How icons Martin and Lani stay relevant
Martin Nievera and Lani Misalucha have been in the business for decades now, yet they remain in demand amid the rise of younger singers.
Martin Nievera and Lani Misalucha have been in the business for decades now, yet they remain in demand amid the rise of younger singers.
Martin, who started his career 35 years ago, has released many hit songs and is still seen on ABS-CBN’s musical variety show “ASAP.” Lani, on the other hand, is ever present in the concert scene even abroad.
The two are doing a concert titled “Masquerade” on Feb. 14 and 15 at the Solaire Resort and Casino.
“The most heartwarming thing here is that we can still sell out a venue this late in our career. But even bigger than that ay ’yung
tiwala niyo for the artists: Myself, Lani, Regine and Gary and others. To have a venue like Solaire, Mall Of Asia (MOA), abroad – whether we make a gazillion bucks or not – coupled with the fact that people go, it means we must be doing something right,” Martin said.
But, like other artists, Martin and Lani have experienced ups and downs in their career. They acknowledge that staying in the game is much tougher now. The two know they need to keep up with trends, aside from promoting themselves through their albums, concerts and TV shows.
“Nagiiba na ’yung landscape,” Lani said. “Kailangan namin sumakay sa bandwagon, otherwise, maiiwan kami.” Technology and social media are some of the ways that help them connect with fans. Martin said, though, that mystery diminishes as daily activities of artists can now be captured online, such as the use of Facebook Live, Instagram and other sites. “It’s important for people like us to listen to the more experienced – and they happen to be more experienced than us (when it comes to using technology). I just know that if we alienate ourselves from all of these, I guess we’ll miss the bus,” he said. Being in the industry for many years already, and having done multiple shows, prove challenging to veteran singers such as themselves. “Iyon lagi ang unang pumapasok sa isip namin. ‘Ano pa ’yung pwede naming ibigay or hindi pa nila nakikita? Ano pa ’yung gusto nilang madinig?’ Siyempre, iyon ang una namin priority, ’yung makikinig sa amin. Kasi sila ’yung bibili, mag-eeffort pumunta, tahakin ang traffic,” she said.
Martin shared they always think how they can reinvent themselves and outdo their last performance. He is thankful that many of his fans still want him singing his tried and tested old hits.
“Every day of a singer’s life, he or she is trying to reinvent himself. But they keep forgetting that the people are depending on them to sing their hits even if pagod na pagod na kami or sawang-sawa na kami sa songs that were hits a long time ago. It’s hard to come up with a show that will please them all. The best show to watch is where the performer doesn’t want to please them all, or doesn’t stick only to their hit. They experiment. Our bread and butter really are the people who have kept us in this business,” he said.
Working with each other in “Masquerade” concert is a breeze for Martin and Lani. The two have worked in several shows and concerts together in the past. “’Yung pagiging gentleman niya. Kahit kanino, he’ll be really nice to people. He would open doors for you. When we’re rehearsing, kapag alam niyang nilalamig ako, he would offer his jacket. I think ’yung mga simpleng bagay na ganoon makes him sexy,” she said.
Martin also admitted always being on his toes when performing with Lani. The concert king admires Lani’s work ethics, her personality and her relationWhile ship with her husband.
“The way she loves her husband, the way she takes care of her husband is very sexy. They’ve been together for 26 years already and they’re still all over each other. It’s a side you need to see. They finish each other’s sentences, they’re there for each other. I think it’s a great combination. It’s very sexy to see it because nowadays it’s all about competition, whose star will shine brighter, but not in their marriage.” he said.
he spoke fondly of Lani and her husband, Martin was reserved when asked about his lady love.
“I cannot unmask her because I want her life to be nice and not full of showbiz questions and judgmental people, bashers, and so forth. Everybody wants you to have the kind of girl that they want (for you). I don’t want to put her through that,” he said.
‘Ano pa ’yung pwede naming ibigay sa audience or ’yung hindi pa nila nakikita? Ano pa ’yung gusto nilang madinig?’ Iyon ang una naming ’ priority. – Lani
Love stories in songs
In “Masquerade,” Martin and Lani will serenade their audiences with songs covering different stages of love, from courtship and heartbreak to everlasting love.
“So you need to be there, it’s an ultimate throwback because we decided to do talagang love songs, tailor-made for lovers, future lovers, for past lovers, for the brokenhearted and anything that has to do with the heart, we will cover it. Let your stories and secrets be told in the lyrics of our songs. Valentine’s is a time for lovers and lovers usually come wearing some sort of a façade and that can be found in the lyrics we’re going to sing that night,” Martin said. (With report from Jojo P. Panaligan)
I just know that if we alienate ourselves from all of these (changes in the music scene), I guess we’ll miss the bus. – Martin