ARKAI Interview

J = Jonathan Miron

P = Philip Sheegog

1. What is your name and your profession(s)?

Jonathan Miron, violinist of ARKAI.

Philip Sheegog, cellist of ARKAI.

We also compose and produce our own music

2. What is your ethnic background and what is your citizenship?

Jonathan is half-Taiwanese, half-American. Philip is half-Japanese, half-American. We are both US citizens.

3. Are either/both of your parents musicians or somehow involved in the music industry?

Not for Jonathan! 

P: Both of my parents are amateur musicians, they wanted my siblings and I to have an appreciation for music (but there wasn’t ever any pressure to take it to a professional level).

4. Please tell us a little bit about your experience, either growing up as an AAPI in America, or as a person of Asian descent who immigrated to America, whichever applies.

J: As a mixed-race, hapa kid living in Taiwan and Singapore, I honestly never really gave much thought to my ‘identity’. It was just who I was, and I’m immensely grateful to have grown up in countries that made me feel welcome. When I was 9 years old, my mom moved with me to Cincinnati, OH so that I could further my music studies. For both of us, that was quite the culture shock, especially arriving in the American Midwest of all places. I definitely felt like the odd kid out at times, especially just being one of a few Asian kids at school. I was lucky to eventually develop a close friend group and community that made me feel welcome. When I was 14 years old, I moved to New York City, and I’ve been there ever since! I absolutely love NYC because of its incredible diversity and vibrancy. 

P:  Growing up mixed-race (“hapa” or “wasian”), I’ve always felt like I’ve been between worlds. Southern California (and the classical music educational system there) has no shortage of Asian influence, but I definitely felt slightly disconnected from that. In a funny but fitting way, the music that Jonathan and I make as ARKAI feels like a reflection of that boundary-crossing identity. While at times it can feel alienating because you don’t exactly fit into the pre-existing categories, the beautiful side is that it means you can offer new perspectives and new ideas.

5. How connected do you feel to your heritage/culture(s)?

J: Being mixed race, it’s often easy to feel like we’re not fully one identity or the other. I’m so grateful to have been raised by parents who celebrated both my Western and Asian identities and made sure to give me lived experiences within both cultures. A big part of that was shaped by where I was raised, and I feel so lucky to have grown up in diverse countries like Singapore and New York. Though there are inevitably shortcomings (my Mandarin has declined a bit since I lived in Taiwan!), these decisions and experiences have shaped my worldview and given me a deep love and pride for my heritage and upbringing. 

6. 6a.) How did you get into music? Did you major in music in college? Where did you attend college/university (and grad school(s), if applicable) and in what subjects did you get your degree(s)?

J: Music has practically been with me my entire life! My parents found me watching old Laser Disks (this dates me!) of Yo-Yo Ma when I was a wee lad. I demanded to play the cello, so they had one made for me. It ended up being bigger than I was, so I switched to the violin (the little cello) and started playing when I was 4. At age 9, my mom moved with me from Singapore to Cincinnati, OH so that I could study violin through the Starling Preparatory program at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music with a distinguished professor. I stayed in Cincinnati until the start of high school when I moved to NYC. I’ve been in NYC ever since…now almost 20 years! I studied at Juilliard for college, receiving both my Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music Performance.

P: One of my older sisters had started playing the violin from an early age. Several years later, when I was 8, her violin teacher suggested to my parents that I start studying the cello with her colleague who also taught locally. I had some incredible teachers and mentors growing up who helped nurture my passion for music, eventually to the point where I auditioned for and got into Juilliard (a place where I never would have imagined I could have ended up just a few years prior). I studied at Juilliard for six years, receiving both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Cello Performance.

6b.) When and how did you decide you were going to pursue music professionally? What were your parents’ reactions to you deciding to pursue music? Do they support your music career now?

P: I was a sophomore in high school when I felt a palpable sense of vocational calling to music. While my parents were both under no delusions about the challenges of pursuing a creative career, they were supportive of my passion and focused on helping me develop the character and work ethic that would eventually become my foundations. They continue to be my biggest fans and bedrock!

7. What are a few of your (music) projects of which you are the proudest? What were your roles on those projects? Beyond those projects, please feel free to name some of your other credits as well as any brands/companies you officially endorse.

P: I think we’re extremely proud of our most recent album Brightside! That record represents so much of who we are and so much of the journey that we’ve been on paving our own artistic path. It’s also a completely self-made record — composing, engineering, editing, mixing, marketing. While we now have a team helping us grow and expand the reach of our music, it’s incredibly satisfying looking at that album and knowing all of the blood, sweat, and tears that went into making something that we love. It was a dream come true when Brightside recently won a GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.

8. What are some obstacles you have encountered (if any) being an AAPI in the music world? What are some obstacles you have encountered (if any) as an AAPI in general (non-music)? Conversely, has being an AAPI ever helped you in the music industry or in general?

J: Being mixed race, I’ve naturally always felt a little different, a little out of place…not fully “one” enough. There have certainly been times when it’s been difficult here in the US, a culture that I primarily identify with, even though I look more Asian than White. I’m often judged and assumed to be Asian based upon my skin tone, and I’ve had a few unfortunate experiences being on the receiving end of racist questioning and slurs. 

On the flip side, I’ve also loved leaning into my mixed race – both from a uniqueness angle, but also in a way that celebrates my relatability and ability to bridge divides. It’s empowering to flip my mindset to approach things from a ‘Yes AND’ standpoint. I think people can relate to this confidence and mentality, and I’m so grateful that we have a public platform that allows us to celebrate and showcase our identity. It’s a responsibility that I cherish deeply.

9. 9a.) Who are some AAPI musicians/composers/producers who have previously inspired and currently inspire you (if any)? Why?

J: Yo-Yo Ma — I love Yo-Yo because he’s beyond just an exceptional classical cellist – he’s a cultural icon that uses his platform to make the world better. Whether it’s breaking down musical barriers through cross-genre collaborations with James Taylor, inter-disciplinary collaborations with the Mark Morris Dance Company, or bridging cultural worlds by founding the International Silkroad Ensemble, Yo-Yo Ma has shown how powerful the arts are can be as connective vessel and beacon of hope. 

P: Joe Hisaishi — he wrote the soundtrack of a generation’s imagination, scoring nearly all of Hayao Miyazaki’s pantheon of animated films, and creating an aesthetic of wonder and beauty that is distinctly Asian, but also timeless and universal.

9b.) What are your hopes for the AAPI music community and your hopes for AAPIs in general?

J: My hopes are for the AAPI music community to continue to stay creatively bold, inspired and innovative. It’s been wonderful seeing AAPI entertainment start to get the mainstream attention it deserves here in the US, and I hope it’s just the start of a vibrant, fortuitous time as we continue to break down existing barriers in the industry.

10. Name one or two non-music-related things/subjects about which you are also passionate.

P: We are both passionate about music education! Education is the critical starting point, and neither of us would be where we are today without the teachers, mentors, education systems, and community programs that exposed us to and helped us develop a love of music. The arts often get deprioritized in education in spite of resounding evidence of their qualitative and quantitative benefits. The arts are critical to the health of our society, to fostering a spirit of connection, and to reminding us of the power of our shared humanity.

11. Any final thoughts? Alternatively, do you have any questions for me and/or the greater AAPI music community?

N/A

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Images courtesy of ARKAI (Photo credits: Shervin Lainez & Rankin for the Recording Academy)