Thinking the dust had settled on his professional singing career, Nef Medina braced for a life outside entertainment even after placing second in The Clash 2019. 

Six years later, the Caviteño singer is back inside the Clash Arena– this time more learned, less distracted, and determined to beat his 2019 self. 

“It’s either mahigitan ko yung Nef before o mas magaling talaga yung dati. Yun yung multo ko ngayon, yung Nef ba ngayong season mas magaling sa Season 2? Kalaban ko yung sarili ko. This time, kailangan mas malupit ka dun sa batang yun,” he told GMA Regional TV News in an exclusive interview. 

Back in Season 2, Nef emerged as one of the grand finalists in The Clash, butting heads in the finals round with the likes of eventual champion Jeremiah Tiangco, Queendom diva Thea Astley, and Sparkle singer Jennifer Maravilla. 

Nef considers his prior The Clash experience as his greatest strength in the competition, believing that there is an advantage in familiarity and the sense of comfort as someone who has gone through its rigors. 

“Alam mo yung art of knowing? Kumbaga nakapunta nako dito sa GMA, alam ko na yung mga nangyayari sa The Clash. Though syempre may twist, pero kahit papaano handa na yung sarili ko sa mga pwede kong i-expect,” he explained, pertaining to his bulk of experience from being a former grand finalist himself. 

“As a clashbacker, napapansin kong edge sa mga bago is may kaba pero hindi tulad nung first season ko six years ago. Every time nandito ako takot akong kumilos, laging may facade na kailangan ganito ganyan. So di ako maka-focus sa songs ko, or sa contest proper, lagi akong focused sa ibang bagay,” he furthered. 

Nef believes that having joined Season 2 has given him more leeway to focus on his craft, eliminating all other distractions he claims he had already overcome during his first stint. 

“Dahil na-experience ko na sya once in my life, naka focus ako sa pagsasaayos nung piece– kung paano inarrange, kung paano ko sya pinlano, dun lang ako naka-focus,” he noted, 

During the six-year span between his two The Clash stints, Nef also claims to have conjured important realizations that are helpful to his performance, one of which is drinking cold water before singing. 

“To be honest kasi as a singer hindi ako masyado ma-ritual… Pero nadiscover ko na ang ice cold water or ice cold brew, pag uminom ako bago kumanta, effective for me. Kasi noon ang sabi nila salabat daw o kung anu anong iniinom ng mga singer, pero yung trick pala sa akin is tipid lang– yelo at tubig. Yun yung bago sa routine ko,” he shared. 

“The Clash nga ito, so kailangan ko pumalag kahit mahirap. Yun yung gusto kong madala sa Clash Arena nitong 2025, na kahit nakikita kong sobrang galing nila, kailangan yung mindset– papalag tayo. Magaling din tayo,” Nef told GMA Regional TV News in an exclusive interview.

Needless to say, Nef is more than locked in as he braces for a second crack at the coveted The Clash title. 

“Para sa akin, sino ba ang makakaisip na after six years nandito ako ulit? Na may chance na binigay ulit, yung akala mong wala na, nagkaroon ulit ako ng another chance to prove na totoong may Diyos, kaya ako nandito kasi binigyan Niya ako ng chance na maabot ang pangarap ko.”

Second round of The Clash 2025 started last Sunday, July 6, with Nef and his fellow Top 12 finalists set for an all-out sing-off inside the Clash Arena. 

The Clash airs at 7:15 p.m. on Sundays only on GMA-7.