Since her runner-up finish in GMA-7s now defunct reality talent search series, Protégé: The Battle for the Big Break in 2011, Lirah Bermudez has been a sought after acoustic singer in bars, weddings and other special events.
Even back then when she was only 13 years old, Lirah was already a seasoned performer.
“I was 12 when I started singing with a band and later learned the guitar when I was 13,” Lirah recalled to PEP.ph in an interview during the media launch to promote her debut single for Ivory Records, “Sahod,” composed and co-produced by master rapper Gloc-9, who himself was a mentor at Protégé.
Gloc-9, who opted to mentor Denise Barbacena in the same competition, admitted that he wasn’t close with Lirah back then. The two only started working together a few years later when Lirah chanced upon the country’s “wordsmith of rap” when both were guest performers in a show at the Kapuso network. It was there that she approached Gloc-9 and asked if she could join his shows even if only as a front act.
“Even during Protégé, I already wanted to work with Sir Gloc. Grabe ang tatak ng mga songs nya sa mga tao kaya gusto rin magkaroon ng ganung klaseng impact,” she admitted.
Lirah’s working relationship with Gloc-9 dates as far back as 2014 when she was a featured artist along with Sly Kane in the track, “Huminahon Ka (Calm Down)” from his live album, Biyahe ng Pangarap. As documented in YouTube, Lirah would sing with Gloc-9 in live appearances in shows like Unang Hirit, It’s Showtime, and at the Wish FM 107.5 Bus.
That same year, Gloc-9 and Lirah collaborated on the official theme song for GMA’s hit bayaniserye, Ilustrado.
The 41-year old rapper said that working with Lirah, now 21, gave him a chance to observe not just her talent but also her work ethic and dedication to her craft.
“When I asked her to sing the vocal parts of my songs, nagulat talaga ako. For a very young singer, kaya nyang maglagay ng second voice sa kahit anong song na ipakanta ko,” he shared during the same event.
“Bukod sa talent niya na very evident naman, merong sipag at tiyaga itong si Lirah. Sa mga bars, tumutugtog yan ng 45 minutes per set, three times sa isang gabi. Ako nga, makapag-perform lang ng 45 minutes, pagod na ako pero siya tatlong beses nyang ginagawa yun sa mga bars. I think for an artist to be deserving, sobra-sobra nang qualifications yun kaya nag-decide kami na tulungan na si Lirah.”
Asked what it’s like to work with the rapper, Lirah said Gloc-9 is very meticulous and very detailed. “Kahit minor errors, napapansin niya so mahahasa ka talaga sa kanya,” she said.
Lirah admits that before working with Gloc-9, her style was limited to being “plain acoustic” and she would write songs mostly about love. Joining forces with the rapper, however, added another dimension to her artistry.
“Sa kakasama ko sa kanya, nakito ko up close kung paano sya mag-perform, kung paano siya mag-rap so I thought, why not try it and incorporate it in my solo shows,” she confessed.
So she did and Gloc-9 now marvels at her ability to both sing and rap.
“Hasang-hasa na si Lirah bilang isang mang-aawit, ngayon nakakapag-rap pa siya. Bihira kang makakita ng ganun,” he pointed out.
With “Sahod” which Gloc-9 says is about “the drive and hard work a person has to put to achieve their dreams,” Lirah also gets to record music that is also socially relevant. The song, originally written by Gloc-9 for himself is highlighted by an extended rap part which he told Lirah was anything but easy.
“There was a lot of hard work involved in the recording of the song but to my surprise, Lirah was able to nail the rap parts. When we were shooting the music video, she was also able to perform it live,” the rapper further noted.
“Sahod,” with its engaging melody and LSS lyrics, follows the tradition of Gloc-9 classics like “Upuan,” “Walang Natira,” and “Sirena.” Gloc-9 himself appears in the video, translating the chorus to sign language.
Now managed by Asintada talent management group headed by Gloc-9’s wife, Thea Pollisco, Lirah’s look has also been somewhat repackaged to be consistent with her career’s current direction. She still performs with her acoustic guitar but now sports braided hair, wears colorful outfits, and immaculate white sneakers.
Happy that her recording career is finally taking off eight years after she was dubbed as “Pop Sweetheart” in Protégé, Lirah is very happy that she is now in good hands under the able guidance of Gloc-9 and his wife.
“I feel so blessed by the Lord that he has given me people who sees what I want people to see in me. Sana magtuloy-tuloy na,” ended Lirah.