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Lani Misalucha marks her powerful comeback with her first solo concert in a decade, in Still Lani, a deeply personal show that confronts and transcends her self-doubt.

At the media conference prepared by its producer, Backstage Manila, on Friday, July 18, Atty. Nate Quijano mentioned that the upcoming is Asia's Nightingale's powerful declaration of resilience.

“It's not an idea coming from, 'Oh, let's just do a comeback concert after 40 years.' It's actually a question, 'Kaya ko pa ba? Do I actually belong here?' Doon nanggaling 'yung idea na this is a concert that has to have a purpose and a meaning.

“I'm very happy that everyone joining in the production understands this purpose. Kasi, we tried to conceptualize so that it would tell a story: Lani's resilience and a voice that chose not to quit,” he shared with the entertainment media, including GMANetwork.com.

During the Q&A segment, Lani admitted that she had doubts about whether she could still pull off this concert.

After surviving bacterial meningitis in October 2020, Lani emerged with partial deafness, a vestibular disorder, and persistent tinnitus. She went through months of retraining her voice and coping with dizziness and uncertainty, even confessing that at times she wondered if singing would ever be possible again.

“Totoo 'yun, nasabi ko talaga sa sarili ko na ayaw ko nang kumanta. Paano pa ako kakanta kung hindi ko na naririnig ang boses ko, hindi na ako nakakarinig ng music. I really did that to myself. I really don't want to sing anymore.

“Yes, I wanted to stop right there, especially after naming kumanta doon sa The Clash, 'yung parang Christmas presentation namin. I didn't realize na I was really out of tune, 'yun talaga 'yun. In the backstage, I was trying not to cry kasi hindi ako nakakakanta nang matino. So, sabi ko sa sarili ko, I don't wanna sing anymore.”

But Lani did not let her situation take away her hope

"Sa totoo lang, di ba, mahirap 'yun kapag nao-overcome ka ng doubts, 'di ba? What I try to do is pray so hard na hindi mag-overtake 'yung doubts. Kasi, otherwise, you won't be able to function. Wala na kapag natalo ka na ng doubts.

"So, that's what I try to do, I try to pray, I try to meditate, and be surrounded with positive people, positive vibes. I think 'yun ang magiging power mo, kapag na-overcome mo ang lahat ng ito. I think magiging mas malakas ka.

With encouragement from her family and friends and her strong will to return to the concert scene, she decided to make a comeback.

“Yes, I'm going to admit that, 'Kaya ko pa ba?' Kasi nga, given 'yung medical situation ko ngayon, kakayanin ko pa nga ba? But if I'm not going to do it, I won't be able to know, I won't be able to find out. The only way to find out is to do it,” Lani said.

She added, “This is going to be my first time again to do a solo concert. I think the last solo concert that I did was several years ago. Ito lang 'yung time na ipo-prove ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko pa, especially what happened to me in 2020. This is also going to be a testament for me that even in my current situation and sa ganitong edad, I still can do it and I can still offer people the kind of music they expect from me.”

Lani Misaluch (in white T-shirt) with (from left) producer Backstage Manila executive Atty. Nate Quijano; and Lani's concert guests Paeng Sudayan; Shaira Opsimar; Ben&Ben members Paolo Benjamin and Miguel Benjamin Guico, and Andrew de Pano; and Leanne and Naara. (Courtesy: Nherz Almo)

Working with young music artists

Joining Lani in her comeback concert are Ben&Ben, Leanne and Naara, and theater actors-singers Shaira Opsimar and Paeng Sudayan.

“Nakita n'yo naman kung gaano kabata ang mga kasama ko. 'Yun 'yung…. Hindi, talagang matanda lang ako kaya kasama ko ang mga bata,” she said in jest.

Lani then explained that besides wanting to work with these music artists, she also wants to reach out to younger audience.

“Unang-una, I wanted to reach out to the generation now, which they call the Generation Z and millennials. So, isang way din 'yun. At saka, why not? Itong mga 'to, talented itong mga ito,” she said.

On their part, the young music artists feel fortunate for being part of the Still Lani concert.

Andrew de Pano of Ben&Ben said that the band was surprised when they found out about it.

“Sabi namin, 'Hala! Seryoso? Super excited kami. Anything is possible,'” he said.

Miguel Benjamin Guico added, “It's such an honor to be part of it. When we heard kung sino pa 'yung mga kasama, it's such a great collective of different artists.”

Scheduled for August 21 at The Theatre at Solaire, Still Lani features a stripped-down production led by a 40-piece orchestra under Toma Cayabyab, son of National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, and will be directed by Calvin Neria.

“We are really excited to give you a really good show. This is not just a concert. It's a concert of love, a concert of resilience, and a concert of proving one's love for life. So, I would really want everyone to see this show,” Lani concluded.

Meanwhile, here are some fun facts about Lani Misalucha: