Eyewitness News' Nina Pineda sat down with ARKAI to talk about their journey from Juilliard to the world stage and how the AAPI community helped launch the local musicians to global stardom.
As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we're highlighting a duo known as ARKAI. Eyewitness News' Nina Pineda sat down with them to talk about their journey from Juilliard to the world stage and how the AAPI community helped launch the local musicians to global stardom.
Their parents recorded the moment they won best contemporary instrumental album and took the stage at the Grammy ceremony.
"The Grammy is just a huge encouragement, connecting deeply with music. " But long before that monumental moment, the duo, who met as students at Juilliard, played for free, raising their voices for survivors of race- and gender-based violence at charities, including Womankind. Here, they are performing an original composition written during COVID for victims of hate crimes at the Museum of Chinese in America.
"Philip and I have just had so much gratitude for the community that has uplifted us over the years," Miron said. "MOCA, where we met, that was the first ever commission. They paid us money to write a piece. They featured us before anyone else," Sheegog said.
Born in Taiwan to a Taiwanese mother and American father, Jonathan's mom moved to Ohio to support her son's musical talent.
"We are American, a beautiful blend. Our music is the same: acoustic and electric, modern classical. Mixed race in our heritage is maybe not an accident," Sheegog said. They stubbornly stuck to the electro-acoustic bridge binding them culturally and musically, despite pressure to choose one or the other.
"Follow your curiosity and passion. Don't let assumptions define your entire imagination of what you can be," Sheegog said.
"We did everything ourselves. We didn't have a label. We wanted to throw in the towel, but instead pave the way and show what's possible," Miron said. Fans and friends in the industry helped produce music videos, and social media spread their genre-defying style.
Soon came the Grammy nomination.
"So you were up against someone with 18 Grammys. Did you think you might not win? You give it your best shot, you never say never.
"And since their win, they now have representation. When we caught up with ARKAI at SoHo's Artist House, fresh off their Grammy win, Philip and Jon were hosting fans. A room over, the Gin Blossoms were laying tracks for a new album.
"You have to have vision from the beginning, even if people are telling you no. When no one was calling, now people are calling us. " The Grammys called ARKAI a "gale force of humanity. " They believe their powerful music can heal the world, hence the name of their Grammy-winning album, encouraging listeners to look on "The Brightside. "Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover?
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