Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Musician and pop icon Gary Valenciano is turning the spotlight on up and coming artists in the last instalment of his Gary V. Presents concerts later this month.
“It’s just gonna be a show that I’m going to try and feature the best of these artists that I truly believe in… It’s paying it forward,” Valenciano told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
His upcoming concerts for Gary V. Presents: The Season Finale are set on May 12, 13, 19, and 20 at The Theatre at Solaire, Paranaque.
The concert will feature names handpicked by Valenciano, particularly Bullet Dumas, Allan Salonga, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, Janice Javier, Jimmy Marquez, Lara Maigue, Katrina Velarde, Kiana Valenciano, Mitoy Yonting, RJ dela Fuente, and Tim Pavino.
The featured dance groups include The Manoeuvres and Addlib.
The concert will be directed by his son, Paolo Valenciano, with musical direction by Mon Faustino.
Valenciano said that at this point in his 34-year career, he “cannot ask for anything more.”
“Now it’s like, can I see somebody else reach that level that I feel they ought to be in, and at least helping assist [them]?” said Valenciano.
He added that although the styles and music of new musicians are different from his, “they’ll be better in some other place, some other way,” because of technology and other factors.
“There will never be another Gary V. There will only be a better Gary V,” said Valenciano.
Some of the other young talents whom he said he believed in include Sam Concepcion and Darren Espanto.
“So when you talk about success, I feel that’s what they’re destined to have-success in their career, being who they are, known as exceptional performers on stage,” Valenciano said.
The proceeds of Gary V Presents are for the benefit of the scholarship programs of Shining Light Foundation.
Valenciano will also go on tour in the United States, performing on May 27, 2017 at the M Resort in Las Vegas; June 3 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California; June 10, at The Pasadena Civic in Pasadena, California; and June 12 at the Viridian Event Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
An upcoming book
Valenciano also let CNN Philippines in on an new project in the works: a book which he is looking to release “in about five years, unless I do it next year-for my 35th year [in the industry],” he teased.
“I’m coming up with a book, and Martin has a big role to play there,” said Valenciano, referring to his contemporary Martin Nievera.
Nievera was long perceived to be a rival of Valenciano as they both rose to fame, but the two are friends-and now even related by marriage.
“The competition was fierce and the competition was needed because it kept both of us on our toes and… striving to become better – not better than the other, but better at what we do,” Valenciano shared. “Because we know very well that he’s a balladeer and I do more pop music, and I dance a lot more.”
However, Valenciano shared that despite his fame, he would come home feeling “empty [and] incomplete.”
“I have the women screaming, the people dancing, but I’m just not feeling it, you know. My biggest competitor was not Martin, it was myself,” he said.
This was when, Valenciano said, he let “[God] be a part of the equation” and he penned prayer songs such as “Lead Me Lord,” “Letting Go,” and “Shout for Joy.”
The book was a suggestion of his sister’s, and would contain “all the stories that have affected [Valenciano] as an artist, as a man, as a husband, as a father, as a person.”
“It’s the outstanding stories that I hope will help the millennials understand that when you wanna go to the ground floor to the top floor, there are steps that need to be taken,” Valenciano explained. “In those steps are the lessons that are so important, that beef up who you are as a person and as an artist.”
