We would be remiss if we let the opportunity pass without Nadine Lustre curating her choices of music in a power playlist for NYLON Manila. In this modern-day mixtape, she will make you feel oh so good.
Related: A HIGHER LOVE: HOW NADINE LUSTRE GOT HER GROOVE BACK
Remember when Nadine Lustre would casually caption her posts on Instagram with song selections from Comet Blue, Mura Masa, JP Cooper, Calvin Harris, The 1975, and Jhené Aiko? While she has since moved on to thoughtful truncations of lyrics as of late, what hasn’t changed is that for the most part, music remains an indicator of her mood and moment on the grid. As distinct and decided as her aesthetic is, it is the songs that soundtrack it that complete her expression.
Music is central to Nadine Lustre, even more so now that she has expanded her creative horizon as a singer and songwriter. “I love music. It changes and moves me in a way that you cannot understand,” she says. “And for people who listen to my music to feel the same way, it’s really…it’s something else.” Armed with songs and a strong sense of self, she gets to now affect people in a more insightful way that both informs and inspires.
“With music, nag-o–open up talaga ako. And I feel like people know me for being honest, being authentic, but music just solidified the whole thing. Here, I am able to express things that I can’t through all the other mediums and creative exhausts,” shares Nadine Lustre. “With music kasi, it’s different, because it’s words. It is just recently that I learned na kaya ko pala with words. I guess it’s just another extension of myself, another way of expressing more of my truth.”
Making The Music Of Nadine Lustre
“This is really who I am,” says Nadine Lustre of her shifted focus to music, as manifested in its full, unbridled potential beginning with Wildest Dreams. “A lot of it was based on my experience, yes, but it was also a lot of help from my director and of course, Careless. It wouldn’t have been the way it was if it weren’t for everyone else. It was really just an idea and everyone gave it life,” she articulates. “There’s something healing about what you’ve gone through, especially in a form of art that people will experience. It’s an emotional release. There’s something freeing about it. After I released my album, para akong nabawasan ng damage. That’s how it feels like.”
As cathartic as it was for Nadine Lustre, it was much more for the everyone who gave it a spin or more. As striking as the accompanying visual magnum opus was, the music on its own was searing and soul-stirring, even in its stream-friendly orchestrations. Cutting sharp and deep, Nadine Lustre proved that she was not just another wannabe warbling for the sake of. Even with her previous efforts leading up to Wildest Dreams, the singer was asserting herself as one to be taken seriously. Sparking curiosity, she did not only make people hear her out; people listened.
But most importantly, it is in music that Nadine Lustre found comfort, peace, and an identity defined by no one else but her. Meaning much more than it perhaps did then, Nadine Lustre is raring to create more with rhythm, lyrics, and songs. Now, she is ready to explore and push boundaries in this space where she feels most free to become.
As for the rest of us? We will still be listening, always.
Listen to the modern-day mixtape Nadine Lustre made for us here at NYLON Manila. A trove of 80s dance and disco hits, gem of indie jams, and unapologetic pop bangers, she sure knows how to make one feel good as hell.
Creative direction ANGELO RAMIREZ DE CARTAGENA
Art direction KENNETH DIMAANO
Fashion, beauty direction and styling LYN ALUMNO
Photography ED ENCLONA
Makeup JELLY EUGENIO
Hairstyling PAUL NEBRES
CGI artist AYA REIKA
Fashion film videographer IAN FRANCISCO
BTS videographer FLOYD JHOCSON
Sittings editor ELYSE ILAGAN
Shoot coordination LOUIS ESGUERRA
CONTINUE READING: HER BRAVE NEW FRONT: NADINE LUSTRE IS NO LONGER HOLDING BACK
