Mishka Adams’ aesthetic roots are in the literary, visual, and musical arts. Born May 19, 1984 in Manila, Mishka Adams is the daughter of Agnes Arellano, a Filipina visual artist and Michael Adams, a British writer. She was already a part of the Philippine literary scene at a young age, as her father published the Caracoa literary magazine and the Philippine Literary Arts Council. Mishka also writes poetry that eventually becomes songs. “A lot my songs started out as poetry. She explains that her dad was an important influence on her. At the age of 10 she began learning saxophone and was already signing jazz standards at the age 14. After completing her A-levels at King’s School, Canterbury, she flew to Manila to continue her education at the University of the Philippines College of Music. She was invited to perform at the British Council’s musical spectacle ‘Jazz in Time,’ which featured Courtney Pine, a UK jazz legend, and Cameron Pierre (one of Candid’s musicians). The audience was impressed by her flawless rendition of Billie Holiday’s iconic song, ‘God Bless The Child’. Alan Bates in London received a demo and she was given a budget and signed her for her debut album, “God Bless the Child”. Mishka, now a graduate of London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2007, saw the release of her second album, “Space”. A compilation entitled “Willow Weep for Me” was released by Mishka recently. It features songs from her first two albums and four previously unreleased tracks. A fourth album is expected to be released by her in April 2011. bio via facebook.com
