In “We Will Rock You”, ongoing until next Sunday (July 27), many Bangkok musical theatre lovers have found a new sweetheart in its leading star MiG Ayesa. At the curtain call of Bangkok’s premiere performance last Saturday matinee, the cheer for him was so deafening—a part of which was from the young woman sitting next to me in the theatre and in my car—that I had to ask the local producer for an exclusive interview backstage. 

Although he has not been exploring Bangkok, with all the rehearsal and performance schedules, MiG already sees that, in his words, “Wow! Bangkok really rocks!” 

“I was having dinner at the Night Market, where you had to buy coupons for your food, and suddenly this band started playing with full sound system and there were only about 20 people there. I felt like jumping up there and joining them.”  

Born in the Philippines, raised in Sydney, lived in London, and now residing in  New York City, MiG is best known for the fact that he came third in the reality TV show “Rock Star: INXS”, in which the Australian rock band scouted for a replacement for the late Michael Hutchence.

MiG portrayed Galileo in West End’s Dominion Theatre [where the show has been running for more than six years now] for more than two years. He recalls, “There were lots of crazy Queen fans. [Mobbed for autographs and photos] It took me about an hour to get into the stage door and another hour to get out of the theatre every day.” 

The number count of performances was over 750 when he joined this South African-Australasian tour last year, and has since been to Johannesburg, Auckland, Hong Kong, and Singapore. 

“I’m probably over a thousand [performances] at this stage, but it never goes over me. When a production of this scale hits town, there are no boundaries and no short cuts—you have to give it all. It’s a joy when you go on stage knowing that you have great support from a fantastic band and great supporting cast. Especially when we’re on an international tour like this, you have a new city to explore. Every city and culture has a different way of showing appreciation, and something might not work so well in a certain city. For me, these always keep it exciting and fresh—there’s always an element of danger.”  

Another secret on how to make afresh each and every performance of the same show is probably what aspiring actors should always keep in mind. 

“The key to doing any long-run shows is to listen. Rather than concentrating on what you’re about to say, you should concentrate on what’s being said to you. The thing that comes out automatically should then be fresh because you’re in the moment. It’s the hardest thing to do but also the greatest joy of theatre. You have to keep in mind that the audiences are watching this for the first time and I don’t think I’ve ever done exactly the same performance. I also realize that I’m blessed to be able to do this as a job and the day that I take it for granted is the day that I should give it up.” 

“Also, [performing in] this show is never easy. Vocally, it’s the most challenging show I’ve ever done in my life. Basically, you’re singing some of the greatest rock songs ever written and originally sung by some of the greatest rock voices ever lived. Freddie Mercury has been one of my heroes. One of the most daunting experiences was when I auditioned for the show in London with ‘We Are the Champions’, and the guy who wrote the song, Brian May, was sitting in the audience. That was a wild case.” 

“The more I do the show I realize I don’t have to sound like Freddie Mercury because I’m not playing Freddie Mercury, but a guy in the future singing his songs. License has been given to me that I can sing it my way and I don’t feel as though I have to compete with Freddie. His voice was really unique. He had an operatic training; I don’t have any training at all.”  

“I’m just a hag. I learned to play piano when I was a kid. I was in a high school band, and just loved singing and songwriting. It’s one of the things that I’ve realized I love doing and I think it’s not too bad to be able to work on this for a living. It’s really hard work. I’m doing the same thing I was doing when I was 12 years old and I’m getting paid for it this time and I’m seeing the world. I got the best job. If I have to do this for the rest of my life, I’ll be happy.” 

“There are both similarities and differences between Galileo and me. One of the first lines he said on stage is ‘I want to make real music’, and that’s me. I always want to write music and sing my music. I started playing classical music on piano, and when I was 10 years old, a friend of my father who’s a jazz musician showed me how to play chords. Everything started to make sense for me because I sucked as a classical pianist. I started writing songs when I was 12 years old, I just fell in love with it. I learned by playing Billy Joel’s, Stevie Wonder’s, and Elton John’s songs, anything that I can grab a song book of. For me, it’s a form of expression.”  

“Also, when I was a kid, I had a bad stutter. But when I was singing, I lost it. On stage, I felt normal, and people stopped laughing at me and started listening to me. That’s a huge revelation in my life. Music was therapy for me, and my confidence came back to me because of it and I was able to get on with my life.” 

MiG also has another outcast experience that he can now make use of when performing Galileo. 

“[Growing up in Sydney as a Filipino kid], I didn’t completely fit in with all the Australian kids at school. I have a funny name and even asked my Mom if I could change it to ‘Michael’ and she said ‘No, you already have a beautiful name.’ It’s also funny all these immigrant children were put into separate English language sections at school.” 

“They’re [Australian kids] doing all the fun stuffs and we’re doing basic comprehension. I got really frustrated because I thought I could speak better English than them. I was eight years old when I told my English teacher I wanted to do whatever they’re doing. I topped the class.”  

Universal Records released MiG’s first album, titled “MiG”, when “WWRY” was in Hong Kong a few months ago. He’s especially delighted, being informed that it’s also available here in Bangkok, and among other places, at Rachadalai Theatre’s Gift Shop. 

“I write about anything that moves me at the time. I write about love and how it can change the world. Also, I’m getting more political as I get older.” 

“One of the songs I wrote is called ‘Could it be’, and I’m very proud of it. It’s about how I view that the world is falling apart, and that I have to change how I live my life. I think you can change the world by leading an example.”  

“In my songwriting, though, I don’t want to preach to anybody. I have my views but it’s not my position to tell people how to live their lives.” 

For more on MiG, visit his website: www.MiG-Music.com.

written by Pawit Mahasarinand

published in The Nation on Sunday, July 20, 2008