Janine Teñoso is having a ‘pinch me’ moment ahead of 1st solo show

For Janine Teñoso, all it took was just one person to believe in her talent in songwriting.

In the third episode of The Philippine STAR’s “On The Rise” on YouTube, Janine opened up about how she almost gave up in 2020.

“Nagkaroon ako sa journey ko na medyo nahirapan akong makuha ‘yung sound na gusto ko kasi I got really used to singing other people’s songs and doing covers. So, medyo ‘yung songwriting ko for a while, maybe around two years, it was hindered for a while. So, that was my trial. I guess, (it was) finding my way back into how I am as a songwriter,” said the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) singer.

Things changed when Umibig Muli came to life, originally written by Janine and her friend, Pauline Lauron, in 2020.

“Si Pauline Lauron, siya talaga ‘yung nag-inspire sa akin na bumalik sa songwriting. Kasi nga, for a while, nag-stop siya. Binigyan niya ako ng chorus nung Umibig Muli. And I was like, ‘Oh, ganda nito. Pero hindi ko na sure, Ate Pauline, kung babalik pa ako, eh.’ Sabi niya, ‘Try mo lang. Ano ba naman ‘yung i-try mo lang?’ So, binigyan ko siya ng first verse, ng second verse, and then, pinasa ko sa kanya. Sabi niya, ‘ganda! Ano? I-release na natin!’ Sabi ko, ‘Talaga ba?’” she narrated.

But Janine was hesitant at that time to release another original song. She was filled with worries and uncertainties about her musical career.

“Parang ang dami ko pang kailangan matutunan before ako ulit bumalik sa songwriting. Sabi niya, ‘If not now, when?’ So, I released it 2020, ‘yung Umibig Muli, and little did I know, that was the song that would get me back into writing songs,” she noted.

That song awakened and led back Janine’s love of songwriting, and to her surprise, it paved the way for a bigger break.

“Now, I have two EPs, puno ng original songs, and I have collaborations that I wrote with Cup of Joe, with Arthur Nery, and the most recent ones. So, I guess all it takes is just one person to believe in you, and you don’t know what’s gonna happen next,” she emotionally said.

Janine did not come from a musically inclined family. But her elder sister, Kyra, was the first one to discover her talent in singing.

“I guess, I just got really inspired (by) my sister. I enjoyed singing. Nag-start akong mag-vocal lessons, four pa lang. Pero nag-singing competition na ako nung six ako. Tapos, dire-diretso na ‘yun. Then, natuto talaga akong mag-guitar or mag-piano or mag-songwriting sa church,” Janine shared a glimpse of her childhood.

She also added that “Biritera ako dati. Ang mga kinakanta ko noon pang mga divas like Beyoncé, Whitney Houston. ‘Yung pagsali ko sa mga competitions, ‘yun din nagbibigay sa akin ng scholarship for school. My voice was something that I enjoyed and was passionate about. But I guess my voice was also a way for me to provide food on the table.”

Janine’s big break started when she joined TV5’s “Born to be a Star” in 2005, where she was one of the finalists and eventually became a Viva artist.

“First ko siyang TV competition na nakapasok talaga ako sa finals. Parang dun ako naging serious about it talaga. After ng ‘Born to Be a Star,’ nag-workshop ako for like one year and a half. Nakapag-release ako ng original song ko na which is called Fall. That’s my first single that I wrote when I was 17,” said Janine.

Around that time, she was also hailed as the OST Princess after singing the female version of songs used in the films “Isang Daang Tula para kay Stella” and “Sid and Aya: Not a Love Story.”

Janine admitted that she struggled in finding her own music and sound.

“Gradually ko siyang na-find. Kasi, gradually, ko din hinanap din sa sarili ko,” said the songwriter, who also revealed that she once dreamt of being a writer after joining the school paper of St. Paul College Parañaque.

In the middle of the pandemic, Janine went back to school after taking a pause for a few years to focus on her music. She received her college diploma after finishing a degree in business management at the Southville International College in 2024.

With the success of her music, not to mention the chart-topping song Tingin, a collaboration with OPM band Cup of Joe, Janine is thankful for all her supporters and fellow artists who continue to uplift Filipino music.

“I did not expect this kind of success with Tingin. Sobrang nakakatuwa, honestly, lahat ng mga artist ngayon nagtutulungan.”

When asked about her message to her listeners who can relate to her hugot songs, she said in jest, “Matatapos din ‘yan. Wow. Kasi baka, you know, maging lover girl ka na.”

Defending her “mapapanakit” songs, she shared, “Lagi naman akong happy. Siguro ‘pag kumakanta lang ako dun ako nagiging malungkot.”

Janine was over the moon when she recently received an award for “Apat Na Buwan” as the EP of the Year by The New Hue.

“Nakakaiyak. Ito, for me, ‘yung pinaka-memorable na nangyari this year. Kasi, ‘Apat na Buwan’ is my second EP and puno siya ng mga original songs that I’ve really worked hard on writing the past year. And these are my most personal songs that I’ve ever written. First time actually in nine years, ma-recognize ‘yung mga original songs ko through an awards show. That’s why it meant so much for me,” she said.

Now that she is set to take the stage for her sold-out first-ever major solo concert on Sept. 6 at the New Frontier Theater, Janine said it still feels surreal.

“I’m very happy. All of the hard work is paying off. I said I started as a minor and (now) growing into being a woman in the industry. Nakakatuwa lang na may result ‘yung growth na ‘yun,” she happily said.

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