We had the good fortune of connecting with Mikaella Marquez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mikaella, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in the Philippines and came to California when I was 3. As a kid, a core memory of mine was living in different apartment complexes and cities within California — briefly, the Bay Area, but mainly the IE and LA County.

My family and I were always heavily involved in our respective Filipino and church communities, so who I am today was formed by a crazy blend of people and places, and so many hours on the internet. In all areas of my life—I was constantly being surrounded by music and was always encouraged to put on my best performance. These experiences also taught me compassion and service to people at a young age, which have been constants throughout my life.

SoCal has also been a main character in my upbringing, influencing so much of my taste and what I know. Visually/sonically my life can be summed up by listening to either Joni Mitchell’s Blue or Hejira. When I think of my life up to this point, it looks and feels like what she sings about, except the background music would’ve been a lot of New Wave, rap from 2014-2018, and whatever alternative artist I was obsessed with in a given time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art practice consists of music-making, painting, graphic design, and basically any medium that helps me synthesize the world I’m envisioning.

I’ve identified with being an artist since I was a kid in elementary school. If there was a way to express myself through visual arts or some sort of performance, I would’ve found it (or my mom would’ve lol). Even though I’ve been creating my whole life, I started to take music and art a bit more seriously in high school. I really dove into experimenting with different DAWs, honing in on how I wanted my art to feel, also playing & throwing backyard shows all over the IE.

Navigating the scene as a woman of color has been…interesting. I’ve faced a lot of disrespect and encountered such odd situations. It hasn’t gotten easier since I was a teenager, but getting to share my art with so many different people has been super fulfilling. My experiences have helped me develop more confidence, drive, and a thicker skin for my ongoing practice. In the past years, my biggest lessons have been to keep it pushing, be mindful/intentional, and constantly improve from the last thing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Everything might be really chill because I’m not a huge thrillseeker. But it will still be the best time because I’m the tour guide ayyy.

Food. Most of my favorite spots have closed down but here are some that don’t miss. Breakfast/brunch – Tenampal. I first went there the day I graduated from college. Lunch – Maybe somewhere in SGV, or somewhere an uncle or grandma would enjoy eating at. Dinner – Lasita. Gorg and Filipino. Or some sort of Izakaya. After that, Homage Brewery.

Tourist sights, vibes, arts, and leisure during the day. My friends and I love clothes and pretty things so we’d maybe go to Dover Street Market, Scent Bar at The Row for some window shopping and smelling. Also visit a Case Study house, gallery hop, depending on who’s showing that month. If it were still open, I’d go to the Underground Museum — I’ve had such sweet memories in the purple garden and taking in the Davis’ and Deana Lawson’s art. Night things: whoever is playing/DJing that night. Drinks. We’ll figure it out.

Or forget all of that and just go to the beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family and friends of course. Everyone I’ve made music with or shared art with closely in the past couple of years. Everyone who’s been to my house and eaten my parents cooking. My IG close friends list.

Website: https://www.ikaellam.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ikaellam

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ikaellam

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikaella7761

Other: Music: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikaella2/saturday-girl?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadJaM2eGgb_pnxDesmib2AVk8_DIXq_wj1jDZqCa-PeM2QMtz8NMRMqqOoffQ_aem_EM5wWsA6xATzhNt7nVLEbQ

Image Credits
Images – Jasmin Alyssia, Fuchsia.Forever, Mayonaide

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