SOP mainstay Jan Nieto launches debut album

Between a corporate career and show business, ex-Philippine Idol aspirant Jan Nieto would definitely pick the latter.

"Mas masaya to, e," Jan candidly told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) while signing copies of his eponymous debut album under iMusic—the label co-owned by Ogie Alcasid and fiancée, Regine Velasquez.

The 27-year-old singer absolutely knows what he's talking about. A graduate of Management Engineering at the Ateneo de Manila University, Jan immediately joined the corporate rat race for a couple of years before deciding to pursue a lifelong passion—music.

Jan's first stop was ABC-5's singing competition Philippine Idol in 2006 where he lost to champion Mau Marcelo. Settling for a runner-up finish, according to Jan, was not a bad thing at all.

"It was my first real singing competition," he proudly looked back. And with that, he bid the corporate world behind for an exciting yet uncertain career as a professional singer.

WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME. Since joining the music industry, Jan has accumulated quite a number of recognitions: 2008 Outstanding Pampagueno in the Field of Music in the Crisostomo Soto Awards, 2008 Outstanding Balladeer of the People's Choice Consumers Awards, and a nomination as Best New Male Performer in the 2008 Aliw Awards.

Despite appearing in ABS-CBN's Sunday noontime music variety show, ASAP, Jan eventually signed up with GMA Network and was given a slot in SOP Rules. Dubbed as the "Hunky Idol" during his Philippine Idol stint, Jan participated in the compilation album titled, Philippine Idol: The Final 12, where he rendered the Ryan Cayabyab penned classic, "Tuwing Umuulan At Kapiling Ka."

He was commissioned by the Kapuso Network to interpret the theme songs of two of its primetime soaps: Kamandag and Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang. Jan also sang the theme song of the indie film, Paupahan, titled "Sangandaan."


Jan is also part of the singing group You've Got Male composed of Harry Santos, Bryan Termulo, and Gian Magdangal. They perform regularly on GMA-7's Sunday concert party, SOP.

DEBUT ALBUM. Bolstered by these achievements and a newfound confidence, Jan entered the recording studio early last year to wax his debut album. It actually took him over a year to finish owing to other commitments.

Jan shared: "The very first song na ni-record ko dito is ‘yong ‘Fall In Love (With You Again).'It was recorded on January 31, 2008 so more than a year ago. Then medyo nag-stop kami, nag-busy sa ibang things and then we started going full blast na into the album, it was around August na of last year so natapos namin siya nung November. Then everything else, ‘yong mga printing so natapos kami January na of this year."

In what can be described as a brave move for newcomer, Jan was very particular to release an album composed of original materials. "Except ‘yong isa," he quickly clarified, referring about the Ogie Alcasid song, "Sa Puso Ko"—a song included in Ogie's 2002 double platinum disc, A Better Man.

A self-confessed OPM (Original Pilipino Music) fanatic, Jan counts a bulk of classic Filipino songs on top of his list.

"OPM boy talaga ko ever since," he proudly enthused. "Trivia d'yan, the very first song na na-memorized ko mga 6 o 7 years-old yata ako is ‘My Love Will See You Through' ni Marco Sison. ‘Yon habang tumatanda ako ‘yong mga nagiging idol ko sina Martin Nievera, si Ogie Alcasid."

That is why it was such a big honor for Jan that Ogie produced his first album and even penned the carrier single, "Bakit Kailangan Pang Lumayo," which incidentally is the theme song of the upcoming indie film, Marino, where Jan is part of the cast.

"Dream come true sa akin na ‘yong idol ko, isa sa mga idols ko, si Ogie yong nag-produce ng album tapos nagbigay pa siya ng mga songs."

Jan's self-titled album will be launched this Sunday, March 29, at SOP. He will also embark in a series of mall shows to promote the album: SM Bacoor (April 4), SM Lipa (April 5), SM Clark (April 17), SM San Fernando (April 18), SM Manila (April 19), SM Baliwag (April 25), SM Marilao (April 26), SM Molino (May 3), SM Baguio (May 8), SM Rosales (May 9), SM Batangas (May 16), SM San Lazaro (May 17), and SM Fairview (May 29).

Jan Nieto's self-titled debut album is released under IndiMusic and distributed by Universal Records.

TRACK LISTING.

1. Sana Naman
2. Fall In Love (With You Again)
3. Bakit Kailangan Pang Lumayo
4. Is There A Way?
5. Sa Puso Ko
6. Sangandaan
7. Devastated
8. Holding On
9. Together
10. Galing ng Ginang