Last January 19, I was able to attend a round table session with AJ Mitchell at Cuesina, a Filipino restaurant at the Venice Grand Canal Mall. The American singer and songwriter was in Manila for a mall tour at selected malls to promote his upcoming album, Skyview.
Aside from promoting his music, we also got a glimpse of the singer’s personal influences. AJ shared that he started writing songs at the age of six and that he counts The Beatles and Coldplay among his favorite bands of all time. His songwriting process is straightforward, as he says that the melody comes first then he sings it in his phone. He later adds the words then plays it in his piano.
He also looks forward to meeting Filipino musicians such as Morissette during his visit.
Among the random trivia that he shares about himself is that he can’t have caffeine. He prefers hot tea to protect his voice.
He enjoys playing the piano, and it is central in his songwriting process. He also makes sure to enjoy his life so far. He shared that he likes to go to the beach, play basketball, and spend time with family.
His upcoming album, Skyview, has an interesting inspiration. He wants to let his fans know about his home town of Belleville, IL through his music. To be able to share about his personal experiences through his songs is a privilege for him, and he hopes that his Filipino fans will continue supporting him.
Read more on AJ here.
After the intimate press conference, we proceeded to his mall show near the grand canal. It was a performance to remember, as AJ made sure to connect with his fans. He really enjoys performing and makes sure that his audience is having a good time.
I definitely enjoyed the show, and I can’t wait to listen to more music from AJ!