We were lucky to catch up with Maria de los Angeles Horigome recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maria de los Angeles, thanks for joining us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?
My parents are passionate about music and had a huge collection of CDs. My Dad was a club owner in Melbourne in the 70s and gave me the influence of Aussie Rock. My mother is multilingual, who gave me a love of the diversification of language and expression. I’ve used Japanese in my songs and published one in Spanish to cover my base languages. My Dad taught me to be a word nerd. His love of English and etymology, influences my songwriting entirely.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My mother recorded my first original song in Spanish, when I was 4. As a child growing up in Sydney, I would rush home from school to multitrack on tape, songs that I had created in my head. I then had a life in small business management. I studied at a tertiary level in Business, Justice, and Psychology. I worked level 2 Finance and had also launched a website ‘Muze Design and Management’ which later inspired the Stage and Business Name, Mia Muze which established in Brisbane in 2006. After reaching some unsigned success via the UK online, this later led me to qualify in music at the Gold Coast Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University – where I obtained a Bachelor of Popular Music. I have reached 13 separate publications in the form of albums, EPs, and singles and have contributed to the original music art catalogue globally. This year, a post pandemic Rock tale of Truth album, Parallel Life was released on my birthday in January.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Right when covid hit, I was living one of my best lives – performing on the Gold Coast beaches, living in my high rise on the Esplanade of Surfers Paradise. I was stood down from my work, and the biggest contract in music was taken away. So, I moved Southside Brisbane to look for work. Found none. People complaining that were was no work, and was one day deeply moved by a heartbreaking tale of the hardship of farmers. I decided to pack up and go help. I moved to Ayr, the Burdekin Shire – and dealt with tonnes of pumpkins. I had done this ardous labour as an exotic experiment when I was just 18. At this point, I had dealt with a lot of rural life and thought the hard yakka would be good for me. Character building. I made friends with the farmers and am still in touch with them now! They follow my music!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
After time caring for my mother during the last lockdowns, I took a job and joined the Fraser Coast community. I wrote an album to state some hardships, and more hardships came. My PTSD seemed to run havoc. I had such a hard time that I moved to a smaller town, which was really difficult to adjust to. I started to think that I will pack it in. That I would release this album, noone would care and I would just learn to live a small and quiet existence. But I befriended the township quite accidentally. And, soon the musicians in town all knew me and we gathered for sessions at the clubs. Fraser Coast 107.5FM introduced my album via radio after a first media introduction via Music Connection Magazine in LA. The rest of the year was nearly a blur. Constant radio spots, airplay, performances.. It has been a really wild ride. I’m ready for more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://miamuze.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miamuze/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/thefaceymm/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miamuze/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/miamuze
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAnScPnnaPWUarms8AR4gGw
- Other: https://www.reverbnation.com/miamuze https://www.youtube.com/@maquismusickpresents
Image Credits
Pix by Litz