VETERAN singer Martin NieĀvera insists he is a better performer now than he ever was.
It comes with the territory, he says.
āAs you grow oldĀer you realize you have to put yourself out there more,ā he explains in a recent interview, notĀing how younger singers keep him on his toes.
āI mean, you just have to come out there and do your best or else youād be swamped, run over,ā he adds.
āNot only that,ā he blurts, inĀterrupting himself, āaudiences nowadays are really discrimiĀnating. They know when youāre just winging it.ā
Among young artists he adĀmits to fearing performing after is Morissette Amon.
He said, āHave you seen her? Grabe. You wouldnāt want to perĀform after that girl. Sobra. Sheās just so galing.ā
Martin says he feels the same fear performĀing with Lani MisaluĀcha.
He relates an inciĀdent: āThere was this one time they actually brought the curtains down after she perĀformed. They thought the show was over na. But it was actualĀly my show, not hers! So, my performance was cut short! Akala nila finale na!ā
It didnāt stop him from signing on to perform with Lani in āTimeless Classics,ā a concert slated on Feb. 14 at The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
āWell, it is because now I know how to deal with it ā we start and end the show together, wala nang solo-solo sa dulo, sabay na,ā he says.
The two have been performing toĀgether for some time now but Martin is adamant āTimeless Classicsā will be altogether different.
āLike I said, audiences in this day and age are really smart, they know when youāre just serving the same old dish,ā he says, going on to relate how they made āTimeless Classicsā diverse putĀting in numbers he and Lani rarely perĀform live.
āIād like to describe the concert as an appetizer of sorts, we made it so that it will really set you in the mood for roĀmance. Itās a Valentineās concert after all,ā Martin adds.
Note, however, Martin, doesnāt reĀally believe in celebrating Valentineās or any special holiday whatsoever, personally.
āIām not the kind of person,ā he says. āI would rather work on those dates. I donāt know. Thatās how I am. ValĀentineās, Christmas, New yearās Eve, I even work during my own birthday!ā (NEIL RAMOS)