Meet Miguel Juarez | Guitarist and Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Miguel Juarez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Miguel, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am Miguel Juarez, and I am a successful guitarist, songwriter, and business owner because of my consistent failures. I was born in Los Angeles to two highly extroverted Filipino parents who were both studying abroad to get their respective Master’s degree’s in Marketing. They moved back to the Philippines when I was a year old, and I grew up in Metro Manila. I was sent to some of the most academically acclaimed and progressive schools in the country, but was extremely shy, introverted, and failed to achieve anything noteworthy. I was 10 years old when my parents separated and my father bought me guitar. I was not particularly good or naturally talented, but I enjoyed playing it at school with my friends. I failed and had to take summer remedial classes every year during high school. I received a full scholarship for college and was kicked out during my senior year. When I turned 21, I moved back to Los Angeles and tried playing music full time (mostly busking). After I ran out of money and motivation, I joined the US Army as a Combat Medic, was stationed in Fort Benning, and was kicked out two months before my contract ended. After this I met my wife, travelled the world, and started playing music full time. Whatever I was doing, I was always playing music during my spare time until it eventually became my full time job. My gifts were never exceptional, but I was always surrounded by brilliant and talented people who all impacted me with their unique perspectives and approaches to life and its ups and downs. My experiences and connections with people are what allow me to write songs and tell stories through my guitar. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to play and share it. Being married along with five children, I should have enough inspiration for a lifetime.

What should our readers know about your business?
I have started and invested in countless businesses that all failed because my heart was not entirely in any of them. Throughout all my travels, jobs, and experiences, there are two things I have always done during my spare time: play guitar and write music. My music performances and ideas are my brand and my business, which have been incorporated as “Miguel Juarez Music, LLC” since 2019. I did not originally set out to be a full time musician, much less incorporate a business. I just enjoyed playing guitar and writing songs. Whatever school or job I went to, I would use every spare time to play music and practice. I would practice not in the sense of “practicing for a performance”, but as a doctor or lawyer who “practices their profession” everyday. I would take any gig that would allow me to practice regardless of pay, music genre, or personal differences just because I enjoyed playing guitar. Even when I did not like a gig, I would just call it “paid practice”. My work/music ratio just kept tipping more towards music until I eventually had to form a business. The path getting to where I am was not easy and only gets more challenging. Music takes a lot of perseverance. As with any art, there’s a lot of rejection, self doubt, and pride with every step. I think the most important thing is to enjoy the process. I was never the most talented or skilled guitarist or songwriter, but I keep doing it because I believe I have something to contribute, regardless of how miniscule. Most days it doesn’t seem like our tiny contributions matter, but they do. Every few years or so, there’s that person who comes up to me with a tear on their eye after a performance and says, “Thank you for that.” How can I ever stop doing this when that’s even remotely possible?

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The energy of Atlanta has always been vibrant, uncompromising, and continuously growing. Although I stay in Columbus, which is a small city/big town 80miles south, I still drive up for work. Apache Cafe is a great spot for creatives to perform and express themselves freely. Eddie’s Attic is fun too. My family always stops by the “Chinatown mall” in Chamblee when we’re able to. They have great food, and the kids love shopping for clothes at Ms. Ma’s, she’s awesome. In Columbus, some of my favorite places for live music are Soho, The Loft, and Downtown Broadway.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been so many amazing musicians I’ve played and performed with, most importantly my first guitar hero, jam partner, and cousin Kuya Anto. However, the biggest reason I am still alive and playing music today is my wife Jennifer. I don’t think anyone has heard my songs and music the way I want them to be heard until I met her. She is my muse and greatest inspiration. Jennifer is an extremely talented singer and songwriter. Our kids and I are the lucky few to actually hear it, but I’d like to think that the world gets a glimpse of her genius through my music whenever it inadvertently makes its way there through inspiration and sometimes downright stealing (which she’s very much aware of). I love you Jennifer!

Website: https://linktr.ee/migueljuarezmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/migueljuarezmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/migueljuarezmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/migueljuarezmusic

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7reC21azwIbAH9skJbXDVx Guitar Loops FOR SALE: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1M-yj7vRQpKPOpWlryemyY4K7T93FD2QV