Scrunching my nose as I hear Mikki’s enthusiasm in horror movies, I figured: it’s not a match for me. But he’s breaking the deal when Mikki opens up his love for various artists and music itself. Influenced heavily by his brother, he started making his own beats. Realizing that he’s barely 20 years old and probably started making bits and pieces of music, for lack of a better term and definitely an understatement, I am amazed by his passion and talent. Being a musician is his initial plan but to be redirected to becoming a P-pop artist isn’t so bad. He enjoys his time like a usual teenage boy with a hint of discipline and maturity with their hectic and loaded schedules altogether. But keeping his head in the skies, it’s never too late to learn something new to improve and be the best at what he does.
PARCINQ sat down with Mikki to talk about his discovery and growth with music and his life as the next big thing in P-pop.
Can you share with us your creative journey in the music scene?
Before po ako sumali sa Star Hunt Academy nung training po namin, I was influenced by my brother po talaga kahit dati pa. He’s a DJ and then I would often go to his room to watch him do his thing when he plays the music on the controller. Then I always ask him to teach me how to use the controller. That’s how I got into a lot of genres because he always listens to rock songs, EDM songs and rap songs. Then after that, dun po ako nag start makinig sa iba’t ibang genre and then a year before po ako sumali sa SHA (Star Hunt Academy) dun po ako nag start mag sulat ng songs. Before ko po sinubukang magsulat, triny ko rin pong gumawa ng mga beats po. Triny ko rin po kase sabi ko sa sarili ko kung kaya ng Kuya, kaya ko rin.
What did you perform during your audition at SHA?
Ang kinanta ko po sa audition, ni-rap ko po yung isa sa mga kanta na nabuo ko po dati pa. Tapos pinasayaw din po ako at pinakanta rin nila. Hindi ko po alam na mangyayari po yun. Nalaman ko nalang yun parang weeks before and then nagpaturo po ako sa kasama ko ng mga kanta at sayaw. Buti nalang nakapasok po ako sa audition.
What is something new that you'd want to learn this year? I think it’s still the same po, not new po talaga pero I just want to be good at it —yung pag produce po ng kanta since I stopped po before. Gusto ko rin po matutunan kung paano mag play ng instruments and mag arrange po ng kanta ng mas maayos.
Do you think you have become more productive throughout the pandemic?
For me, sa skills po sa pagsusulat medyo bumagal po sya pero pagdating po sa singing and dancing dun po ako mas naging productive kase during pandemic po talaga yung training namin eh and every day sya so dun po talaga ako nag focus and nag grow.
What is a typical day for BGYO like? Are your practice days really busy?
On weekdays, we wake up at around 7 AM and then start our training at 8 AM. Usually, we train from 8 AM to 12 noon which is our dance class, minsan nag eextend po mga 12:20 ganun po. Then siguro mga 40 minutes lunch break kase mag pprepare pa po kami for our voice class at 1 PM until 4 PM. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday meron po kaming KUMU which is a LIVESTREAM po at 7:00 to 9:00 PM pero usually nag pprep po kami around 6:20 PM. After ng event sa KUMU, minsan may shinoshoot pa po kaming content, before mag 11:00 PM tapos na po kami nun. After nun natutulog na din po kami agad kase maaga pa kaming gigising the next day.
What do you do when you’re not training or working?
Hindi po ako mahilig sa mobile games pero pag wala po kaming training, minsan naglalaro po ako ng PS4. Usually, nag y-YouTube po ako and natutulog nalang po kase yun nalang din po yung time ko para magpahinga. And, naglilinis din po kami ng closet kase lagi sya nagugulo. Pagnilinis po every weekend, magugulo po sya sa weekdays.
Have you always wanted to be a musician/P-pop artist?
Musician po yes pero maging P-pop artist hindi ko po sya naisip dati. Hindi po ako super familiar with P-pop before kase usually more on Western songs po yung pinapakinggan ko and mga rap songs po. Yun po talaga yung parang aim ko dati maging rapper so dun po ako nag focus.
Who’s your inspiration in making beats?
Oh, I think sa paggawa ng beats ang inspiration ko po ay sila Kanye West, J. Cole and Travis Scott po. Kase kahit rappers po sila, magaling din po silang gumawa ng beats nila and hindi lang po basta basta beats but hinahangaan din po sila sa paggawa ng mga beats sa mga sikat na producers po.
If you can learn to play a new instrument today, what would that be and why?
I think I’ll start up with the piano kase mas need po sya sa production. Well, two most important instruments for me siguro are guitar and piano but if I would go to producing, I’ll choose piano.
What sort of music do you like to listen to?
Before po ako naging trainee, more on rap songs na po talaga pinapakinggan ko. But now, mas nag widen pa po yung genres ng pinapakinggan ko. Kaya right now, sobrang na appreciate ko po yung Pinoy music nung nagstart po ako ng training kase mas napakinggan ko pa sya, kase dati di po ako masyadong nakikinig sa Pinoy music but now nakikinig na po ako almost everyday and more on chill music yung pinapakinggan ko.
Who’s on your most-streamed list?
I think number one po is Zack Tabudlo, then number 2 is BTS and number 3 is well di ko po sure eh kung sino nasa list ko sa Spotify.
What are some things that fans would be surprised to know about you? I’m not scarred of horror movies parang mas nagugustuhan ko pa po habang pinapanuod ko. (laughs)
On Mikki: Suit by Ryan Chris Baylen, Shirt by CELINE, Custom Pin by KUROBARA
If you could switch talents with one of your bandmates for 24 hours, who would you choose and why?
I think kay Kuya JL or Kuya Aki because they’re good at singing and I wanna sing well too, they’re my idols.
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Words by Anna Fregillana (@annafregillana)
Interviewed by Anna Fregillana & Joe Andy
Produced by Philip Vargas (@plipfilms)
Photography by Rxandy Capinpin (@rxandy)
Art Direction, Final Art & Video Editing by Joe Andy (@heyjoeandy)
Fashion Videography by Pogs Francisco (@snaps_ph)
Styling by #TeamRyujiShiomitsu (@teamryujishiomitsu)
Grooming by Jaime Sy (@jaime_sy)
Hair by Mycke Arcano (@mycke.arcano)
Special Thanks to Direk Lauren Dyogi, Mq Mallari, Jovy Aberion & Star Hunt.