Star Magic Records plans to make AC Bonifacio an international artist

ABS-CBN’s Star Magic has taken on the music scene with Star Magic Records, a sub-label of Star Music.

First to be introduced under the talent management unit’s newly-launched label is dancer-singer and influencer AC Bonifacio, who just dropped her debut single titled Fool No Mo.

The song, composed by Jonathan Manalo and Trisha Denise, is about “the kind of love that leaves someone with nothing,” said Star Magic Records in a media release. AC wrote the rap parts and performed the back-up vocals herself.

During a recent virtual presscon, AC shared how excited she was to finally release music under Star Magic Records. “It’s something that I definitely wanted to do for a while now. Pero ayoko po kasi yun biglaan and yung hindi ako,” AC said.

Star Magic chose the 18-year-old to “represent the start” of Star Magic Records because they saw in her the potential to be an “international star.”

The Fil-Canadian performer, who started in the industry as the first champion of ABS-CBN’s Dance Kids in 2016, has grown a large social media following on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube with her viral dance covers. She previously earned the notice of international pop stars Selena Gomez, Cardi B, Blackpink and BTS. Earlier this year, she appeared as the Star Vixen on the hit TV series Riverdale.

Star Magic head Laurenti Dyogi said during the mediacon: “It’s a fact that she’s very talented. She’s known as a world-class dancer. Globally, she has exposure on Ellen DeGeneres (show), meron siyang exposure sa Riverdale... Sa dami niyang exposure, tested na siya sa galing sumayaw.”

Under Star Magic Records, Dyogi indicated that they are going to develop the teener into a “total performer” ready for international stardom.

“In the same way that she is committed to excel in dancing, she’s committed to excel in singing and performing. This is only the start of our plans to make AC an international star. She is young, she has the personality, she has a long way to go. She’s a good representative for the start of Star Magic Records,” he added.

As for AC, she sees her debut song as an opportunity to bridge the gap between Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and international listeners.

“I feel nowadays, the world has been very open to listening to songs from around the world, like for example, K-pop. (But I believe that) Filipinos have been taking over the world… So, this is just another way to get it out there. Especially because, I guess, one part is my being a Canadian. I’ll be able to spread that more over there since I was really born there. That’s my home. So, I guess that’s one part — sharing it with my friends. The song is also just all-English. So, everyone can relate to it.”

As a Star Magic Records artist, AC also dreams of international concert tours. “That’s definitely one of my biggest goals. But it’ll take time and patience, and hard work. So, I’m willing to do that and put myself through whatever it is I need to go through to be able to get to that point. And of course, when I am at that point, I’ll still keep going and working even harder just to show more.”

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN’s artist management arm vows to unveil more fresh and reinvented talents for its record label.

“There is a big ocean of opportunities out there and Star Magic will continuously seek out those opportunities for all our talents, whether locally or internationally. We had very lofty dreams and I know it would take a whole community working together to achieve all our aspirations,” Dyogi said.