Myles Wilhelmson Ng performs at the launch of his new single
“If It’s Love” at K-Pub BBQ Korean Restaurant at Ayala Center Cebu.
FOR a young lad raised in a family of entrepreneurs and nurtured by parents, who are forces of their own in various organizations and advocacies in Cebu, Myles Wilhelmson Ng has managed
to carve his own path and pursued interests he is truly passionate about.
He speaks with a mix of confidence and humility and espouses a charming smile that would make any Mama proud. There is a tenderness in him; a sweet and caring personality that is somewhat uncharacteristic for a boy who grew up with two older brothers. But one only needs to meet his mother, Melanie, past president of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to understand where Myles acquired his sunny disposition.
His father, Wilson, is Superman sans the cape, whom Myles described as the person responsible for his continuous pursuit of excellence. Wilson leads the family business, Ng Khai Development Corporation, a leading computer and systems integrator based in Cebu City and with business relationships with companies all over Asia. Wilson’s love for both music and business is Myle’s inspiration and role model that the two can be pursued and practiced at the same time.
At 17, Myles has accomplished several feats including serving as leader for a band called Junior Troubadours; captain of the varsity team Center for International Education (CIE) Lions; CIE Student Leader Prime Minister; CIE String Ensemble Concert Master; and class salutatorian. He was 15 when he composed the jingle for the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 50th anniversary. Just before he left Cebu to pursue a degree in Economics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Myles launched a new single
“If It’s Love” at K-Pub BBQ Korean Restaurant at Ayala Center Cebu surrounded by family and friends. The single is produced by 22 Tango Records. The single can be streamed on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon and Deezer. A music video can also be viewed on YouTube.
Launching this single is a dream come true for Myles and as he once said “I can only go up from here.”
Tell me about school and the degree you are pursuing. Right now, I am studying in the Chinese University of Hong Kong and I am taking up Economics. I am taking Economics because I come from a family with a business, Ng Khai Development Corporation. We work with multiple ethnicities economies, different people, not just in the micro-economy scale but there is also big scale in terms of trade. We work with Japanese, Chinese companies. We have connections with Hong Kong and more recently, Koreans. So we are working with Asians in general so studying Economics works hand in hand with that. Other than music, business is important to me and my family.
How did you start with music?
My Mom told you the story. (laughs) But yeah I was a really shy boy. I remember my mom exposed me to my first teacher. I performed for the school choir. I was so shy. I used to think singing was only for girls. Back then I had a really high-pitched voice. I was like, ‘I sound like a girl! Is that a bad thing? Am I a girl?’ So I thought that if I exposed myself, it would be some sort of embarrassment. Every time I sing, I would squirm in embarrassment but I would see my classmates hold their hands… they wave their hands. I didn’t really expect the response. It started from there.
So you never wanted to be a singer or a performer?
Honestly, I never thought it was even possible. I started out as some six year old kid singing in events in school because I was forced to… well, when my Mom or Dad paid me money to perform. (laughs).
But you grew up with music in the family.My grandfather and my Dad are into music. There is always someone in the family with music as their passion. My Angkong has been singing all his life. He inspired me to pursue singing. My Dad is also musical. He plays the piano and the flute. My constant playing happened with Junior Troubadours, the band that my Dad put together when I was 11 years old. We disbanded recently because we got really busy.
Tell me more about your Angkong. My grandfather is my hero, my inspiration. His name is Antonio Chua Jan Sing. He is the greatest singer ever. He has been singing his whole life, since he was a teenager. He is the reason why the whole music idea started in me. I was first exposed to his singing. He somewhat influenced me to take voice lessons. My mom later sent me to Centre for Pop. My grandfather is my inspiration. He performs like no other. He always performs with style and sticks to who he is. He connects to his audience. He knows who he is and he does not stop performing. Above all these, he affects the way I perform. He has been there for me. He has always been supportive of me, my music and my singing.
How about your parents?
My mother and my father are two biggest reasons why I am standing where I am today; not just with music but life in general. In terms of music, my Mom… most people would see her as my marketing manager or someone who posts about me on Facebook. But she is more than that. My Mom is my number one fan, my number one supporter. She has always been with me since Day 1. (She was there)the very first time I held a microphone and sang at Center for Pop. She is my Mommy. She believes in me and that’s just how I began. She was always there, always supportive of me and always believed in my abilities. She never gave up on me. If it was not for her love and guidance, I would not be where I am today.
My father is Wilson Ng. I don’t know where to begin. My Dad is the reason why I have reached this skill level in terms of performing, in playing the guitar, songwriting. When I was 11, my Dad formed Junior Troubadours, a band of six musical friends.
We were all rough, all raw talents. That was six years ago. I didn’t play the guitar so much well. I was still taking up summer lessons. My Dad guided me in getting lessons on vocalizing, melody, performing, singing properly. Later on, I became the band’s lead guitarist. It just flourished from there… my guitar skills, my singing skills, listening, performing, interacting. If it wasn’t for the band, I would not have developed more as a performer and that is largely because of my Dad… guiding me and believing in me. My Dad was the reason why I picked up the guitar. He was the one who told me that singing and playing is awesome.
Other musical influences?
I really like Coldplay and also Ed Sheeran, Philip Philipps and Kodaline.
How did you improve on the songwriting aspect?
I thought I would just perform in family gatherings and school events. I improved my guitar skills. Slowly but surely, songwriting came into my life. I was 13 and you know, I was just living life. I didn’t even know how songwriting worked. I just put together a bunch of chords in the same key, and put a bunch of words–the first thing that came into mind. It was candid and I put a tune into it. It was really bad. I was really quiet and discreet about it. Then I came across Cattski’s (Espina) songwriting boot camp and that was one of a kind. My classmates are recognized artists: J Russ and DT, Vincent Eco, Lourdes Maglinte. The Wonggoys work with Cattski, too. I learned a lot.
What is “If It’s Love” all about?”
It’s the story of this guy… He’s in love with a girl but for some reason, he’s asking so many questions. Why does this feel so wrong? Why does it feel right to just end it? It’s really about a person who has good intentions… who really wants to go on, really wants this love but for some reason there’s questioning. He feels like ending it is the right thing to do and he feels so guilty.
This was inspired by…
It came from experience, multiple experiences. I wouldn’t point to just one single thing at all. As a singer-songwriter, I think the best music is honest music.
Are you planning on pursuing music full time?
Honestly, only time can really tell. That’s the beauty of uncertainty. I just know that something good is going to happen out of this single. And I just can’t believe it. I just wanted this song to be a start of something, the beginningof something that could possibly be something great. The thing with me, with my music is that the goal is not really for me to have a career or be famous. I just want a chance to tell my story. Be heard. And being heard like this right now is so much more that I could ever ask for. No matter what success level (will be), I don’t mind as long as I get this chance and hopefully get more chances. I’m going in point blank. What I’m bringing with me is my music and my honesty in telling my stories. I will always continue writing. Music is always going to be not just a hobby. It’s a passion. It’s always going to be a big part of me. I’m never going to lose it.
You launched a single in Cebu and then you left for Hong Kong. What is your gameplan then?
I think that is the beauty of youth. I am only 17 so having a definite answer is, to me, not needed right now. If the question is about whether or not I think it could be a career, my answer is yes. I think it can be a career. As for now, music is a passion but it is not something thatI am pursuing as my first priority. Right now, I am focusing on education. I don’t know where to go after yet. I hope that from my education her in CUHK I can gain great experiences not just for business but with life. I am turning 18 in a month or two. My future plan is to stay in the university… work hard, study hard— and keep making music along the way.