Mishka became interested in jazz at the age of 3 and her very first initiations into music were old songs, including those of Joni Mitchell, which she listened to as a child. She then began saxophone lessons at the age of 10 and by 14 she was singing jazz standards.
Whilst taking her A levels at King’s School in Canterbury she joined the school jazz band where she was associated with some of the rising young talents of the school. Having just hurdled her A levels in Canterbury, Mishka flew back to Manila after nine years of boarding school to continue her studies at the University of the Philippines – College of music – majoring in saxophone.
She was introduced for the first time on stage where she performed with the former first lady Amelita Ramos’ Executive Jazz Band at the ‘Coming Home’ Show, a benefit show for the Museum Foundation in Manila. Henceforth, she performed in many jazz venues & music festivals in Manila.
Mishka was invited as guest artist at a major event organized by the British Council (Manila) – a music spectacular ‘Jazz in Time’ featuring the UK jazz legend Courtney Pine and Cameron Pierre, one of Candid’s artists. Her impeccable rendition of Billie Holiday’s signature song ‘God Bless the Child’, earned this young talent the immediate admiration of the audience. A representative from CANDID Philippines office asked her for a demo which was immediately sent to Alan Bates in London for approval. In barely two weeks, she was signed up and given a budget for a new recording.
Mishka’s new album highlights her individual approach to standards, incorporating world music and African-reggae inspired beats into her originals. Mishka’s charismatic innocence is put to good use in her repertoire ranging from classics like Change Partners and Autumn Leaves to her originals Where do we Begin? and War of the Skies.
Where Do We Begin
Mishka Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And how were we supposed to grow?
So this is not the way
And that is all we know
Though it surrounds you cannot see
Mankind can't bear much reality
And we go round and round
Who will be the one to stay
Who will be the one to open our eyes
Rise with sun above muddy waters
Look with a different eye
Search for reality that we cannot see in our daily lives
If you look then the truth will come to you, my friend
How do we know where to begin
We're blinded by the way things are
Then look to how it all should be
So this is not the way
And that is all we know
Who will be the one to stay
Who will be the one to open our eyes
Rise with sun above muddy waters
Look with a different eye
Search for reality that we cannot see in our daily lives
If you look then the truth will come to you, my friend
How do we know where to begin
Rise with sun above muddy waters
Look with a different eye
Search for reality that we cannot see in our daily lives
If you look then the truth will come to you, my friend
How do we know where to ...
How do we know where to ...
How do we know where to begin
In the song "Where Do We Begin," Mishka Adams addresses the uncertainty about life and questions the path that we should take. The lyrics reflect the confusion about the journey of life and how we are supposed to grow and develop. She wonders about the intended way of life and the purpose behind it. The line "And how were we supposed to grow?" highlights the confusion and the lack of clarity about the actual goal of life.
Additionally, the line "Mankind can't bear much reality" suggests the difficulty that people have in accepting the reality of life. We go "round and round" in our search for meaning and dreams, but we still cannot find clarity. This line evokes the concept of the circle of life and how we can get lost in it if we don't find a way to break free.
Despite the confusion, there is still hope that someone will be the one to stay and help us open our eyes. The song emphasizes the need to look at life from a different perspective and search for the truth that we cannot see in our daily lives. The rhetorical question "How do we know where to begin?" captures the essence of the song, urging us to reflect on our lives and find the path that is right for us.
Line by Line Meaning
So how were we intended to be?
What was the plan for us to be and exist in this world?
And how were we supposed to grow?
What path were we meant to follow to develop as human beings?
So this is not the way
Our current state is not what we were meant to be or how we were meant to grow
And that is all we know
We are only certain that we are not where we should be
Though it surrounds you cannot see
Reality permeates everything, but it's hard for us to grasp or accept it
Mankind can't bear much reality
We struggle to come to terms with the harshness of reality
And we go round and round
We keep searching for answers that we can't seem to find
In our search for dreams
Aspirations and hopes fuel our never-ending quest for what we seek
Who will be the one to stay
Who among us will have the courage to stay and face the harshness of reality?
Who will be the one to open our eyes
Who will help reveal the truth to us and give us a different perspective?
Rise with sun above muddy waters
Emerge from the murkiness of our current state and strive for something greater
Look with a different eye
See things from a different angle to gain new insights
Search for reality that we cannot see in our daily lives
Seek the truth beyond the mundane happenings of everyday life
If you look then the truth will come to you, my friend
The truth awaits those who actively seek it out, rather than wait for it to come to them
How do we know where to begin
We recognize that we are not where we should be, but we aren't quite certain where to start in finding our way
Contributed by Ethan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
carmen rosa areche calle
Mishka Adams tienes una voz angelical, única, extraordinaria ❤
Mrs GrilledTomato
Music of my childhood. One of my idols when I was young ♥
Porkifus
Always loved her music. I miss this era. Glad my brother shared a video from her IG to me
Raquel Ortega
still listening , thank you for this soothing music mishka.
hendork
I can safely say she's the Norah Jones of the Philippines, I can understand that many Filipino's abandoned our Mishka, Filipinos much prefer listening to Mainstream. I'm still a fan of Mishka and forever will.
Paul Patawaran
Mishka deserves something... Real artist of what they say. Am not into mainstream but I like listening these types of songs... I dunno with others with such a taste!
Jesse Bartolome
very good talent..i watch her making her album at womworks studio in marikina..
Ram Jam
If I'm not mistaken, that's a Seagull S6 cutaway she's playing there. I have an S6 regular that I bought in Perfect Pitch back in 2004 which I'm still using up until now without any problems. I had the privileged to listen to her studio version( no vocals yet) of Somewhere Over the Rainbow in the same studio (womworks) where she recorded it, Noli Aurillo, called us in to made us listen to his excellent four-guitar acoustic arragement of the said song but unfortunately I never got a copy with Mishka's vocals on it.
Josep Maria Fontanet Guamis
Autumn leaves, body and soul, extraordinarys songs from 'God bless the child' Fresh,calide,un soplo de aire fresco.. Una delicia .
hellgraze
i love this thnx for sharing...