It has been almost seven months since Miguel Escueta
launched a single. In that span of time, he has been busy invading the
underground rock scene with gigs in venues such as Club Dredd, 6Underground and
Mayric's, among others. He also just recently signed up with new management:
The ALV Talent Circuit, headed by talent manager Arnold Vegafria. Aside from
that, he and the band have also been in the studio working on a repackaged
version of his debut album, which he and MCA Music Inc. have decided to call I
AM ME: Amplified. It is a double disc series—with the new album containing 5
new songs and 6 videos. It features the carrier track "Handa," Miguel's own
rendition of the rock hits "Mr. Brightside," "Just Like Heaven," Blue Monday,"
and his original Balik Simula (Reloaded). The album also contains videos of I
AM ME: Amplified Sessions: I AM ME Launch Video, Falling Away, Isipin, Isipin
(Acoustic) and Take Me There.
Now that the production process is done, ME and the rest of the band (Juni Devecais, Jeng Tria and Roy Secillano) are back on the airwaves with a new single titled "Handa," (the first one off the new CD). They have also finished shooting the music video for this song, and it premiered during the first week of August. Hotshot director Treb Monteras took care of this one. He used a concept that is very performance driven and added a slight/edgy touch of metaphor that might remind viewers of some videos of the UK based rock band Oasis and the ever so loved Coldplay.
In an interview, Miguel said that "Handa" is probably the most powerful and emotional song that they have ever released as a single due to its lyrics and the way they deliver its performance on the album (this was again produced by band-mate Juni). He also said that director Treb created a video that perfectly suits the power and emotion that the song entails. "We were very lucky to have had the chance to work with him," says Miguel.
"This song, along with the others on the Amplified album, will give the public an idea of the direction that we are now taking musically," adds ME. "We are all very excited."
I AM ME: AMPLIFIED is now for sale in all major record bars nationwide and is available courtesy of MCA Music Inc.
