Southern Leyteña now making waves in Australia

Cezka Mariz Lapurga, 19, a singer-songwriter with roots from Maasin City and now based in Brisbane, Australia, will soon embark on an international singing career. This after she was invited by US-based record producer Andrew Lane to do an album in Los Angeles, California. One of the videos of Cezka posted in “You Tube” was spotted by award-winning record producer Andrew Lane and immediately emailed the singer inviting her to his recording studio in LA.

Lane is the songwriter producer of international artists Irene Cara and Backstreet Boys. Lane is also the co-producer of Disney movies “High School Musical”, “Disneymania4″, “Hannah Montana”, “Manny Fresh” and the director of eWorld Music Awards in January 2011. Cezka and her mother are expected to leave this week for LA. “In our Skype conversation Lane told us that he loves the kind of music Cezka is into,” said Edgar, proud father of Cezka. A winner in the McDonald/Quest News’ Pine Rivers Press and North Lakes Times Young Stars Award Annual Winner in the Arts/Education category for 2012, Cezka first started singing at three years and singing responsorial psalm at a Parish in barangay Dongon, Maasin City.

She started performing in school programs in Saint Joseph College, Maasin, and had an opportunity to sing during special occasion at the city at a young age of eight, before the family migrated to New Zealand and later to Australia, when she was 14, according to her father Edgar. “I am so excited and happy. God knows and answered my prayers. I know this will open so many doors for me. This is something of a confirmation. This is so much I wanted to do, and one step closer to my dreams,” Cezka said in an online interview.

She said that apart from singing her other passion is interior design and basic design. “Even before I graduated in high school, I had a certificate in interior design III. I went to Craigslea State High School in Brisbane, Australia,” Cezka said. “Our family generally loved to sing in the karaoke, Filipinos favorite past time. My love for interior designing will be put on hold to pursue my dreams,” Cezka said. According to her father who is an architectural draftsman, Cezka has the full support of the family members. “In eagerness to continue her interest in singing, she began a private singing lesson in opera as well as enrolling in the

“Performing Arts School of New Zealand” & “the Performance.net”. It boosted her singing techniques as well as dancing and acting skills while she received high commendation in both institutions,” said the proud father. Cezka Mariz was born in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and was raised in Filipino and European traits complexity. Her father Edgar Lapurga is from Baguio City and her mother Marlyn Dublan from Maasin City and a registered nurse in Australia. Even in Australia, Cezka is very active in the church choir. She led the Couples for Christ (CFC)- Youth for Christ Praise & Worships in their church. She took private singing voice lessons as well as enrolling into Bright Stars Performing Arts Academy workshops. Cezka Mariz, also writes her own songs. Cezka mainly writes acoustic music but also enjoys singing a few ballads, R&B and pop. In June 2011 she was invited by Marg Hynes, Director of the Australian Institute of the Performing Arts (AIPA) to write and record an 8-track album for the 2011 Singer Songwriter Project recorded at Los Angeles, California which eventually became two – 8 Track Album. She was the only Fil-Asian in the group. Her cover of Train’s “Soul Sister” has more than 43,000 hits, while her Bruno Marz “I am Your Man” reached 30,000 hits. She has performed in the annual awards at Brisbane Convention Center. Her single “Hey Babe” which she composed for ten minutes and produced by Marj Hynes, is available in iTunes.apple.com.