Morissette Amon (right) and Lani Misalucha
On the local music scene, Morissette Amon is one of the very few singers who can access the whistle register and incorporate its use into her singing. It’s a high-risk, high-reward feat—done correctly, this airy and piercingly high vocal embellishment is an instant showstopper; flub it and you have the makings of a viral online video.
But despite the volatile nature of whistle notes, Morissette still chooses to do them live onstage, even if it meant missing it once in a while. “Anything can happen during a performance, and not everything will ever be perfect,” she said at a press conference for “A Lani Morissette Musical Journey,” her upcoming concert with Lani Misalucha on Sept. 22 and 23 at The Theatre at Solaire.
“I still get nervous before I sing, because you just never know,” added Morissette, who had joined such talent searches as “Star Factor” and “The Voice of the Philippines.”
A few months ago, during a show in Cebu, she barely eked out her planned whistle in her performance of “Pangarap Ko ang Ibigan Ka.” The video of which spread on social media—not because of the bungled note per se, but because of what Morissette did after.
She didn’t let the situation rattle her. Instead, the 22-year-old recording artist composed herself before having a second go at it. She pulled it off—with extra riffs for good measure. And then, with a triumphant look on her face, she pointed to the raucous crowd and quipped, “Live!”
“I don’t know how I was able to save that moment,” she said. “You have to accept the fact that [mistakes] happen; you’re just human. But it’s an experience I can learn from.”
Messing up a note is one thing; losing your voice is another. Prior to her recent concert in Dubai, Morissette found herself panicking. All of a sudden, her voice was gone. It was so bad she had to take steroids just so she could do the show.
“It took 30 minutes before the medicine kicked in. But I’m glad we were able to work around the situation. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing to everyone who flew and traveled all the way to the venue,” she related. “I was on tour and I had gone to Canada and Australia. And I guess my body was already telling me to slow down.”
“I realized that I really have to look after myself … take care of my health,” added Morissette, who held her first major solo concert at Smart Araneta Coliseum in February.
In “A Lani Morissette Musical Journey” (call 891-9999), she will share the stage with the formidable songstress known as Asia’s Nightingale—something she feels pressured by.
“She’s a great performer who gives her all to the audience. I want to at least match her energy,” she said. “It’s an honor for a newer artist like me to perform with icons we look up to. Yes, I feel pressure, but it’s the good kind. And I hope it helps me do better.”
The concert will put the spotlight on their respective musical journeys through music. “There would be a good balance of unexpected songs and fan favorites … something that would highlight our stories and voices,” she said. “Lots of fans were actually asking on social media if we could do duets of showdowns on songs like ‘Never Enough.’ Let’s see.”