Janine Teñoso On Confidence, Growth, And Preparing For Her First Solo Concert

Without a doubt, an artist’s first solo concert is one of the biggest milestones they can achieve in their career. More than just being a sign of one’s musical success and widespread influence over listeners, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for artists to showcase the very best of their craft on what is, essentially, the most personal stage they’ve ever performed on by far.

Eight years into her journey of professionally pursuing music, Janine Teñoso – or simply, Janine – is finally realizing this dream in a few months, as she is set to hold her first solo concert this September 6, 2025 at the New Frontier Theater, one of the Philippines’ most prestigious concert venues.

Of course, like any other important point in one’s career, a little bit of anxiety can be present, and even an experienced artist like Janine is no exception. “Honestly, I was so nervous because dalawa ‘yung surprise namin ng team (Honestly, I was so nervous because me and my team had two surprises),” the 26-year old hitmaker reveals to Billboard Philippines, looking back at the time she officially announced the concert for the first time at one of her gigs, alongside unveiling the music video for her song “Pikit Mata.” “Ang dami lang nangyayari and lots of emotions, so I was just really nervous at that time (There was just a lot going on and a lot of emotions, so I was just really nervous at that time,” she further shares with a lighthearted chuckle.

However, whatever nervousness present that day quickly melted away, all thanks to the ones who made it possible for her to reach this long-awaited dream: her fans. “During that gig, sobrang lakas ng support ng crowd nung in-announce ko ‘yung concert (During that gig, the support of the crowd when the concert was announced was so loud). “They were, like, actually standing up, they were clapping and cheering out loud for me.” Janine continues to share, expressing how “relieved” she is now that the news if finally out. According to her, this was a big source of comfort, greatly reassuring her that the people who have long supported her will be there at her most important show yet.

Indeed, in more ways than one, the upcoming concert is a very important one for Janine. So much so that, from the get-go, Janine knew that she wanted to have a major hand in shaping the show and bringing it to life. And that she did.

As the concert is only a few months away, Janine reveals that, aside from being closely involved with the with the direction and stage design, she has been working with her backing band about the special arrangements they have made for her songs, both the old and, she teases, the new that are “coming soon.” It is in this aspect of their preparations that Janine reveals is where most of the challenges come from, as she is committed to giving her fans an all-new live music experience where the energy just naturally flows from song to song.

It is through this artistic desire that we can see Janine’s commitment to her, showing just how dedicated she is in bring her full creative vision to life. “For this concert, I’m very hands-on,” she shares, emphasizing how she wants everything to artistically make sense, from the song arrangements to the visuals. “Sa kahit anong detail, kailangan alam ko lahat, even the theme of the concert poster (Whichever detail, I need to know all of it, even the theme of the concert poster). So, all those details, both the minimal and ‘yung malalaki (the big ones), I really want to be involved in all of it!”

Hand-in-hand with this, Janine also shares that she is looking forward to working on the collaboration songs she’s done with her star-studded lineup of special guests – Arthur Nery, Gian Bernardino of Cup Of Joe, The Juans, and Rob Deniel. Having recorded and performed various hits with them over the years, Janine reveals that she will be debuting special rendition of said songs with her band.

“Usually kasi ‘yung mga artists na nakaka-collab ko (Usually, with the artists I collaborate with), it’s me singing during their set during their shows,” she expounds, using her chart-breaking hit “Tingin” with Cup Of Joe and “Pelikula” with Arthur Nery as examples. This time, however, it’s her very own stage these fellow hitmakers will be standing on and Janine is going all out in taking the special collaborative spirit between her and these artists and pushing it even further. “I think that makes it a bit different and something for the audience to look forward to. Ibang flavor naman (It’s a different flavor this time)!”

Intent on showing her audience who she is, was, and can potentially become, Janine knew that the songs she would handpick for the concert deeply mattered. As such, arranging the setlist was not just about choosing which song goes after which, it’s Janine telling a story. Her story.

“This is a concert that will have both old and new songs of mine. It’s who Janine was before and who Janine is now – ‘yung growth ko (my growth),” she reveals, noting how her fans will get to “see the Janine from 2018, 2019,” including “all the songs that [she hasn’t] performed live yet. “‘Yun ‘yung makikita nila (that’s what they’ll see), the old and the new me.”

For Janine, this is exactly what makes her first solo concert more unique and exciting compared to the shows she’s done in the past. “I’ve been in the industry for eight years now, so there was a lot of growth during that time. I was a teenager when I released my first single so even with the songs, there’s growth in the writing,” she emphasizes proudly, noting how her perspective on various things in life has changed with her, from the way she views love to how she now looks at the world in a different way. “‘Yun ‘yung (that’s) what’s special about this concert . For the members of the audience, hindi lang siya basta ‘yung maririnig nila ‘yung songs ko (it won’t just simply be them getting to hear my songs); it’s the growth of Janine as an artist. I’ll take them all with me on a journey.”

When asked what keeps her passion for music alive after all these years, Janine doesn’t discount the fact that she has been singing, writing, and performing for most of her life, noting these are already an inseparable part of who is as a person.

However, what keeps her driven and inspired these days lies in two aspects of Filipino music.

The first of these is her fellow female artists. “I guess just seeing other artists as well – female artists – and getting to see them do things that haven’t been done before, nagiging role model ko sila,” she notes, citing fellow singer-songwriters Julianne Tarroja, Clara Benin, her friend Shanne Dandan as her main inspirations at the moment. “They just keep my artistic vision developing and improving just by looking at and getting inspired by them!”

The second of these is our colorful local music scene itself. “Just seeing all the different communities, you get to just realize that you belong somewhere. That just fuels my passion for music even more,” she shares, particularly noting how her involvement in events like Fête de la Musique Philippines has been an honor and an opportunity she is immensely grateful for.

Ultimately, Janine’s upcoming concert is the culmination of her journey in this very scene thus far, having been navigating the music industry for around a decade or so. With such a wealth of artistic experiences, she has learned a lot that has not not only helped her in preparing for this special show, but has, above all, shaped her into the artist that she is today.

The most important lesson of all? Learning to trust herself.

Entering the industry as a teenager, Janine reveals that she initially didn’t possess the self-confidence to go after the things she believed in. However, thanks to experience and the guidance from the people she looks up, she has grown into an artist that is not only sure of herself, but, all the more, taking initiative and fighting for what she believes in as an artist. “‘Yung talagang binabalikan ko palagi is ikaw lang talaga ‘yung maipapaglaban ang sarili mo (the one thing I keep coming back to is that you really are the only one who can fight for yourself), she shares. “Just trust your creative vision.”

Ahead of her first ever solo concert, listen to Janine’s hits below:

_{Photography by Lyndon Asuncion. Creative & Fashion Direction by Kenneth Dimaano. Sittings Editor Bret Jackson. Production coordination Mika Cruz. Photography assisted by Miles Wency.}