Robin carves own musical path

Taken at the album launch of Robin Nievera (left) which was also the eve of his 30th birthday, with dad Martin, mom Pops and brother Ram

I have been friends with Pops Fernandez and Martin Nievera for over three decades. That’s why I could not help feeling nostalgic at the album launch (“Dare”) of their firstborn, Robin, at The Brewery.

It coincided with the eve of Robin’s 30th birthday (on Nov. 30). I suddenly felt so old, because I used to attend his kiddie parties. Mart ribbed Pipay, “Finally, you have a son who’s older than you.” It was heartwarming to see the couple in a group hug with the birthday boy. Though Martin and Pops already lead separate lives, they are eternally linked by their two sons (Robin and Ram).

Robin’s girlfriend, Zia Quizon, gamely sang “Happy Birthday” onstage as her “love” blew his birthday candles. The cute couple is not the schmaltzy type. Being the musicians they are, they like to play it cool.

The launch was a full house. Robin mesmerized us with his guitar wizardry and vocal prowess. He isn’t out to dethrone his celebrated parents, the Concert King and Queen, but Rob is out to create a throne all his own.

Here’s my chat with Robin:

If you could revive any of your dad’s songs, which would it be and why? It would be “On the Right Track.” My dad and I have a lot of the same musical inspirations, but we don’t belong to the same genre as artists.

It’s guitar-driven and musically intense. That’s pretty much how I would write my songs today, especially the upbeat numbers. I’ve done “I’ll Be There for You” many times with him, with just an acoustic guitar, but I would totally put a lot of thought into “On the Right Track.”

Is it a conscious effort to veer away from your parents’ music genre? My parents are in a genre of music that they’ve made their own. Every artist is different. I don’t think I was made to sing their genre even if I tried with full force. I was never trying to veer away from it; I just knew that I wasn’t made for it. Their voices are light-years better than mine, and I had to creatively figure out a way to make my sound interesting to be relevant.

Robin Nievera

Are there songs for them in the album? I write a lot of songs. Some are for people in my life, while others are inspired by experiences that I personally go through. From the eight songs I wrote for “Dare,” I did not write a song for my parents. The songs are about my experiences as a struggling artist.

Writing original music is a gift. But everyone tells me to veer away from it because “it doesn’t sell.” There’s nothing wrong with covers. Covers are great. But we have amazing writers, and their songs are going to waste, which is why the songs in my album are for them. This album is me daring them to sing their own songs because they deserve to be heard.

What’s the toughest part about stepping out of your parents’ shadow? I see this question differently. For me to “step out of their shadows” means I have to be following in their footsteps. I don’t think I will ever be the next “Concert King.” It isn’t something I want. I will continue to be me. The most difficult part about this is how everyone will always compare me to them. There’s nothing anyone can do about that—and I’ll always be grateful for that. But I’m not like them. I will sing with them, and sing for them, but I’ll be singing for the next set of music fans.

(“Dare” is produced by Robin under Homeworkz Digital Distribution, and is available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon MP3, Google Play, Napster, Apple Music, Tidal, and YouTube Music, among others.)

The cost of Christmas shopping is worth it at “PamasCong Handog” sale, since it’s for a good cause. Troop to the Southwing Lobby of the Batasan Complex on Dec. 6 and 7 and get your hands on designer items preloved by favorite celebrities or congresswomen. Proceeds will raise funds for the newly opened drug rehabilitation center in Nueva Ecija.