22
filipino globe
community
June 2008
Fil-Aussie
MiG Ayesa
rocks across
generations
Therese Necio-Ortega catches up with Filipino-
Australian sensation MiG Ayesa and finds a soulful,
sensitive and eloquent man behind the rock star
M
iG Ayesa defies perceptions Unbelievably, MiG had a bad
about rock stars. I had the stutter as a child, but whenever he
pleasure of meeting this read a script, sang or was on stage,
highly talented young man, who he did not stutter. Theatre and music
brought the audience to its feet as the were his therapy. “It gave me the
lead character Galileo Figaro in the confidence to be me,” he said.
Cathay Pacific-sponsored musical We The progression from song and
Will Rock You. dance to school theatre paved the
were shot in Europe and he felt like
His music and performance way for MiG to meet girls even as
a young James Bond. Then he did
transcended generations – mine and he went to an all-boys’ school (St
the The Buddy Holly Story playing
that of my 14-year-old daughter. Patrick’s), and efforts to invite Santa
Ritchie Valens. When the producers
Of Filipino-Spanish (Legarda Sabina, a sister school, to all the
saw him in Sydney, he was offered
and Ayesa) heritage, MiG moved plays and productions made every
the opportunity to play in London.
to Australia, along with the entire rehearsal worth the effort.
And that he did for the Queen, the
family, when he was just two years MiG fell in love with theatre. “It
late Princess Di and the two young
old. His father had wanted them felt good. Instinctively, I knew I
princes William and Harry. Other
to escape the oppressive Marcos found my home and what I wanted to
West End credits include Angel in
regime. As MiG’s grandfather was do more than anything else in life”.
Rent and as a featured artist in the
a doctor for the Australian embassy I asked MiG to describe himself as
UK tour of Thriller Live!
in Manila, he helped fast-tracked a performer.
His journey now paved with
the immigration process. The family “My performance is quite honest.
success and recognition, MiG has
name Ayesa comes from the Basque It is because it comes from the heart.
set the bar even higher. He plans to
region of Spain and it is a Moorish It maybe rough around the edges but
record his new album in New York
war cry for Jesus. it is an extension of my heart and the
this September, all with original
Coming from a family of doctors way that I express myself is through
material. He wants to celebrate old
and lawyers, MiG decided early my music.”
Margaret and her friend Dani (above) took turns in getting to know
songs and interpret them his way.
on that he would be different and It’s risky business to wear one’s
their idol MiG Ayesa at an exclusive interview with Filipino Globe.
“Like the Beatles’ songs, simple
shocked the sensibilities of his heart on one’s sleeve, but MiG
things are the best. It is harder to
this is the organic nature of being a
high-achieving family when he believes that to be a compleat
Music that
deconstruct and reconstruct simple
human being.”
showed interest in the artistic and performer, one must be “naked on
music because all the elements of
entertainment field. stage and everything about me is transcends
MiG started in the Village Cinema success are there – a good melody
City in Sydney working behind the
“I wanted to be different and carve here. I open myself up to criticism
and a solid structure. Beatles songs
my own path. I guess my sensibilities but once you perform publicly, you
generations like
candy bar counter making popcorn are works of art,” he said.
[or lack thereof] came from a love become public property and become
for AS$ 6.50 on weekends. Then he “I enjoy seeing parents come
of rock ’n roll. Starting with piano fair game. I have given up Googling
rock ’n roll cannot realized that a friend was getting paid with their kids to the show, parents
lessons at seven yrs old, it was a myself, but to be honest, people
hide behind the
A$2,000 doing commercials. So, he reliving their youth and kids learning
boring routine of classical pieces can be quite brutally frank and for
asked his high school chum’s aunt these songs for the first time. Music
for MiG until he was introduced to someone who is open and naked, it pure energy. It is
who was an agent, to help open a few that transcends generations like rock
a friend of his father’s a jazz player can hurt.”
doors for him.
’n roll cannot hide behind the pure
who taught him how to play with What he loves about music is that
a celebration She took him around for casting.
energy as it is a celebration of life.”
chords as opposed to notes. it moves and touches people. He has
He was first cast in TV commercials
The esrtwhile 11-year-old who
of life
This opened a whole new world been accused of being too nice and
and starred in Home and Away and
enjoyed high school productions now
of music and expression. He loved soft to be in rock ’n roll.
Neighbours. But he had no real
gets paid to do what he loves the
the opportunity to play while He feels that people can do
MIG AYESA “commercial assets” as he did not
most – writing songs and performing
accompanying himself on Stevie loud and really rambunctious
On the generational appeal of his music fit the typical Australian look (blond
onstage.
Wonder, Billy Joel and Elton John performances but he thinks that the
hair and blue/green eyes) nor was he
Soulful, sensitive, creative and
songs. same people can also sing gentle
the voice, fingernails clicking on the
in the category to qualify as a pure
highly eloquent, MiG is the eternal
Immediately, he fell in love with songs that are emotional and highly
keyboard. It is definitely an organic
Asian. MiG was feeling the pressure
optimist, has strong faith in human
music. His love affair with the piano charged.
thing.
that it was hard to cast him after
beings and believes that we are all
began and an extraordinary journey “Don’t get me wrong,” MiG said,
“When performing, I feel the more than 40 screen tests.
intrinsically good people.
of self-expression was under way “I love big-band sounds but I also
emotion, and this is where the He got lucky in his next audition
We Will Rock You is showing at Lyric
when he wrote his first song at love the raw acoustics, hearing
emotions come to life. On stage the and landed a part in the TV pilot
Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for
eleven. mistakes, breathy tones, crinks in
emotion comes through. I guess Mission Top Secret, where scenes Performing Arts, until June 22.
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