Sing no sad songs for Nyoy

Nyoy Volante writes songs about heartbreak so well he has turned them into his signature pieces. So when he turns over a new leaf – no matter how short – and comes up with a lilting song, questions pop up in your mind.

Why is he literally and figuratively singing a different tune? Where has all the angst gone?

Blame it on Nina, his girlfriend of one year now. The Soul Siren has turned Nyoy’s world into a mini-paradise, and he shows it the best way he knows how: in the songs he makes and sings.

In Now Hear This, his new all-original album from Vicor (also featuring his ever-faithful band), he proclaims his love for Nina in the carrier single cryptically-titled Ha. Why so?

Simple: Nyoy is asking his girl to cherish no one else but him. Thus, the plea as seen in the question mark.

"I don’t usually dedicate a song to anyone," explains Nyoy. "But it happened early this year. Everything started as a joke between us (Nina and me)," Nyoy chuckles. As we know by now, the joke morphed into something more serious: a love song, complete with Nyoy’s words and music. And the flattered Nina considers this track in his new album as her favorite.

The others are also originals except for a cover of Ama Namin. The choice, also Nyoy’s, reflects a spirituality he has kept to himself all these years.

He may not say it, but you can see the guy is not full of himself the way most people in his shoes turn out to be. Rather than get blown away with the hits and all the attention he’s getting, Nyoy just sits in one corner and waits for a go-signal to talk to the press before entering the room. And when he does, he flashes that big smile that lights up the room.

Oh yes, Nyoy can endorse products as wholesome as non-fat milk and get away with it. Look, Ma, no dirty linen to hide from prying eyes; no hanging around in places of ill repute, no child out of wedlock. You can bring him home to Daddy and watch him flash a smile as wide as EDSA.

Except that Nyoy would rather attend to his music first. He’d love to collaborate with Nina in an album, but their two different recording companies (he with Vicor, she with Warner) make this dream just that – a dream.

The most Nyoy can do is produce Nina’s next album, and this, he plans to do. A re-arrangement of Michael Bublé songs is another plan that gives him an adrenaline rush. Before that, though, Vicor will launch Now Hear This in Baga Berde Roxas Blvd. on Oct. 3.

The guy is so inspired he’s on a songwriting and performing binge.

"Many good things are happening in my life," he explains. "One of them is Nina. She is one person who can put up with my quirks."

Nyoy, in turn, is as supportive as a devoted boyfriend can be. He doesn’t mind if Nina dons sexy outfits for her MTVs, TV appearances and concerts. The guy trusts his girlfriend enough to know Nina will behave even if she’s in oh-so-sexy attire.

If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.