Being called an R&B pillar is no small distinction, but for Asia’s ‘Diamond Soul Siren’, Nina, the title is both a badge of honor and a reminder of how far she has come.
“It’s always an honor to have a tag attached to your name,” admitted Nina. “It’s always flattering. I embrace it.”
Two decades since she first reshaped the local music landscape, Nina stands at a milestone that few artists ever reach. Her upcoming concert, ‘Nina @XX’, is not merely another show, it is a celebration of the 20th anniversary of her landmark album, Nina Live!. The record went on to achieve the coveted Diamond Record Award, cementing her status as the best-selling OPM female artist of all time.
Yet beyond the accolades and record-breaking sales lies a performer whose greatest love has always been the stage.
“Every time I step on the live concert stage, it always feel new for me,” said Nina. “Gusto ko talaga siya. I really enjoy performing live. Even if I’m not feeling well or I’m really sick, performing live gives me energy. Other people see that and they are happy for me.”
Long before the awards and arena concerts, Nina was a shy young singer who preferred blending into the background of a live band rather than stepping into the spotlight as a recording artist. Her early years saw her performing with groups such as MYMP, The Big Thing, Silk, and Essence, immersed in the raw, electric intimacy of live music.
Her breakthrough came in 2002 with her debut album, ‘Heaven’, released under Warner Music Philippines. The album introduced her to a wider audience and became career-defining, but it also pushed her beyond her comfort zone.
“The people got to know that I love singing live more than doing an album,” she said. “Before that, I was singing live with a band and that was what I loved to do. I guess I surprised a lot of people because I love to sing live.”
The transition was daunting. Recording meant interviews, press conferences, and constant public visibility, territory unfamiliar to someone who described herself as intensely shy.
“You had the feeling you want to fit in,” she shared. “During my time, there were other artists who were also starting. I was a really shy girl. I didn’t want to be a recording artists. I only wanted to become a live band singer. That was okay with me.”
“When you’re a recording artist, that comes with all the performances, all the entertainment, all the interviews, press conferences,” Nina said. “As a person, I was really very shy. When they told me to try recording an album, that was where it started.”
Supported by a team that believed in her, she slowly stepped into her power.
“Warner really pushed me and told me, ‘Sige, kaya mo ‘yan.’ They helped me with everything, They told me to surround myself with people who will help me do better. Through time and experience, fake without getting ashamed of yourself, even at home you are really very shy behind the camera.”
Even as her career soared, Nina remained grounded. She completed her degree in Accounting at Miriam College, proving that discipline extended beyond the stage.
That same discipline has preserved her voice through years of relentless touring and live performances.
“Sa voice ko, I take care of my voice and all the important things that need to be done,” she said. “Sometimes, experimental din because sometimes, the weather gets different.
“I just really take of myself, first and foremost. I discipline myself – in what I eat, the hours I devote to rest and sleep, take care of my body. I exercise daily. I sweat daily. ‘Yung mga bawal na food, hindi ko kinakain. Talagang kailangan ng discipline.”
Today, she describes herself as more confident, though still naturally reserved.
“I still get shy at times, especially when I’m not onstage or I’m not in front of the camera, I’m not boisterous. I’m still a very calm performer.”
Part of Nina’s enduring appeal lies in her mastery of reinterpretation. Her ability to transform well-loved songs into deeply personal performances has made many listeners believe the songs were originally hers.
Take ‘Love Moves in Mysterious Ways’, originally by Julia Fordham.
“There are some people who don’t know I sing only the cover of a particular song, but they know the song in my album. That’s a great feeling that you gave justification to the song you only recorded.”
Like Julia Fordham’s ‘Love Moves in Mysterious Ways’, many people don’t know that is not Nina’s original. There were some people who thought, I originally sang that. It’s very flattering, although I don’t own the song. But that song can be for a special someone or for a friend whom you care about. Not just for lovers.”
For Nina, covers are not limitations but opportunities, bridges across generations and genres.
“You give reference to different genres of music,” she said.
Nina @XX is a celebration of legacy.
Set at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, ‘Nina @XX’ promises more than nostalgia. It is a reimagining of the songs that shaped her career, delivered with new arrangements and renewed passion. She reunites with her long-time musical director, Soc Mina, and collaborates with the brilliant concert director Calvin Murphy Neria to create a show that goes beyond a simple jam session.
‘Nina @XX’ is a production of Echo Jham Entertainment Productions, with May Arenas as producer.
“Since it’s the anniversary of the album, we are doing songs from the first album but with a different twist,” said Nina. “I will work with my long-time musical director, Soc Mina. He was my musical director in the concert, ‘Very Manilow,’ where we got an Aliw Award in 2007.”
Joining her onstage are Jay Durias, Kris Lawrence, and Thor, artists who, like her, understand the power of live performance.
As she reflects on the industry’s evolution, from full-length albums to streaming-era singles, Nina remains adaptable and optimistic.
“Can you still come out with an album today?” she asked. “These days, more like singles na lang ang nare-release. I can do that on Spotify.”
She is also open to collaborating with younger artists, eager to blend her seasoned artistry with fresh voices.
“If I can work with all of them, why not?” Nina said. “I can try singing with most of them, no one specific now. I am always focused on doing live gigs that fill up my schedule. That’s what keeps me busy.”
As she marks two decades since the release of ‘Nina Live!’, the album that earned her Diamond status, Nina looks ahead with the same hunger she had as a young band singer.
In the next 20 years of her career, Nina is looking at “more albums, more concerts, more shows,” if her voice will still allow and more people will still love to watch her perform.
The Diamond Soul Siren’s journey is not simply about sales milestones or industry titles. It is about a voice that found its truest expression under stage lights, a shy girl who grew into a commanding performer, and a singer who continues to draw strength from every note she sings live.
For Nina, every concert is still new. Every song still matters. And at XX, the celebration is not just of an album—but of a legacy still unfolding.
