This time, we get to know Miggy Siren, a pop artist from the Philippines with influences like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Lorde, to name a few. You can hear the track "Icons" from the debut album, Literary Pieces, on the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
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1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
I was born in the Philippines, and I'm currently a college student, who is taking a Music Production course.
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
As an audience of music, I got fascinated with the fact that a lot of the artists that I've been listening to have all contributed to the writing and the creation of their own songs. Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Adele, Kesha, Katy Perry, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Mariah Carey, and Troye Sivan - they all lifted their pens and wrote their material. I knew that if I were to become an artist, I wanted to be like that as well. I didn't want to just rely on other people to write songs for me. I wanted to be the one to write my own songs and have creative control over them. Also, a bunch of these artists also play instruments whether they're writing songs or performing live onstage. That's what inspired me to take piano lessons. I can truly say that the piano lessons made it easier for me to write songs nowadays.
𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?
I would say Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift are two artists that influenced my music and artistry a lot. My late mother is also one of my biggest influences. She was the reason why I got introduced to music in the first place.
4. What are your goals in the music industry?
This may sound cliché, but I really want my music to reach a lot of people. Although on the other side of the coin, I don't want to be famous. I just want to be able to continuously make music, get a lot of people to support it, and generate a lot of money from it (at least enough to pay for bills, food, daily needs, etc.), while still maintaining the privacy of my personal life.
Another thing that I want to share is that I was able to write a story that is a musical. This is also another goal of mine: to have that story be greenlit, and have the songs that I wrote for that musical, be heard by everyone one day.
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
It really depends on where I am at the moment. Usually, it's just me writing lyrics either on my phone or on paper, and then playing chords on the piano. Interestingly enough, I have conceived melodies and lyrics while doing laundry or taking a shower. Sometimes, I come up with phrases in my head and then a few minutes later, I have written a full-length song that includes those phrases. Other times, I'm just bored and randomly playing chords or notes on the piano, and then it turns into an actual song. I also want to point out as well that my other song, "Stolen Heart", was inspired by a dream that I had. There are also times that I have yanked out some phrases from my diaries and journals, and included them in my song lyrics.
6. What is your all-time favorite song?
I would say that 'Don't You Forget About Me' by Simple Minds is my favorite song of all time. This is because not only is 'The Breakfast Club' one of my favorite movies, but also I just really enjoyed singing it. Also, one of my favorite TV shows as a child, "Victorious", had some of the cast members covering the song, and their version sounded marvelous.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
I mean, I didn't get this advice directly from the person herself, but Taylor Swift's advocacy for artists to have ownership over their music, was what inspired me to gain ownership over my music, and it also gave me a sense of caution when it comes to signing contracts with labels. I would say that's the best advice that I have ever received, even if it wasn't directly said to me. The best advice that I would give in terms of music, is to keep in mind that not everyone is going to like the music that you make. The important thing is that you like it yourself. Regardless of whatever opinion other people have, if they end up enjoying the music, then that's all that matters.
8. Proudest accomplishment?
As of the moment, releasing my debut album, Literary Pieces, was my proudest accomplishment. As far as I know, I think I'm the first one to release a full-length vocal album among my Music Production peers. If not, well it's still an accomplishment for me regardless. After a year of keeping all those songs on the cutting room floor, they have finally seen the light of day.
9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?
I guess the only thing that I could think of so far, would be the time when I played the wrong key while simultaneously singing and playing the piano. I redeemed myself though, telling my listeners that at least they know that I'm playing live.
𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
I guess my lowest point in music was when I realized that my music mentor was emotionally abusive toward me. This is considering that they were someone that I looked up to a lot. Getting hurt and betrayed by them during a time when I needed them the most, really felt awful. I'm just glad that I have finally cut ties with them, and have proven to myself that I don't need to depend on them in order for me to succeed in music.
On a happier note, my highest point in music was when my debut single, "I Shall Return", got 5000+ streams AND was played on a radio station. It may not be a lot by any means, but for someone starting out in the music industry, it really means so much! This is to consider that this is a very personal song to me, and it's touching to see that a lot of people can also relate to it, especially at this time of the pandemic.
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