Magical Night with Nicole "NIKI" Zefanya!

_{In front of MOA arena.}

I discovered Niki in 2020, and it was the best discovery I ever had! It started when YouTube auto-played one of her songs, "Lowkey," and it caught my interest since the beat and all of it sounded good. So I started to research more about her songs and learned that she's an Asian from Jakarta, Indonesia, and one of her songs titled "High School in Jakarta" was about her first love. It was a kind of puppy love that turned into real love. It started when the boy "Dan" joined the drama club she was into, and I am so surprised that she was only 22 years old, and daaaaamn, she was already flying. I am so in love with this girl.

_{This is the second song I loved about her; she was only 16 when she wrote this song. The melody of this will truly calm you, as will the lyrics of it.}

All of her songs are good and relatable. But then when she released her new album "Nicole" the first week she released it I already listened to it and knew that this is going to be my favorite album every damn time that album really expresses a lot of emotions since she wrote that when she was just only 16 years old this really showed how talented she is when it comes to her music and lyrics and I am really suggesting to you guys that listen to that album.

I highly recommend please listen to "Autumn" because that song really breaks my heart whenever I listen to that even a lot of the Moonchild (Niki fan name) favorite the "Backburner" song because a lot of people relate to that song because it talks about being always available for a person who actually breaks your heart and not thinking that he hurt you and still absorb and pleases that person I actually also relate to that song but the message of Autumn was really sad.

_{The album cover of Nicole}

I was really happy when this organizer announced that her team, Rising 88, would go to the Philippines. I really wanted to go at that time, but when I saw the ticket price, I was discouraged from buying because it was too much. I knew it was worth it because other artists would get their chances to sing, especially with the other Asians. I was working at that time and very busy, which is why I did not buy the tickets. There was a storm during that month, and I bought just merchandise from Niki instead of healing my inner child by sobbing on the corner.

._{The merchandise I bought to overcome my loneliness because of the concert.}

The solo tour announcement But then, this May, LIVE MNL announced that Niki would include the Philippines in one of her shows. I was really happy and surprised at that time because I really loved her, and I promised myself that I would go to that concert no matter what! After that, the organizer also announced the day of the ticket sale and its price. I was hesitant to buy the ticket because I am really strict when it comes to money, but my partner talked to me about it and said that it was only a one-time show and I deserved it for all of my hard work. He also reminded me of the time when the Paramore concert here in the Philippines got sold out even though I had the money to buy it.

_{The post of LIVE MNL announced that the Philippines is included on the tour!}

He said he was very sad to see me that way because I was so heartbroken at the time of the show and I deserve it for all of my hard work. He also reminded me of the time when the Paramore concert here in the Philippines got sold out even though I had the money to buy it. He said he was very sad to see me that way because I was so heartbroken at that time.

He also made me realize that I truly deserved to buy that ticket, and he was so right about it. I was so excited before the day of the ticket sale that I barely slept that night! Because I know that a lot of fans will also buy those tickets, except for the scalpers who will buy and sell them for a higher price. These people, right? It was 9 a.m., and the mall was still closed at that time. We just stayed in Starbucks, but we did not buy any drinks. It was 10 a.m., and we rushed to the cinema site I knew that was the place, but I was wrong; it was in the department store.

_{Happily purchased my first concert ticket ever with no regrets. Hehe also bought a Nicole ticket holder through Shoppee.}

Gladly, we were just five on the line. I was so excited, even though the actual concert would happen in September, but still, the adrenaline was rushing through my whole body while we were waiting, and it was my turn. I am so happy. I cried when I received the ticket and its holder because it was the first concert that I was going to attend with an artist I truly love. Just waiting for the concert day, I held the ticket very carefully and stored it in a box so that sunlight wouldn't get through because it could affect the ticket by fading the print on it.

Also, I consider our OJT a blessing since it comes with an allowance. That is why I don't really worry about money because I saved a lot of it for the day to buy merchandise. September came, and I was very excited about the concert day! The excitement started to fill up my whole body.

_{This picture was posted by the NIKI Philippines Facebook page.}

The day has come! It was concert day! I am so excited about the concert, even though the time is 8 p.m. I am still going to see my love and am very excited to prepare for the celebration!

I was already up at 6 a.m.—not really excited, huh? haha! I prepared what I was going to wear and the things I needed, including pocket money. The weather's not that good, so we decided to just commute to the MOA arena. We ate before we went out but still bought some food on the road to fill ourselves up. We just took the bus, and it was 4 p.m. when we got there.

We decided to eat first at Chowking before lining up on the line. We saw on our group chat that the line was already long, but we had to eat first to save up some energy. We went to the line at 6 p.m. and the gate was already open. We went up to the section of our assigned ticket even though I was in the general admission section, there are still a lot of people praising this section because it is where the people are really loud and having fun. We bought some popcorn for the show.

_{Quick selfie at the bus on the way to the Mall of Asia}

_{However, the long line we had to wait in at the venue was well worth it!}

The show started at 8:30, and it was so loud that you couldn't hear your own voice! A lot of fans were screaming and cheering for Niki. The best part of it was when Niki took a sneak peek at the curtains for a second, and the crowd at that moment was already roaring their hearts out for her, including mine! And when the time comes, they have already shut off the lights, meaning the show is going to start. Damn, I already miss that experience of the adrenaline flowing through the whole arena at that time. I can't really stand that well because of the overwhelming feeling running through my body! I already knew the set list of songs she was going to sing because I had already watched her live at the Wiltern concert.

_{The setlist upload by NIKI Philippines Facebook page makes me so glad to be part of this community!}

I really sang my heart out on every song she sang, especially when she started to sing my favorite song, "Autumn." I was on the edge of crying while singing my heart out on the bridge of that song.

_{Selfie at the venue, very excited to meet Niki!}

My supportive partner filmed the whole concert song by song because he already knew that I was just going to listen and sing for the whole show and not thinking of taking pictures or filming the show because he knew that "I am living on the moment" person.

I am so thankful he filmed it and it will be forever in my heart and my mind too the memories of every song she sang for us and interacting with us I am so happy that I attended her show it was really worth every penny I spent her admirability for her fan she actually took our suggestion to sing this specific song because a lot of us relate to that song it was title as "Take a chance with Me" it was about taking a chance or risking something for someone you truly love and not showing any regret of it.

_{Pictures during the concert show everyone singing their hearts out!}

The crowd was beautiful when she sang "Oceans & Engines." The song was about letting go of the person she truly loved. It was also part of the high school in Jakarta; it was actually a trilogy song. The light of every fan looks like a sky full of stars, and I was so amazed by that and really appreciated every fan for doing that. I am so glad that I am part of this fan community where everyone communicates and is friendly to everyone. Even the administrator of NIKI Philippines was so happy that she gave away a lot of stickers and souvenirs to the fans.

_{The starry ocean crowd while Niki sang oceans and engines, a lot of sobbing happened here.}

_{Merchandise I bought during the concert: an Oceans and Engines shirt with the lyric's bridge imprinted on the back.}

I am so happy and thankful for this experience—the first concert I attended—and will always treasure this moment for the rest of my life. I have no regrets about being a fan of hers since day one, looking forward to her other shows, hoping and wishing that she will play again in the Philippines, and surely, I will attend it again. DAMN, I REALLY LOVE THIS GIRL WITH MY WHOLE HEART.

_{Me at the general admission section, so grateful to be in here, will forever treasure this kind of memory and will always support NIKI.}