Ian shows ’em in 3 acts

MANILA, Philippines — The local tinseltown is accustomed to see Ian Veneracion, the actor. The art circuit knows him as an abstract painter, while few have access to his musician persona.

All this will be seen in Ian in 3 Acts on May 13 at the Resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theater. A follow-up to his successful Waterfront Cebu concert held last month, the musical performance promises to give one a personal gaze at Ian’s artistry.

“It’s like a movie,” Ian said of his show, piquing the interest of media present in a recent intimate media call. “It has three acts. The first part is (about) the Ian that you know, so that’s where I do, for example, a Jose Mari Chan medley... Act two is the Ian that you do not know, which is the rock star side of me… The third act is the combination of both.” So audiences will have the front row seat to watch the private citizen and public personality Ian — and the contradictions between them. 

“Since I’m more of an actor than a singer, I need to tell stories,” added Ian. “There’s a certain flow (on the show).”

Although Ian in 3 Acts (three acts as a drama structure) is dubbed as a concert, he would like to consider it a “concept show” and a “proper show,” with guest artists like L.A. Santos, Jaya, Jona and Jong Cuenco. Mike Alcazaren is at the helm. Knowing Ian’s arts background, one wouldn’t be surprised if the concept show turned out to be a complete (musically and visually feasting) and “passionately”-charged one.

‘Since music is important to me and it’s special to me, I want to do it the right way.’ — Photos by VER PAULINO

“I’m an emotional person,” said Ian, whose blues-and-jazz leaning complements and reflects his abstract stance. “I think it is very important (for an artist) in any form of art to be emotionally vulnerable.”

As an artist who dabbles in different arts, he shared, “You’re always describing an emotion whether it’s a scene, it’s a painting or it’s a song. You’re not necessarily describing (something) biographical, the stories you’re telling, like me (my song) We’re All Alone is actually describing an emotion using words and sounds.” Yes, We’re All Alone, along with I’ll Miss You the Most, are Ian’s original compositions. The former is available on Spotify. With that, plus that arts seem to complement one another, Ian has easily embraced singing.

“Singing, acting, painting and any form of art (are) just different mediums. But the source and the process, I think, (are) the same,” said Ian. “For example, there’s a certain emotion I want to convey and it just so happens that I can easily convey it through words, (so) I write. Sometimes I can’t find the right words, so you have to use colors, texture, compositions. Sometimes, you use sounds. But I think the process is the same in any form of art.”

On stage, Ian doesn’t want to pretend to be someone else. “I play the songs I love playing, I sing the way I sing. Hindi ako bumibirit, kasi hindi naman ako pang-birit for example, and marami akong mga i-na-idolize sa pagkanta na, you know,       professional singers. I choose my genre, (I sing) songs that are close to my heart. When I play — whether it is the piano or the guitar, in improv... it turns out to be bluesy always, I’m leaning towards the blues always.”

His musical influences are Sting, Eric Clapton, Led Zep and Bob Dylan. “It’s actually the (music) generation of my father, not my generation of music,” he said.

In a live performance, Ian goes for something organic and natural and enjoys every moment between him and the crowd. This connection can only be best captured and experienced by being in that moment, not by some electronic recording. He also likes the instant reaction from the audience as compared to TV acting wherein actors wait for reviews — or if I may add, ratings. “When you say a sentence, you see their reaction right away. If you have a joke and it’s funny, you see it (the reaction) right away. I’ve been comfortable with a camera since I was a kid. For me, camera is just a machine, it’s not judging me or anything. It’s just a machine. People are different. Parang nararamdaman ko ang iniisip (nila). Kapag may tumaas ang kilay nararamdaman ko agad,” he shared. “Since music is important to me and it’s special to me, I want to do it the right way.”

(Presented by Dreamwings Production, tickets to Ian in 3 Acts are available online at Ticketworld and box-office of Resorts World Manila.)