Let Fil-Canadian Mico lead the pop-punk resurgence for this generation
Photo from micotoronto/Instagram
Finding a footing in the highly competitive music scene, where talents ebb and flow, is no easy feat. Yet, there remains an air of mystery enveloping this Filipino-Canadian artist who embarked on self-releasing music in 2019 and is currently making waves in the industry.
Meet Mico, a Toronto-based artist who has been slowly appearing on the radar of young pop rock fans.
Mico and his early influences
Born in Toronto, Miguel Veloso, also known as Mico, went from the corners of Soundcloud and Discord to the spotlight of the music scene, which is nothing short of remarkable. For him, the internet isn’t something to be overthought; it’s like his second home.
Growing up in a household where his parents indulge in classic Filipino sound, he found himself drawn to a different taste—immersing himself in the world of pop-punk. Famous bands like 5 Seconds of Summer and Marianas Trench instilled fond memories in his mind and inspired him to create music that resonated with people.
His self-released songs
Embossed with a passion for sharing his music to the world, Mico began self-releasing tracks. His sound is a blend of his musical influences, his roots, and at the same time fusing them with the emotional depth of his chosen genre with modern production techniques.
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Independently releasing his debut single, “Who Do You Love,” his lyricism is introspective, drawing from personal experiences and universal themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.
This extends to the rest of his songs like “Down!” “Another Soul,” “Maybe I’m The Problem Now,” and “Cut My Hair.” With this creative freedom, he’s altering the indie pop landscape for future artists who come after him.
Generation next
With his artistic vision and growing discography, his following also expands. According to Spotify, he skyrocketed from 36,000 listeners in 2019 to 1.4 million listeners in 2022 and with more than 555,000 monthly listeners in 2023.
His music crawls deeply with listeners who value authenticity and vulnerability in artistry. With each new release, he garners increased attention and recognition in the music industry.
On Sept. 13, the Fil-Canadian singer-songwriter released his third project, “The Tears We Fight EP.” This seven-track record evokes a strong sense of nostalgia from the 2000s while adding a fresh twist to pop-punk.
One of the songs is “Peaked,” which is “a song I wrote about being the ‘gap year’ kid of the friend circle… I hope you don’t relate.”
relate.”
With each track, listeners are taken on a sonic journey that captures the essence of the era and infuses it with a contemporary energy that’s impossible to resist, making it seem like Mico is performing live.
Following the release of his latest songs, he is currently on his first North American headline tour, which began on Sept. 22 in Sacramento, California, and will conclude in Toronto on Dec. 7. He announced on his Instagram that the last stop will be a “super mega crazy hometown birthday tour finale.”
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Take note, some of the tour’s stops are either low tickets or sold-out already.
Mico’s journey as a self-released artist to a pop-punk star in the making proves the new media’s democratization of music and the participatory power of social media.
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Through platforms like Soundcloud and Discord, he has been able to form a dedicated fan base. With his genuine passion for pop-punk, coupled with his authenticity and vulnerability in his music, he is undeniably a rising star who revives pop-punk anthems for the present era and is worth keeping an eye on.
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