set. Her parents must be very proud. And I am so delighted to find a pretty, intelligent girl who is not a fierce, wailing diva wannabe.

You know how it is with veteran insiders in the music industry. They say that you can tell right from the first line or sometimes even on the first note of a song if a singer has what it takes to make it big. That’s when the magic happens. And time and time again they had been proven right. I am sure they agree that Zia is one of those instances. 

Zia by Zia Quizon has So Much In Love, which was a No. 1 hit for the Thymes way back in the ’60s and then successfully revived again at No. 1 by All-4-One decades later; Ako Na Lang, a new original by Jungee Marcelo; Dear Lonely, another new song composed by Francis Salazar.

Mambobola, a composition by singer RayAnn Fuentes and one of the early hits by her mother. Nice that she wanted something of her Mom’s in her first CD; Simple Girl, Zia’s first recorded work and the album’s first single release. Very well done; and the timeless Smile, done in a swinging breezy style, the Charlie Chaplin classic is her tribute to her father.

Also making its recording debut is the duo named The Lamars. The Lamars is made up of the brothers DJ and Micah Lamar, two handsome hunks who were born and bred by their Christian missionaries parents in Lucena City. Interestingly, they live in a farm ranch that is home to 40 orphans. The brothers made their TV debut in the Sunday variety show ASAP and later got featured roles in the series Idol. They are now regulars in the teen show Fantastik on TV5.

The CD is titled Kung Puede Lang after the lead single composed by Urbandub soloist Gabby Alipe. There are also Love You More, DJ’s own composition; Someday, a big hit in the ’90s for Sugar Ray and the best track in the EP; and Where Are You Now, a recent hit by Honor Society.

Catch The Lamars as they perform their songs live at Robinsons Pampanga on Oct. 9 and at Robinsons Metro East on Oct. 16.