In the age of instant popstars, it’s not everyday we come across a protégé worth the pause. At 19, Lourdes Maglinte already has had a rich background in music and an arsenal of songs that reflect the precociousness that captivated us to her in the first place. The guitar is her instrument of choice, but even without it, she brings that signature spunk and sass to her performances. Seeing power in vulnerability and beauty in truth, Lourdes translates thoughts into her songs that are part storytelling, part confessional. Having made her mark in the Visayan pop music scene, she now turns to focus on her debut album under 22 Tango Records. Her single “Empty Sheets,” a pop ballad about yearning for a lost love was written when she was 16. It’s but a taste of this singer-songwriter’s impressive body of work, marked with a maturity that defies her age and an honesty that’s refreshing for her generation. With talent and a drive to tell stories, grounded by her openness to evolve, this gem of an artist is sure to make an indelible mark.