08/06/2026
"...She said the song was gifted to her by producer LG Fuentes, who also produced Cebuana P-pop girl group ARZA's debut single, “FAYAH.” After receiving a message from her producer in December, they took the song to the recording booth in March, where she recorded her vocals over two days."
ENTERTAINMENT: Former” The Voice Kids” C contestant Akisha Keith Sianson continues to live by the advice that her coach, Lea Salonga, gave to her Season 2 batchmates when she was 12 years old: “She wants us to continue to do what we love and not let anybody dim our light.”
Even though she wasn’t chosen to advance in the competition after the Sing-Offs round, Sianson fondly remembers Coach Lea, recalling how she smelled of her favorite vanilla scent and the kiss she gave her on the cheek.
Now 23 and living in Mandaue City, Akisha resigned from her job at a real estate company in pursuit of her dream of becoming an established artist. “I was influenced by my parents because they are both musically inclined, so we love music and we love to sing,” she told The FREEMAN.
Her parents manage Stage KIT Artists Production Management and are also part of Music n Motion Academy, where Akisha received her musical training. “I didn’t expect I would grow up wanting to be part of the music industry, but I really want to pursue it now,” she added.
Akisha released her debut single, “Isla Queen,” last April – perfect for this year’s summer season with its message of female empowerment. She explained the song’s concept: “It’s about being a confident woman. I don’t care about what other people say as long as I do what I love, and I am confident in what I do and I love it.”
She said the song was gifted to her by producer LG Fuentes, who also produced Cebuana P-pop girl group ARZA's debut single, “FAYAH.” After receiving a message from her producer in December, they took the song to the recording booth in March, where she recorded her vocals over two days.
Akisha wanted “Isla Queen” to be her debut single because it serves as a fitting introduction to her as an aspiring pop star. “As someone who loves pop music, I feel like the best genre for a first release would be something that people can relate to and have fun listening to,” she said. “I want people, when they listen to ‘Isla Queen,’ to enjoy how catchy it is. That’s why I love this track.”
She hopes to diversify her future discography by exploring chill and R&B songs at some point.
Akisha cites Ariana Grande as her role model for being a high-energy performer with stable vocals. “I admire Ariana so much because of the way she performs and how she keeps her voice and breath stable while dancing in heels. I want to reach that point in my singing career where I can do that too,” she said.
𝗞𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗖𝗛
Since "The Voice Kids," Akisha has also tried her luck by auditioning for ABS-CBN's “Star Hunt,” though she isn’t completely sure whether she was trying out to become a member of BINI at the time.
Those opportunities might never have come her way had she not answered a call from an ABS-CBN representative informing her that she had been accepted as a contestant where she would perform in front of Salonga, Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo.
Since she was still a minor when she auditioned for “The Voice Kids,” she did not bring her phone when she went out, causing calls from the network to go unanswered while she was away from home. Initially suspecting the calls were scams, she ignored them and did not return them.
“Thank God I was able to answer because they tried to call me for a couple of days, and if I didn’t pick up that call, they would probably not attempt to call again,” she recalled. “As soon as I answered, I gave my mom’s number so they could talk to her instead.”
While many aspiring artists would stay in Manila to build their music careers, she chose to stay in Cebu to pursue college. She originally wanted to take up tourism because she aspired to become a flight attendant, but shifting priorities eventually changed her mind.
Instead, she earned a Communications degree from the University of San Carlos, an experience she credits for helping her gain confidence beyond what she had while appearing on national television a few years prior.
“I am glad I took communications because it boosted my confidence,” she said. “I am actually a very shy girl. I don’t like to talk on stage, I hate presenting in front of classmates, and I usually wait for people to approach me. Now, because of my course, I learned how to speak well on stage, host events and share stories in between songs when I am performing.”
Among the artists Akisha hopes to collaborate with is her friend and fellow “The Voice Kids” batchmate and Careless Music artist Jolianne, with whom she has remained in touch over the years.
“During our ‘The Voice Kids’ days, the Cebu kids stayed in the same hotel on the same floor, so we would always talk about things like Minecraft,” she shared. “Our friendship continued after ‘The Voice,’ where we would visit each other’s houses for sleepovers, go to the beach and celebrate birthdays together.”
While they followed different paths in life, they maintained their group chat and plan to reunite someday once their schedules align. —Januar Junior Aguja
