People find comfort in lyrics and melodies, that is why, when it comes to heartaches and breakups, music often becomes a powerful ally. It’s for the same reason that many Filipinos turn to the soothing melodies of Original Pilipino Music (OPM), with its emotional yet relatable lyrics becoming soundtracks to countless heartaches.
In the world of OPM and its relatable lyrics, we could list a hundred names of local artists who have resonated with their listeners for decades. But for sure, “Asia’s Diamond Soul Siren” Nina’s name would definitely be there.
From her classic songs “Someday” and “Jealous” to her hit song covers of “Love Moves in Mysterious Ways” and “Through the Fire,” Nina has become the singer you hear on every radio station every day. A lot of OPM listeners might agree that on her long list of songs, there’s one track they can relate to and somehow feel like a warm hug on a cold night.
Hearing this, Nina felt touched that her hits have become someone’s go-to song during heartbreak and difficult times.
“It’s very heartwarming to know that every time they feel an emotion or experience something in their lives—happiness, sadness, thrill, excitement—I’m the first one they think of. It’s nice to think that even though they’re older and have grown along with my songs, they also share them with their children,” Nina told Manila Standard Entertainment.
When asked if she also eventually found healing in her songs, Nina went deep on how she incorporated a part of herself into every song she recorded, trying to feel and relate to the lyrics she sang.
“Probably because when I recorded all the songs in my album, I tried to think about the stories or the experiences that I had in my life, and then I incorporated them into my songs,” she said.
Being in the industry for decades, Nina also shared that maybe the reason why people feel so connected to her songs is that she tries to include her real experiences and puts her heart and soul into every song.
“That’s probably why a lot of people say, ‘Why does it feel like you’re feeling it when you sing your songs?’ Because the reason is, it actually happened to me, and then I just put it into the song. When I sing, I feel like this is what happened to me. So I need to feel it, and I also put the other experiences of mine and my friends into the song,” she added.
Now that she’s having her birthday soon, the Soul Siren revealed that she’s already happy and content with what’s been happening in her life and career but is also excited about what the future has in store for her.
“You wouldn’t know what’s gonna come next in the future yet. That’s why I’m happy and content now. And if there are a lot more bonuses and blessings to come, why not? It’s so exciting to think about that,” Nina stated.
To celebrate her birthday, Nina is treating her fans to a night of nostalgia by singing her classic and hit songs at her upcoming concert, Love, Nina, happening on Oct. 30 at The Theatre at Solaire.
