Maria (Meria Aires)

Meria Aires
Birth name Meria Aires
Born February 16, 1989
Origin Brunei
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 2005-Present
Website http://www.zon365.com/bruneiartist/maria/index.htm

Maria (real name Meria Aires) (born February 16, 1989) is the most successful female singer in Brunei. In the Pelangi Awards, Maria received the top honours; she was nominated for Best Female Vocal Artist and Best Duo/Band, and she won.[1] Bisik Hati is her most successful single to date, debuted at number 1 in Pelangi Countdown.

Biography

Maria became a successful artist when she won the 2005 Kristal Idol contest in conjunction with His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam's birthday celebrations. At that time, she was still studying at the Raja Isteri Girls High School. Her current manager is Hjh Zaimah. Maria never aimed for a career in singing, but her talent has come naturally. Her ambition is actually in the field of medicine and she works hard towards this.

Maria debuted her first album with the band N'Destine, and is due to release her second album in early / mid February. Maria is also currently nominated for Brunei's most popular female singer. With a humble attitude and a personal commitment towards doing her best on whatever she does, Maria is a top-flight singer who can hold her own against other, foreign artists.

Maria has performed at various state functions such as His KBDYM Majesty's Birthday.[2] She also regularly performs at corporate events such as those from Baiduri Bank Group[3] (she is a spokeswoman for this bank's FAST product) and TOTAL. Maria won Most Popular Female Artist at the 2008 Radio Television Brunei awards.[4]

She released an album, 'Sesaat Kau Hadir', on May 23, 2009.[5] She released her new single "Cinta Ku" song collaboration with composer Lily Chiam. On the 13 of February 2011, she launched her new single Biar Sampai Akhir at Kallang CC Singapore song with Merah band from Singapore, together with an official music video produced by Singaporean production company Merah In Motion. Aires will be representing Brunei at the first ABU Radio Song Festival 2012, which is scheduled to take place at the KBS Concert Hall in Seoul, South Korea on 11 October 2012.[6][7]

Awards

  1. 1st Place in Top 35 Featured Bruneian Artist in Pelangi FM (2006)
  2. Chosen Female Vocalist in Anugerah Pelangi (2006/2007)
  3. Pelangi Artist of the Year (2006–2007)
  4. Pelangi Artist of the Month (May 2007)
  5. Pelangi Artist of the Month (May 2008)
  6. Penyanyi Wanita Popular (Anugerah RTB 2008)
  7. Chosen Female Vocalist in Anugerah Pelangi (2008/2009)
  8. Most Voted BMOBILE Artists(Pelangi Awards 2009)
  9. Penyanyi Wanita Popular (Anugerah RTB 2010)
  10. Most Voted Female Artist (Cooltones Awards 2010)

Discography

Studio Album

• Maria and Destine • Sesaat Engkau Hadir

Personal life

She likes to spend her free time with playing guitar, listening to music, songwriting and reading.

Maria also engages in a variety of outdoor activities including cycling, jogging and swimming.

References

  1. ↑ Zasika Musidi. "Winners of Pelangi Awards attribute success to hard work".
  2. ↑ Article on her performance at a state function: Malek Hashim (18 October 2008). "Her Majesty attends b'day celebration". Borneo Bulletin. The royal guests were also treated to a live singing performance by Maria, a well-known local entertainer who belted out three songs - 'Waktu', 'Janji' and 'Bassanova'.
  3. ↑ Masli, Ubaidillah; BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (March 2, 2008). "Baiduri hosts Chinese Lunar dinner". The Brunei Times. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  4. ↑ Razak, Khairi; BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (February 16, 2009). "Glittering finale marks RTB 2008 awards". The Brunei Times. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  5. ↑ "Maria’s launching of ‘Sesaat Kau Hadir’". 25 May 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2010. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  6. ↑ "ABU TV Song Festival 2012 Participants". ESCKAZ.com. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "ABU TV Song Festival 2012". Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
None		 Brunei in the ABU Radio Song Festival
2012
with "The sweetest memory" 		Succeeded by