LUKE MEJARES THE BLACKBIRD OF ASIA
Isip pagsaulog sa iyang ika-20 nga anibersaryo sa music industry, dunay bag-ong album nga ipagawas si Luke Mejares karong buwan sa Marso nga giulohan og “Blackbird” ubos sa Homeworkz, ang label company nga gipanag-iya sa pareho niyang RnB singer nga si Jay-R. “Sakto jud ka bay 20 years na ko diri sa Manila karong Abril, 2017 kay niabot ko sa Manila 1997 man,” matod sa Boholano singer sa akong exclusive interview. Michael Luke Mejares, Ssssuper Ka! Tell us about your upcoming album? Half sa mga kanta sa album kay danceable, funky sound. Then the other half love songs. I have a duet with Jay-R entitled “Pa'no ang Gabi” composed by Vehnee Saturno and another duet with Top Suzara, “Maybe Forever's with You.” Ngano “Blackbird” ang title? Nag-start na nga joke namo ni Jimmy Bondoc. Inspired sa Songbird ni Regine Velasquez, ug Asia's Nightingale ni Lani Misalucha. And also inspired from being tagged as Blackbird of Asia. Puros ni original compositions? Yes, all original. The last time (2012) was all remake. Wala pa koy carrier single sa Blackbird. Lisud ipili og carrier single. Basin inig hapit na mogawas ang album which is scheduled by the end of this month. Ang first single was released late last year entitled “Funk Whatcha Heard” composed by Macrus Davis, Jr. (singer/producer), husband of Amber Davis nga singer sad. Unsa pa’y ubang kanta sa Blackbird? Two songs are composed by Keith Martin, one is composed by Arnie Mendaros, who also wrote Kyla's major hit “Hanggang Ngayon.” The pop ballad, “Stubborn Love,” is composed by Jude Gitamondoc nga taga-Cebu. Motown sound ang nag-inspire nako sa album with a Filipino flavor. Ikapila na ni nimong album? I've recorded three albums with South Border and four albums as a solo artist. Kinsay naghatag nimog break sa Manila niadtong 1997? When I started as a reliever or session lead singer for South Border everytime absent si Brix (Ferraris). Mao jud to break nako. Kung dili tungod sa South Border,dili jud ko mailhan. How do you maintain your voice all these years? Rest lang �yud and get enough sleep. There was a time five or six years ago I lost my falsetto cuz of acid reflux mao after adto take care na jud ko. Maayo kay naulian? Lagi. I have a regular check up with my voice doctor. Nag-maintain kog tambal. Water pirmi. Avoid na ko spicy food. Kung kaun ko sweets, inom daghan tubig after. And pinaka importante ang 8 hours sleep. Lalo na kung naay show a day after. Kung before medyo lazy ko mo warm up or mag vocalize. Now I make it a point to vocalize before every show. Ug sa athlete pa, stretching muna before play. How do you juggle your time as a singer and MTRCB board member? Weekdays sa MTRCB unya weekends sa pagkanta. Timing sad pagka-appoint nako hapit na mahuman ang album. Actually, nasa last song na ko. One year ra man akong term sa MTRCB unless i-renew sa Office of the President. Unsa pa’y gusto nimong ma achieve after 20 years in the music industry? I hope magdugay pa ko sa industriya so I can continue to inspire and make people happy thru my music. I always have this dream to bring my music to the international scene. Kung sa tinagalog pa, libreng mangarap. I'll be turning 42 this year ( June 26). Pero bisan moabot ko og 80 years old, mo-perform gihapon ko hangtod kaya pa.