Sonnet Serenade

Bio

Sonnet Serenade

A cosmic duo into one story.

Lexi – Singer, Songwriter

Lexi is a singer and songwriter originally from Mililani, Hawaii with roots that stretch to Hilo, Hawai’i and Portland, Oregon. She always loved singing and performing ever since she could remember. She began performing for public audiences at 7 years old under the guidance of Malama Puahi, where her love for music and songwriting first took flight. By age 11, she continued vocal training with Kristi Kashimoto-Rowbottom and went on to compete in local and national competitions until age 18 such as Spotlight, Don Ho Grill’s Al Waterson & You Karaoke Contest, and Brown Bags to Stardom at 17. She also had the honor of performing the National Anthem and Hawai‘i Pono I at UH basketball and volleyball games.

At age 15, Lexi was diagnosed with leukemia and underwent chemotherapy, total body irradiation, and a bone marrow transplant. Even during treatment, she never stopped singing. Just a year later, she performed at events for organizations like Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Ronald McDonald House Hawai‘i, and Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i.

She continued to develop her artistry while attending Leeward Community College, performing with the College Chorus and Hawaiian Ensemble. After graduating in 2016, Lexi took a break from music to pursue a career in Applied Behavior Analysis, working with children on the autism spectrum.

In 2020, during the pandemic, she reconnected with her voice through lessons with vocal coach Kauiolani Mead, who helped her rediscover the power of songwriting as a tool for healing and expression.

In 2024, Lexi was inspired to start making music with her boyfriend, Emmanuel—forming the acoustic duo Sonnet Serenade. The pair began booking live gigs in early 2025 and started recording their first single soon after.

Emmanuel - Guitarist, Composer

Emmanuel’s musical journey began at age 11, when the sounds of his seminary classmates sparked a deep curiosity for the guitar. Before long, he was performing as a guitarist for the school choir and co-founded Liquid State, a high school band formed with Don Michael Perez—who would later turn all four chairs on The Voice Philippines and place fourth in the competition. The band gained recognition in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, competing in local Battle of the Bands events and earning airtime on Campus Radio, a station known for spotlighting rising talent.

Although Emmanuel was accepted into the prestigious University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music in Manila, he set aside his musical pursuits to meet family expectations. Fifteen years later, that passion returned stronger than ever. He studied under renowned Filipino guitarist Perfecto De Castro and stepped back onto the stage with renewed purpose.

Now based in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, Emmanuel is active in the local music scene, performing regularly while studying full-time in the Music & Entertainment Learning Experience (MELE) program at Honolulu Community College. Rooted in his journey and inspired by the power of storytelling through music, Emmanuel is committed to creating songs that speak to the human spirit. As both a guitarist and songwriter, he crafts music that empowers people to find their voice, embrace their story, and discover the hero within.