JAGMAC Talks ‘Motivation’ and How They’re Staying Creative in the Midst of Quarantine
JAGMAC really isn't like any other musical group out there. The six-piece band (made up of siblings Jared, Angelique, Gabriel, Emmanuel "Manjo," Alyssa and Carlos "CJ" Patalinghug) has a unique camaraderie, and a distinctive style that stems from their personal heritage.
They're also incredibly talented as both musicians and performers, and their latest single, "Motivation," is proof of that. Both the new single and its stylish music video dropped today, Oct. 8, and we got the chance to find out all about it in our latest interview with the band.
Check out the new music video here, and keep reading to find out how the rousing song came to be.
Sweety High: What was the songwriting process behind "Motivation"?
JAGMAC: The songwriting process, in general, is always exciting—especially when you have a team of talented people around you to bounce ideas from. "Motivation" is one of those songs that just came to us naturally once the concept was created. We knew we wanted the production to have a Latin vibe to it so that we could end the summer with a BANG!
(Photo credit: Cameron Laque)
SH: What inspired the song, and why is it meaningful to you?
JAGMAC: The song was inspired by our own personal struggle as artists striving for success in the music industry. It is meaningful to us because it's our own true story, yet everyone can relate to the universal theme of staying committed, focused and motivated to fulfilling your dreams! What motivates us is doing what we love together as a family.
SH: Does the band have any tips for staying motivated, especially in the face of everything happening in the world?
JAGMAC: Our tips for staying motivated are to love what you do, because when you enjoy the work, you'll find yourself putting in more time, energy and effort.
SH: Who are your biggest musical influences?
JAGMAC: As a group, some of our biggest musical influences are The Jackson 5, The Black Eyed Peas and Bruno Mars. We each have our own individual influences as well.
(Photo credit: Oleg Khoroshev)
SH: What is it like to be in a band of siblings? What are the benefits and challenges of that arrangement?
JAGMAC: We get asked this question a lot, and in all honesty, it's actually so much fun! The benefits are that we get to share and live out this dream we have with each other. The challenges are that there are a lot of us! So when traveling and in tight quarters, we definitely get on each other's nerves sometimes. However, we're just so blessed to be doing this together as a family and we wouldn't want it any other way.
SH: How has this pandemic affected the way you all create music together? Which parts have been easier, and which parts have been harder?
JAGMAC: This pandemic has definitely affected all of us in a way, especially with touring—or should we say, the lack of touring. We truly miss seeing and performing for our fans in person. However, the internet has been a very powerful and resourceful tool in terms of staying connected with our JAGMAC fam and being able to provide content for them. In a way, the quarantine has been a blessing because we have been able to increase our fan base since we've had more time to stay home and create.
SH: What do you think sets you apart from the other musical artists out there today?
JAGMAC: What sets us apart from other artists out there today is the fact that we're a fraternal sibling music group who are also all black belts, and we incorporate the martial arts into our sets and choreography. We also have a unique Eurasian look since our dad is Filipino and our mom is Polish.
(Photo credit: Cameron Laque)
SH: What's next?
JAGMAC: What's next for us is to keep putting out more music, videos and visuals. We have some incredible music that we can't wait for everyone to hear! Maybe there'll even be an album and tour soon!
Curious about JAGMAC? Click HERE to learn everything you want to know about the band.