Robin Nievera
Roberto Martin Fernandez Nievera (/njɛˈvɛərə/; born November 30, 1986) is a Filipino singer-songwriter and record producer.
At the time of this success, he was studying music production at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and serving as the vocalist and guitarist of an indie rock band.
He mounted his first solo concert in 2013, in support of his second album, Nightmares (2012), which he had independently made available a few months prior.
He signed with Homeworkz and released Dare, his third album which explored alternative pop, in stages throughout 2016,[a] during which he ventured into radio, hosting The Roadshow at Wish 107.5 until 2018.
In my school, you had to take either voice lessons, which meant reading notes – I didn't know how to do that – or learn piano, which looks very complicated because there are so many little keys.
"[5] A Philippine Daily Inquirer writer commented, "Robin Nievera is one fine blues guitar player.
The evidence is on all ten tracks on this debut album, whose title, Overwait, is rich with self-deprecating wit.
[19] Nievera performed songs from Overwait[21] as he opened for the American pop rock band Hanson on its Shout It Out World Tour in Manila on March 30, 2012.
"[25] He has stated that he would rather choose to become a producer in the long run: "My mom and dad have been singing for thirty years and counting.
"[25] In September 2012, Nievera won New Male Recording Artist of the Year for Overwait at the 4th PMPC Star Awards for Music.
[26] Nievera self-released Nightmares, his second album which he solely composed and produced, for free download from his website in December 2012.
[27] It was held at Teatrino Greenhills in San Juan, Metro Manila, and also featured songs from Overwait and performances by The John Sung Band and The Walkie Talkies whose members were Nievera's classmates in college.
[27] He was announced to host Daily Top Ten,[29] a music show of Viva TV[29] featuring up-and-coming Filipino musicians.
[30] Nievera was named Promising Male Singer / Performer of the Year at the 44th Box Office Entertainment Awards in May 2013.
"[29] He announced that his contract with PolyEast would expire at the end of the month, and he was "starting a new band but it's going to be an independent release.
"[29] Nievera had been conceptualizing a third album with his new band, which he was intending to release online for free download by June 2014.
[29] He was also reported to perform weekly at a newly opened music bar on Pioneer Street in Mandaluyong.
[29] Outside his music career, aside from hosting Daily Top Ten, Nievera had been selling real estate to be more productive.
[29] In February 2015, Nievera mentioned that he was developing his own web series featuring emerging musicians which was to be released on YouTube.
[33] He mounted a concert, The Next Attraction, at the Music Museum in San Juan, Metro Manila in July 2015, with Isabella Gonzalez, Paolo Valenciano, and Karylle (children of his parents' contemporaries, Kuh Ledesma, Gary Valenciano, and Zsa Zsa Padilla, respectively).
[39] The album consists of eight tracks;[39][41][42] the remaining songs were each released monthly thereafter,[41][42] accompanied by a music video as a promotion.
[45] He also guested as a DJ on The Roadshow, FM radio station Wish 107.5's early evening program,[44] in August 2016.
[55] Nievera grew up listening to artists such as Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, and Bon Iver, whom he cites among his biggest musical influences.
If you listen to him, he also likes Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and John Lee Hooker.
[47] The Manila Standard wrote, "Here is a guy who could've milked the same tried-and-tested pop star formula dry, but chose instead to shed himself of all the trappings of stereotype and clichéd commercial success.
"[40] Nievera has stated, "I love my parents' music and the songs that they've made in the past but I can't sing like my dad because his range is much higher than mine.
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.
News wrote, "His debut album Overwait luxuriates in blues-derived guitar riffarama, making you think the young Nievera could be distancing his own music from his parents' legacy.
But as the album progresses, the first blush leads to surprise that Martin's first-born ... could carve out his own musical identity.
"[41] In Dare (2016), his next album, he experimented with his genre and explored alternative pop:[40] "I usually write my songs on a guitar, and they usually turn out to be very riff-heavy.
