MiG Ayesa

MiG Ayesa http://migayesa.multiply.com/ I attribute my success to three elements: hard work, passion and a little bit of luck. When I first heard about Rockstar INXS, a new reality show on CBS, I decided to audition. After years of trying to make it as solo artist, I thought this opportunity might provide my big break. Well, I didn’t win the competition to be the singer for INXS…I did one better and got my very own deal with Universal Classics. Born in the Philippines and raised in Sydney, Australia, I began playing the piano at age seven, but was quickly discouraged by my teacher, who informed me that without practice, I would never become a virtuoso. However, a chance meeting with a jazz musician opened up a world of possibilities! I was finally able to play the music I wanted, in the style I chose. I even wrote my own songs and played piano without having to perfect my Mozart! Who cares if I was never going to be a concert pianist? Stick that up your metronome, I was going to be a ROCKSTAR! After high school, I played in a number of bands (Sohcahtoa, The Honkies, Lovetown, Randy Badass & The Slickmaster Five) while trying my hand at acting. I was only 19, but I got the chance to jet-ski through the Amsterdam canals in a TV pilot about teenage spies called Mission: Top Secret. The acting bug took me to London for several years where I landed onstage in the lead role of Ritchie Valens in The Buddy Holly Story. I was just a kid from Sydney, but I found myself entranced by the bright lights of London, starring in the smash hit musical Rent, and playing Galileo, the lead role, in the musical We Will Rock You, based on the catalogue of glam rockers, Queen. Despite my success on stage, I began to think that I would never achieve my true dream of fronting a band. So, I decided to take one more shot at a solo career. I rekindled my love of both writing and recording on a four-song EP that even featured Queen guitarist Brian May on one of the tracks. It was at this time that I heard about Rockstar: INXS, a pilot centered on the Australian band's search for a new lead singer. As I was a lifelong fan of the band (which provided the soundtrack to my first kiss), I decided to make the trek from London to Los Angeles. After an exhausting round of auditions, I made the final cut and was ultimately chosen as a finalist on the show. I was the only one that made Rockstar from the UK, and the only Aussie to make the final 15. I came into Rockstar: INXS with all guns blazing, full of bravado and confidence, and left in third place but with a Universal recording contract. My experience on Rockstar INXS was a dream come true. In fact, I often say that it was the greatest thing I will never do again. My self-titled debut CD has finally been released in the US and Canada through Decca/Universal. It’s composed of soulful interpretations of classic rock and roll staples, including some of my favorite songs: The Police's "Wrapped Around Your Finger," The Rolling Stones' "Angie," David Bowie's "Life On Mars," and "Baby I Love Your Way," which features a guest performance by Peter Frampton himself. I have also included three original songs I wrote called "She Loved", "Could It Be" and "You And I". Another dream came true when I got to work with two of the most incredible producers, Matthew Wilder (No Doubt, Christina Aguilera) and Rob Mathes, with string arrangements by the renowned Paul Buckmaster (Elton John, Train). I recorded the album near my new home in Los Angeles, with additional sessions done in London and New York. I still can’t believe how beautifully it turned out. It has some of the world’s greatest songs coupled with amazing arrangements and a superb sound So, my piano teacher was actually right on two counts; I never did become a virtuoso, but the dedication he taught me did lead to success. Going out on my own as a recording artist has surpassed my wildest dreams. I finally feel like I belong, like this is what I'm meant to do in this life. The best part? This is only the beginning… Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:05:42 -0000 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:51:50 -0000 MiG Ayesa http://images.migayesa.multiply.com/logo http://migayesa.multiply.com 100 100 ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK We have opened here in Bangkok and all is going well. We were not sure how the audiences would react with the language barrier and other factors, but we were relieved to see the delight and enthusiasm of the Thai people for our little show. I think we are going to be ok here in this crazy, amazing place for the short time we are here. Have not have a chance to do much sightseeing as we have been busy with tech rehearsals all week, but I did manage to go to an island beach off the coast of Pattaya, just 2 hours out of Bangkok. Despite having engine trouble on the boat on the way back to the mainland, it was such a magnificent way to spend a day of your life. The people of Thailand have been so kind, warm and welcoming. I am infatuated with the whole country. I had neglected to tell you about something from my recent trip to London. I saw the English National Opera’s production of CANDIDE. Totally incredible! I must say, I am quite ignorant when it comes to opera, but the direction, design... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/53/ONE_NIGHT_IN_BANGKOK Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:51:50 -0000 STU SOBOL 11 July, 2008 It is with a heavy heart that I bring you the news that my ex-manager Stu Sobol, passed away in his home a few days ago from complications with pneumonia. He leaves behind his wife and two children and a legacy in the music business, whose absence will surely be felt. At THE FIRM, Stu was instrumental in kicking off my career, as well as those of A Perfect Circle, Seether, Three Days Grace, Vanessa Carlton, Yellowcard, Hawthorne Heights, Ryan Star and Zach de la Rocha, among others. He was a very gentle and kind man with a larger than life heart who truly cared for his artists and treated me with love and respect. He took me under his wing and taught me many things about what it truly meant to be an artist. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his freinds and to those closest to him at The Firm. He will be very sadly missed. It was an honour and a privilege to know and work with him. Always love, MiG x http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/52/STU_SOBOL Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:47:15 -0000 DON'T STOP ME NOW I am back at an airport writing this. This time I am at Heathrow, Terminal 4 about to board my Qantas flight to Bangkok. I had the most magical week in London. I know I keep saying how great every place I visit is, but London has really been showing off this time. I have forgotten how beautiful this city is. It is probably one of my favourite cities in the world, if not my absolute No.1 city. The architecture alone is breathtaking. Every street is a Kodak moment. The weather is a little dodgey but I did have a couple of sunny days which is pretty exciting in England. London was my home for several years and I will always have a soft spot for this crazy town. If only it wasn’t so expensive! Wow! Nice when you’re earning Pounds, but…wow! The gig yesterday at Warwick Castle was amazing. A capacity crowd of 7,000 people braved the rain and the traffic on the M40 to see us 4 singers, the English National Orchestra and the Queen Symphonic Rock band belt out 2 sets of awesome QUEEN songs. O... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/51/DONT_STOP_ME_NOW Tue, 8 Jul 2008 06:15:51 -0000 THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTENING, VERY VERY FRIGHTENING!! 29 June, 2008 Am writing this from the departure lounge at JFK airport, on my way to London. I have just changed my socks as they were soaking wet! The Philippine-American Friendship Day Celebrations in Jersey City was spectacular! Spectacular in that the weather was outrageous! It started as such a hot and sunny day. Even though they forecasted rain, I thought that the weather guys got it wrong. It was a beautiful day. However, within what seemed seconds, the weather turned. As soon as I got out of my car in Jersey, a lightning bolt struck and the immediate thunder was deafening. Suddenly the heavens opened up and the rain came, thick and heavy. The wind blew down stalls and I struggled with the sound crew to keep the roof from flying away over the PA equipment. A man broke his arm in the ensuing storm, as a table flew on top of him. And as quickly as the storm started, it ended. The sun came out, and the crowd cheered. It took a while to dry the stage and reset the equipment, and just... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/50/THUNDERBOLT_AND_LIGHTENING_VERY_VERY_FRIGHTENING Mon, 7 Jul 2008 04:52:38 -0000 BACK IN THE MiG APPLE 28 June, 2008 I have fallen in love with New York in the summer! It has been such a joy to walk my dog Powder in Central Park and watch her run around like there’s not a care in the world. I sometimes envy that. But I wouldn’t change my life for anything, as I am soon to be re-united with my wife Simmy, as I am flying to London on Sunday straight after the Philippine-American Friendship Day celebrations in New Jersey. I have not seen her since the beginning of May. This is a crazy life! I will be in London for but a week. I will be performing at Warwick Castle on 6 July with a 60 piece orchestra, 8 piece rock band and 3 other singers for the The Music Of QUEEN – A Rock And Symphonic Spectacular! I did a similar gig last August with the Bournemouth Symphony orchestra and it was one of my favourite gigs ever. I seem to be making quite a career out of the music of QUEEN, so thanks guys! This definitely beats working for a living. However, it is quite exhausting. I am not complaining, but ... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/49/BACK_IN_THE_MiG_APPLE Mon, 7 Jul 2008 04:51:28 -0000 WHEN YOU WISH... <a href="http://migayesa.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SFyb5goKCDAAAHZwLoo1"><img border="0" class="alignleft" src="http://images.migayesa.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SFyb5goKCDAAAHZwLoo1/IMG_2077a.JPG?et=BqaZJcX9%2BgO03dKQp9C9Eg&nmid=0"></a>18 June, 2008 I have had such an amazing experience this weekend that will stay with me forever. Through the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION, and with great support from the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and all at WE WILL ROCK YOU, we were able to show some very special children what it would be like to perform on a professional stage, and to rock out in front of a live audience. These kids came on stage and we put them through their paces, teaching them ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘We Are The Champions’. These guys were awesome, learning the songs and movements so quickly. Then it was show time! Their parents were seated in the auditorium, and with full lights, full band, full sound, the curtain came up and we gave them a show of a lifetime! The kids rocked out with the cast of WWRY and proved that they were the true champions of the world. The smiles on their faces were all we needed. Music truly is the universal language and what kid doesn’t want to rock out?! It was such a beautiful day for everybody... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/48/WHEN_YOU_WISH... Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:14:37 -0000 YAYA EMILIA I find myself staring out of my hotel window at the spectacular view that is Hong Kong. I will never tire of this sight, and am trying to soak it in as much as I can. I have less than 2 weeks of it left. There is still so much I have not done here, but have tried to keep myself fresh for the show and for my duties. I am counting my many blessings and am so grateful for all the love I have felt and the good fortunes that have come my way. It is with this that I have a heavy heart with the news that my Yaya (nanny) Emilia has suffered a massive stroke in Manila and is fighting for her life in hospital. She has given her life in service of me and my family. She has been like my second mother, taking care of my brother and me in Australia for a year. She has shown nothing but love and affection to me and my family and she is truly one of the sweetest people to have ever walked this Earth. I do not know a life without her around. If I could just ask for her to be in your thoughts and praye... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/47/YAYA_EMILIA Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:34:50 -0000 MUSIC MATTERS The showcase gig at CLIQ last Wednesday for MUSIC MATTERS was a total blast! The WWRY band were tight and explosive. These young guys are the real deal. Enthusiastic and hyper-talented. They are a joy to play with and I am so privileged to be on stage with them. Everyone has been asking about the guys, so it was well worth dragging our asses off to the gig after an exhaustive show at the Lyric. I met a fantastic group of people from all over the world. It is a truly great event here in Hong Kong. My ears are still ringing from our hard core cover of I WANT TO BREAK FREE! Went to Disneyland with some of the cast last Monday and had a ball. My cynicism I thought I might feel dissolved away as soon as we got on the Disney train to the park. They just do it so well! The shows in the park were awesome. Thank you for taking care of us. Hong Kong is exhausting! The pace of this city is so like New York. Never ending and relentless. I barely have the time to do any sight-seeing during the week a... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/46/MUSIC_MATTERS Sat, 7 Jun 2008 13:53:07 -0000 PERSPECTIVE We have just experienced three days of national mourning for those victims of the catastrophic earthquake in Sichuan, China. There is much sadness and suffering and the cruel loss of so many young children has pulled a blanket of sorrow over the earth. I continue to pray for the souls and the families of the innocent victims, the injured, the homeless and the grieving. It is almost too much to think what they must be going through. And to think so many deaths could have been avoided had the buildings been built properly in the first place. There are so many questions that need to be answered. So many wrongs need to be accounted for. They must not have died in vain. I hope that in their memory, a complete re-evaluation of the safety of all buildings everywhere is done to safeguard us all from this ever happening again. Everything seems to pale in comparison to the earthquake in China and the cyclone in Myanmar, but I am in Hong Kong and the show has well and truly opened. The response h... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/45/PERSPECTIVE Wed, 21 May 2008 20:32:05 -0000 HANDLE LIKE CHINA I am loving Hong Kong!! This place is unbelievable! All I have seen so far has blown me away. The city has developed even more since I was last year and Olympic fever has hit here big time. The huge Olympic rings that grace the harbour shore give no doubt that this is an Olympic city (equestrian events will be held here). It also gives gives no doubt that we are in China. The earthquake today in Central China’s Sichuan Province has rocked the world more than literally. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those men, women and children still unaccounted for. To suffer so much in that way is beyond me. I only wish the death toll is not as high as they predict. And I am shocked and angry at the stupidity of the frustrating situation in Myanmar. How can a government just sit there and deny its own people the means and supplies by which they can survive, and watch them die, just to protect their own selfish power?! This insanity has got to stop! I am shell shocked, and see h... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/44/HANDLE_LIKE_CHINA Tue, 13 May 2008 01:54:47 -0000 KING HONG KONG I'm at the airport after almost getting car-sick in the taxi in horrific traffic out of New York. The lounge in Terminal 7 is an oasis of fountains and Sultana Bran. I have to board my Cathay Pacific flight in 10 minutes, so I have to rush. Hong Kong, here I come! I love this city. It is the New York of Asia…or is that Shanghai? It took me ages to pack and it's getting harder and harder to leave my beautiful family. I am looking forward to coming back to amazing NYC and making a life for myself and getting creative with writing and recording and auditioning and LIVING! Not to say I'm complaining. Travelling is always exciting. Just a little tired and emotional right now. Gotta fly… Always, MiG xx http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/43/KING_HONG_KONG Sat, 10 May 2008 05:16:11 -0000 NEW YORK, NEW SITE Greetings from the MiG Apple. It's so great to be back home and actually see trees of green, red and pink buds blossoming all over the place. The changing of the seasons is so dramatic here! I love it. Spring is so in the air, and there is such beauty everywhere it brings a lump to my throat. I thought Central Park was beautiful in winter, but wow! Spring has become my official favourite season, especially since I have had no major hay fever attack yet. I might be just in denial, but maybe I might be getting over this crippling ailment I've had since I was a teeny tot, where your eyes swell up, and you sneeze for hours. Claratyne is doing the trick. Fingers crossed! This new site I've put up must have caught people by surprise, but I hope you like it. It is so much more manageable than the previous site. I can edit it and control it completely by myself, adding everything I want to add and responding to those who want to get in touch with me. I guess there might be some improvements to ... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/42/NEW_YORK_NEW_SITE Mon, 5 May 2008 20:33:29 -0000 MiG Official Site In Transition There is a new dawn breaking in MiG land. A new land where all is welcome, where people can roam freely and speak their mind and listen and watch and read all that is MiG. The new MiG site is being born. Stay tuned to <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vbWlnLW11c2ljLmNvbQ==">mig-music. com</a> Coming very very soon… In the meantime, you can sign up for my new <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vbWlnbXVzaWMucHJvYm9hcmRzNTYuY29t">official forum</a>! <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vbWlnbXVzaWMucHJvYm9hcmRzNTYuY29t" target="_blank"><img src="http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd116/mig-music/new_site_button.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Always love, MiG x http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/41/MiG_Official_Site_In_Transition Sat, 3 May 2008 05:01:13 -0000 ONE SUNSET AT A TIME - MiG Ayesa (Live!) MiG and the WE WILL ROCK YOU band play ONE SUNSET AT A TIME (M.Ayesa/M.Scanlen) at The Pump Room in Singapore, 23 April, http://migayesa.multiply.com/video/item/5/ONE_SUNSET_AT_A_TIME_-_MiG_Ayesa_Live Thu, 1 May 2008 02:04:52 -0000 SING, SINGAPORE! I can’t believe we are almost at the end of our time in the Lion City. It has been such a spectacular season in so many ways. The Singaporean public have embraced WE WILL ROCK YOU like nothing I’ve ever seen. The flags still fly proudly, lining the streets of this beautiful city, heralding our triumphant stay at The Esplanade. We have but four shows left, before we depart for our next destination of Hong Kong. I will never forget the warmth and enthusiasm of the Singaporean people. I have felt so welcome here, I cannot wait until I next return. I am yet to meet a rude Singaporean or one who I dislike. This is a beautiful country blessed with beautiful people. I am so thrilled that Singapore has also embraced my solo CD project. It has been selling at every good record store and hearing my songs on the radio has been a dream come true. The fact that MTV has picked up the video for SHE LOVED has thrilled me to no end. It is as though my career is only truly starting now, and I am so grat... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/40/SING_SINGAPORE Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:16:41 -0000 MiG Ayesa - SHE LOVED The new video of SHE LOVED from MiG's debut CD. Song written by MiG Ayesa and Matthew Wilder. Produced by Gigi Malavasi http://migayesa.multiply.com/video/item/4/MiG_Ayesa_-_SHE_LOVED Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:56:42 -0000 WE WILL ROCK YOU http://migayesa.multiply.com/photos/album/4/WE_WILL_ROCK_YOU Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:38:56 -0000 WE WILL ROCK YOU MiG continues his triumphant return to the stage as ’Galileo Figaro’ in WE WILL ROCK YOU - the Musical Spectacular by QUEEN and BEN ELTON, guaranteed to blow your mind! Tues- Thurs 8:00PM Sat-Sun 2:00 PM & 8:00 http://migayesa.multiply.com/calendar/item/10002/WE_WILL_ROCK_YOU_ Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:41:42 -0000 MTV Interview with MiG Ayesa in WE WILL ROCK YOU MTV-VJ Taya interviews MiG on the set of WE WILL ROCK YOU in Singapore, at the Esplanade http://migayesa.multiply.com/video/item/3/MTV_Interview_with_MiG_Ayesa_in_WE_WILL_ROCK_YOU Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:33:15 -0000 NOTHING POOR ABOUT SINGAPORE I find myself well into the Singapore season of WE WILL ROCK YOU and continue to be run off my feet with all that is happening here, and all that Singapore has to offer. I have done a lot of publicity for the show, and am also thrilled with the way Universal have really stepped up and decided to back my CD here. To see my CD in the ’New Releases’ of record stores again has raised my spirits and have given me hope. If I can do well in Singapore and the South East Asian region, I would be more than happy to keep coming back to tour, record, perform, whatever! I recorded a ’live to tape’ unplugged hour for Harry’s ’Acoustic Lounge’ on Power 98 yesterday. It will be aired this Sunday at 4pm. I took along one of the guitarists from the WWRY band, Nick Kendell and we played a set of songs from the ’MiG’ CD, WE WILL ROCK YOU as well as a song that will definitely be on my next CD. It was so great to just play again, to sing my own songs. Nick is only 18 years old (!!) and played like a man w... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/39/NOTHING_POOR_ABOUT_SINGAPORE Wed, 9 Apr 2008 07:52:38 -0000 SINGAPORE FLING Tonight we open WE WILL ROCK YOU in Singapore. I am truly excited about playing to audiences here in the magnificent Esplanade Theatre. This building is incredible! It breathes, it moves, it thinks and tonight it's going to ROCK! Everything so far has gone super smooth here (knock on wood). The crew are well oiled and the cast are pumped. I feel in great health despite some jet-lagging, and am almost breathless with anticipation! Singapore has impressed in ways that I did not even expect. I knew I loved Singapore, but now this love has grown to jaw-dropping awe, maybe even jealousy. How come everything here works so well, so modern, so clean yet they are also able to retain the important historical aspects of the city that has made it what it is today. The weather is humid and PERFECT! The people are so overwhelmingly beautiful in attitude and truly in every way. I am yet to find a kink in the armour... Overture, light the lights, this is it, we'll hit the heights, and oh what heigh... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/38/SINGAPORE_FLING Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:17:45 -0000 ALIENS IN NEW YORK Ok. Here's the deal. I'm having a great time off with my family in New York City. This city never stops. It never stops surprising me, entertaining me, feeding(!) me, energising AND draining me, empowering me and loving me back. I have had time to totally disengage and rearrange myself. 10 days left before I fly to Singapore. I am so looking forward to the Singapore leg of WE WILL ROCK YOU but am LOVING being home too. Nice to call New York 'HOME'. I even had time to do a gig for the Australian Stock Exchange at THE AUSTRALIAN pub on 38th Street in NYC. I put together a super kick-ass band and rocked the night away. So nice to get back to my 'rock-roots' and just have a true blow-out. I miss doing those balls-to-the-wall gigs. I hope to do more when I get back to NY. I got the chance to see one of the best Aussie comics around at the moment doing his show at the New World Stages in NY. TIM MINCHIN is incredible. No word of a lie, you have to see him before he becomes a huge internation... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/37/ALIENS_IN_NEW_YORK Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:42:40 -0000 MiG set to ROCK SINGAPORE! <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R82DMgoKCDAAAAPRcxI1"><img border="0" class="alignright" src="http://images.migayesa.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R82DMgoKCDAAAAPRcxI1/Singapore_project05_final-1.jpg?et=FfyPHmp5wzkkjAZ3jiF6kw&nmid="></a>Visit <a href="http://www.mig-music.com/tour.aspx">http://www.mig-music.com/tour.aspx</a> for the full schedule of SINGAPORE dates. http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/36/MiG_set_to_ROCK_SINGAPORE Tue, 4 Mar 2008 17:15:10 -0000 WHEN TWO TRIBES... I visited the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) between South and North Korea. I was amazed at the craziness of the situation. If the stupidity and hopelessness of conflict could be best exemplified, it would have to be the tension that exists in the DMZ. The Cold War here still exists. The war has not ended. It is only a cease-fire that has been in place since 1953. The Koreans are still suffering this incredible division of their people. However, this line has lasted so long, and has been so severe, that the two regions of the Korean Peninsula have become divided not only geographically, but ideologically, economically, religiously, spiritually and culturally. The South Koreans almost don't ever want to be unified with the North, as they do not want to shoulder the economic responsibility to drag them out of their quagmire. The Korean leg of the WWRY International Tour has been bittersweet. The burning down of the Seoul Arts Centre was a serious blow to us, forcing us to play the Seongnam... http://migayesa.multiply.com/journal/item/35/WHEN_TWO_TRIBES... Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:10:01 -0000 MiG Official Site http://migayesa.multiply.com/links/item/15/MiG_Official_Site Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:41:54 -0000 MiG Official Store http://migayesa.multiply.com/links/item/13/MiG_Official_Store Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:41:23 -0000