Asia's Nightingale Lani Misalucha makes another short visit to the Philippines to promote her second album from Universal Records, Reminisce. The album, which she recorded in Las Vegas, Nevada, contains 14 best-loved songs with "Love of My Life" as the carrier single.
Other tracks include "Here, There, and Everywhere;" "Someone That I Used To Love;" "Healing;" "Bridges;" Love of My Life;" I Loved You All the Way;" "Get Here;" "Whispering Waves;" "Skyline Pigeon;" "Tin Man;" "Where Is The Love/Feel Like Making Love" medley; and "We Could Have It All."
The theme song of ABS-CBN's teleserye Iisa Pa Lamang, which Lani sang, is a bonus track.
ALL-COVERS ALBUM. In a mini-presscon held last August 11 at Universal Tower on Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, Lani met select members of the press, including PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), to talk about her new album, her life in Las Vegas, her future plans, among others.
Just like her self-titled album with Universal Records, Reminisce also contains purely cover songs.
Lani explained, "Ito muna talaga yung tema namin, just like the first one that we did, puro mga cover songs lang din ang ginamit namin. Secondly, ‘eto rin yung madali nang gawin, e. Kapag existing na yung mga songs, you'll just have to sing it your own way, your own version. At saka, yun na nga, convenient sa akin. Lahat ng mga ito, somehow, familiar songs so it would be easier for me to record it."
As mentioned earlier, Lani recorded all the songs in Las Vegas, where she is now based with her husband and their two daughters. "Nagsimula kami actually nung late last year, then we finished when I got back here. Lahat ng recording dun ginawa, ‘tapos meron lang little curing na ginawa namin dito," Lani said.
Her first album with Universal records really did well, a certified platinum going to double platinum. Is this the reason why she decided to do another cover album?
"Well, that's one of the reasons," admitted the singer. "Since it did good, why not do another one? Ano rin naman, e, wala rin naman akong bagong album. So might as well do it, you know. ‘Tsaka hindi naman talaga ako laging nandirito, hindi ako permanente rito. It would be nice if there's something they [her fans] can listen to while I'm not around."
When asked if she'll do an all-original compositions album anytime soon, she replied: "It will come soon. Hopefully next year. You know, when I'm not that busy."
Ever since she and her family migrated to the United States, Lani has been performing with the Society of 7 in some of the top hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. In fact, they just finished their contract with the Flamingo Hotel last April.
"Hopefully, babalik kami ng October with another casino, we just can't tell kung ano ‘yon," informed Lani. "Naka-break kami. Nung natapos kami sa Flamingo, nag-tour na lang muna kami ng Society of 7. Umikot-ikot muna kami hanggang sa mahilo kami! Umikot-ikot kami sa U.S., nagpunta kami ng Atlantic, Canada, marami kaming shows sa West Coast. So pagkatapos nun, ‘eto na, nandito na ako para magpatuloy yung utak ko na nagtatrabaho."
ELUSIVE DREAM. It is no secret that Lani also dreams of landing a recording contract in the U.S. and eventually penetrating the international recording scene. Almost five years after leaving the Philippines and getting glowing reviews for her stint in Las Vegas, Lani has yet to fulfill this dream.
"Kung darating siya, darating," she said. "If not, okay lang, yun lang. It's not something na talagang pinagpupursigihan ko. Good reviews doesn't really... Sometimes it really takes a lot of luck, just like what happened to Charice and Arnel Pineda [of the Journey]. You know, they're like YouTube wonders. You know sometimes, maispatan ka lang ng ganung tema, you're on your way. Hindi pa nangyayari sa akin, e!" Lani laughed.
Is she waiting for it to happen?
"Not really," Lani answered. "Alam mo sa totoo lang, ayoko talagang mag-expect. Hindi ako yung taong ‘eto ang gusto kong gawin ‘tapos hindi nangyari, madi-disappoint. Hindi naman ako yung klase ng tao na ‘pag merong bagay na hindi nangyari sa akin, e, madi-depress na ako. Kung may mangyari, why not?"
Is she giving herself time limit, that if it doesn't happen at a certain period of time, she'll give up and pursue other things?
"Yes," she immediately said. "Kung hindi man mangyari, meron pang ibang magagandang bagay na dapat kong pagtuunan, may iba pang mga bagay na puwede ko pang gawin."
Like her recording career here in the Philippines?
"Sa ngayon, tinutuunan ko talaga ‘tong album na ‘to hangga't nandirito ako. Pero ganun pa man, e, kasi dun [Las Vegas] ako nakatira, e. Dun kami nabubuhay ngayon, e. Hindi ko maaaring iwan kung ano yung ginagawa ko dun," Lani admitted.
THE ROAD TO AMERICA. Sinceit was not really her intention to pursue an international recording career, what was Lani's purpose in going to the United States at that time when she's still at the peak of her career?
"Isa pa lang yung anak namin ng husband ko, noon pa man nag-usap na kaming mag-asawa... Kasi actually, ako yung laging nagsasabi kay Noli [her husband] noon na ako yung nagpu-push ng idea na, ‘Nakikita mo ba yung sarili natin na magpatuloy ang buhay natin sa ibang lugar?' Wala akong ini-specify kung sa Amerika ba o sa Australia o sa Canada o sa Europa, wala. Pero sabi ko, ‘What do you think of the idea of leaving the [Philippines] and residing in another country.
"Sabi ng husband ko, ‘Bakit mo sinabi ‘yang idea na ‘yan wherein mahusay ang buhay natin dito sa Pilipinas, maayos naman tayong pamilya, meron naman tayong bubong sa ibabaw ng ulo natin?' In other words, si Noli, hindi niya ini-entertain yung idea na ‘yon. But still, that idea kept toying on my head.
"Hanggang sa malaki na yung dalawa naming anak, it was actually middle of 2002 na nagbabalak na talaga kami... Kumbaga, nag-give in na siya sa idea ko na manirahan na sa ibang bansa. And we were looking at Canada as a place to migrate to.
"Ako, yung time na ‘yon, sabi ko, ‘Okay na, na-experience ko na yung ganitong klaseng career. Nalaman ko na kung anong klase yung ganitong buhay na naging isang singer, naging isang recording artist, naging isang concert performer.' Sabi ko, ‘I guess this is enough.'
"Kasi lumabas lang naman ako sa music industry dito sa Philippines ng 1997; really, really late. Kaya nga tinawag akong late bloomer, e. And I wasn't that young anymore. I already had two kids and a husband, I was already a mother at that time. So iniisip ko na, ‘Wow, bonus na sa akin ‘to na hindi ko akalain na magiging singer ako.' So, sabi ko sa husband ko, ‘Okay na ‘to, na-experience ko na 'to. Somehow, nagkaroon tayo ng maliit na perang naipon, okay na sa akin ang mag-step back.' I wanna go back to the real Lani who's a mother and a wife.
"And then, nag-ano na nga kami ng mga papers. Ready na talaga kami. We were already ready. Hanggang sa we had this phone call na late 2003, there was an invitation for us to go the U.S. and see a show sa Las Vegas. There was an offer sa aming mag-asawa for a business sa U.S. Magmula noon, parang unti-unti nang nag-iiba yung course nung tina-travel naming mag-asawa. Hanggang, finally, we found ourselves in America instead of Canada," Lani narrated.
Lani clarified that they are not American citizens yet.
"Immigrant kami, hindi kami citizen," she said. "Ano pa lang kami doon, magpa-five years pa lang kami. E, di ba, doon kailangan mong mag-ano ng five years bago ka mag-apply ng citizenship? E, wala pa naman kami limang taon, magli-limang taon pa lang. Although, resident kami doon."
THE RETURN. Now that she has recorded another album, is this a sign that she will return to the Philippines?
"Alam mo, babalik talaga ako, babalik. It's just a matter of the question na when. Sa ngayon nga, somehow na-establish na namin yung buhay naming mag-asawa doon, ‘tsaka yung mga anak ko very comfortable na doon. At saka ako rin naman, napakakumportable ng buhay ko doon. Kumportable hindi dahil there's enough resources or there's enough money, no. Kumportable yung lifestyle, the kind of set-up kung ikukumpara dito. Mas gusto ko yung ganung klaseng set-up.
"So, hindi ko talaga masabi na babalik ba ako dito in a matter of two years or three years? Hindi ko masabi. But kung babalik ako dito, malamang yun yung time na mga retiring age na kaming mag-asawa... Ang sama, ano?!
"No, no, no..." she clarified. "You know what, bakit ka naman hindi mag-iisap ng retirement kung may sapat ka nang pera para masuportahan mo yung ano... Kasi alam mo sa Amerika, lahat dun, kailangan mong i-prepare yung sarili mo for your retirement, e. Lahat dun kailangan mong iprepara, Lahat. Kapag ikaw doon hindi ka handa, pupulutin ka sa basurahan. Yun ang mga nakikita ko sa mga puti, sa mga Amerikano, o kung sino mang tao na nakatira sa Amerika. Kasi otherwise, wala talaga.
"Tingnan mo doon, ha. You have to have a life insurance, a medical insurance, your house should be insured...lahat doon. Kapag ikaw meron kang trabaho ngayon, kailangan mong i-prepare yung sarili mo, you should have an IRA [Individual Retirement Account], wherein in the future ‘pag wala ka nang trabaho, meron kang matatanggap. Hindi katulad dito sa atin, di ba, matapos ka nang magtrabaho, nandiyan ang anak mo, andiyan ang mga pamangkin mo to look after you.
"So, you'll never know. Malay mo, pumalpak yung economy ng Amerika. Wala rin naman akong pupuntahan kundi dito. But then again, sa ngayon, okay ang buhay namin dun."
CONCERT TOUR WITH REGINE. After her promo tour here in the Philippines, Lani will return to the United States to prepare for her back-to-back concert tour there with Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez, titled The Main Event, in September. The schedule is as follows: Sept. 6, Los Angeles; Sept. 16, San Francisco; Sept. 19, Chicago; Sept. 20, New Jersey; and Sept. 21, Toronto.
Although Lani and Regine used to be co-hosts in SOP, they never had a back-to-back concert. How does it feel like working with Regine for the first time in a major concert?
"Itong Regine-Lani is a long overdue concert," revealed Lani. "Dapat ‘to nangyari na ‘to nung 2003, I think... Siguro we were busy, actually, siya yung talagang matinding busy. Ako rin naman, although what makes me busy naman kasi hindi lang naman career ang inaasikaso ko. I still have my personal life to attend to.
"This is really something I'm very excited. Ano ‘to, ito yung I'm pretty sure—hindi naman sa nagbubuhat ako ng bangko—pero ito yung something na alam kong inaabangan ng mga tao."
Lani also gave a hint that after their U.S. concert tour, the Filipinos will be able to witness this once-in-a lifetime event next year.
"Isa yun sa magandang part, na somehow pasasabikin namin yung mga tao. Dun [sa U.S.] muna mauna, bago dito sa Pilipinas," she said.
Lani celebrated her 39th birthday last August 3.