From live streams to live stages: Arthur Nery ‘nervous’ to perform for bigger crowds

Arthur Nery

Arthur Nery, one of the top breakthrough local music acts in recent years, achieved much of his initial success amid the pandemic—a time when music consumption and shows were done almost exclusively in the digital space.

But now that the live music scene has started to open up, Arthur will have to get used to the feeling of playing bigger gigs at bigger venues in front of bigger crowds. This is a challenge for the singer-songwriter whose air and demeanor are just as gentle as the slow R&B jams he’s known for.

“I’m nervous… I’m shaking right now just talking in front of you. So what more if there are more people?” he said at a recent press conference for his self-titled first major concert this July 2 at the New Frontier Theater. “We want the concert to go as smoothly as possible. Dasal-dasal lang.”

Hailing from Cagayan de Oro, Arthur is most comfortable in the Bisaya and English languages. “My Tagalog isn’t very good. And I usually get tongue-tied. That’s why it’s hard for me [to talk in public],” the 25-year-old recording artist told the Inquirer.

The good thing, though, is that Arthur has had opportunities to perform in a couple of high-profile events recently, which should help him build confidence ahead of his concert. “The mall tours and gigs helped me imagine the possibilities or the things that can happen. That’s how I’m preparing myself,” said Arthur, who performed in the Expo 2020 Dubai in March and the Miss Universe Philippines pageant in April.

Fortunately, Arthur isn’t a total bundle of nerves. He does feel happy and excited, he said, knowing that he’s about to fulfill one of his childhood dreams. “I have always dreamed of performing with a big band in front of a huge crowd. I’m scared but also excited. My fans inspire me to go for it,” he said.

Childhood dream

As a child, Arthur sang at birthday parties, and then weddings when he got older. Music has always been a dream and passion, but never did he imagine that pursuing it as a career was possible. “It was something I did for fun, something that allowed me to let out my emotions and express feelings I couldn’t verbalize. It was an outlet. But eventually, I realized that it can be a job,” he said.

Today, Arthur finds himself as one of the most popular music artists particularly in the digital space. Last year, he came in fifth on Spotify’s list of most-streamed OPM music artists behind Ben&Ben, Moira dela Torre, Skusta Clee and Zack Tabudlo. His debut album, the elegantly produced “Letters Never Sent,” meanwhile, topped the most-streamed local albums list.

Arthur’s first two hit songs, “Higa” and “Binhi,” have so far amassed more than 70 million and 41 million streams, respectively on Spotify alone. What catapulted him to mainstream popularity, however, is the wistful ballad “Pagsamo,” which has garnered more than 200 million streams on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music since its release in October 2021. His latest single, “Isa Lang,” on the other hand, already has around 40 million streams on Spotify and YouTube after only just five months.

Trying new sounds

Arthur’s wheelhouse is soul and jazz-inflected R&B that’s smooth, sensuous and sometimes melancholic. His vocals are central to his music. He won’t dazzle you with power or bombast, but his silken crooning, sweet falsettos and fluent runs easily set the mood for his songs of love, heartbreak and intimacy.

In a previous interview with the Inquirer, Arthur said he didn’t want to box himself in a particular genre of music. But does he feel the same way, after seeing how successful his current sound has become?

“I’m comfortable with the slow, comforting and mellow R&B tunes. But I’m still game about exploring more and digging deeper… I want to expand my horizons, learn every day and open myself to the possibility of trying new sounds,” he said.

Asked if his realizations were about his success, Arthur, upon reflection, realized that music isn’t just something you listen to, but also a way “to connect with other people, make and find friends, build and grow a community.”

“Mahirap din pala. There’s pressure to come up with new releases. But I try to balance things. I’m thankful to the fans who have been very patient and loving. They’re just always there waiting. They rather I take care of myself than work myself to exhaustion,” he said.

“Arthur Nery” the concert is mounted by Viva Live. (For tickets, contact Viva at 0917 1825560 or TicketNet 8911-5555.)

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