From uploading his humble cover songs online to having multiple soldout concerts, OPM artist Maki has come a long way from being an introverted kid to the bestselling singer and songwriter he is today. Quite a feat for someone who did not really grow up enjoying performing in front of people. In his exclusive interview with PUSH Bets this month, the Kolorcoaster artist gives fans a closer look into his personal life.
“I started singing ng medyo serious nung 13 years old ako. Tapos I didn’t really have the confidence kasi I love music, I love singing, but only sa sarili ko. So when I was in high school, first time ko grade six na kumanta (sa harap ng) maraming tao and well let’s just say, sometimes when you start something you like, you don’t do well (laughs). So sobrang daming mga rejections and I had a lot of rejections back then kasi maybe I wasn’t good enough at that time, maybe that wasn’t the time for me to be the person that I am now,” he shared with PUSH Bets host Gary Ann Lastrilla.
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A self-confessed introvert, Maki talked about being a creative person growing up. “I’m a very artsy person siguro talaga. Ever since naman. I like to be creative. I like to lead but at the same time, I like to be on my own most of the time. And siguro, one thing about me way before talaga, I really love creating. Madalas akong mag-games. Alam niyo yung mga games na gagawa kayo ng character, ganyan? Mga The Sims, yung mga ganyan, yung Pokemon. Kid-like talaga ako ever since eh,” he admitted.
As one of the younger kids of seven children, Maki revealed the reason he is only starting to really fully enjoy childhood things at this point in his life, which accounts for his fascination with child-like things like toys and accessories.
“Kasi para sa akin, hindi ko masyado na-maximize yung pagkabata ko kasi I had so many problems with the family growing up. Kasi 7 kaming magkakapatid. Pangalawa ako sa bunso I didn’t actually know how to be a kid kasi medyo maraming problema nung bata ako. Sabi ko nga, I owe it to myself to give back to my younger self. Ilang inner child na ba ang na-heal natin?” he said.
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Even with a lot of family members, Maki said he is proud to have very supportive parents who now believe in his chosen path, even though he had to convince them during the start of his career.
“Well you have to earn it pa rin. We live in a country where music and the arts are not really looked at as something very practical. We live in a society that doesn’t support it as much as well. So it was a risk for me and it was a risk for my parents to support me. At the start, hindi muna. Laging ganun yun. Medyo may questions, bakit? Pero wala sila masasabi, nakatapos ako pag-aaral. Sabi kasi nila yun, tapusin mo school mo and then you can do anything you want. Malaking bagay yun. Even if we are close to our parents or not, malaking bagay yung suporta ng parents. Malaking vaidation yung nakukuha natin from our parents and our siblings,” he explained.
Maki shared that the biggest show of support from his parents was not something they said but something they did for him quietly and without fuss.
“That’s why it took them just one thing na kailangan nila gawin for me to realize na they support me. Well kasi nakikita niyo kung paano ako manamit. Tintutulungan kasi nila ako, kunwari my performance ako, me and my dad and my siblings would go to thrift shops or ukay-ukay, ganyan. So one thing na ginagawa nila to support me is mahilig ako magsuot ng mga ganito pero hindi ko sinasabi sa kanila, napapansin na lang nila, bibilhin nila yan. They don’t need to buy me big brands. Kung ano lang yung gusto ko, yun na yun. Nakita ko na dun yung support. Yun yung talagang defining moment,” he added.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MAKI HERE:
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