FOR budding musician, Marckel Aries, TV3 Mentor was never merely a talent show; it was the turning point, the stage that gave him the discipline, self-assurance and visibility to transform passion into a profession.
Marckel, who placed second on Mentor XI in 2022, describes the show as the cornerstone on which his music career was constructed, and he is ever grateful it helped shape the entertainer he has become.
"TV3 Mentor was a life-changing experience for me. It exposed me to a wider audience, helped me grow as a performer, and taught me discipline, confidence and professionalism. It gave me a solid foundation to build my career as an artiste.
“Every week on that stage taught me something new about myself, about performance, and about what it really takes to make it in this industry. Looking back, I don't think I would be where I am today without that experience," he revealed in a chat with Graphic Showbiz on Monday, July 13.
Born Enoch Markwei, Marckel said before Mentor, he was an unknown musician honing his craft with local bands.
"Before Mentor, I was simply a passionate young musician working hard to improve my craft. I was writing songs, recording, and performing with live bands such as Fulltone Band, Asanka Band, and Da Star Band whenever I had the opportunity.
“These bands gave me the platform to sharpen my stagecraft and connect with real audiences long before Mentor came along, though.
“I, however, auditioned for the TV show because I believed it was the right platform to challenge myself and introduce my music to a bigger audience. I wanted to test how far my talent could take me, and I felt ready for that next step," he added.
Speaking on what the platform offered him that he might have struggled to find elsewhere, Marckel Aries said, “It gave me visibility, experience and credibility. Performing every week before respected judges and a national audience helped me develop in ways that would have taken much longer on my own.
“Every performance pushed me to improve, whether it was my stage presence, my vocals, or my connection with the crowd. That kind of consistent exposure and feedback is something you can't easily get outside a platform like Mentor, and it fast-tracked my growth as an artiste,” he stated.
Asked if the industry had embraced him the way he expected after Mentor, Marckel admitted the road had not been easy.
“The journey has been rough, but every challenge has made me stronger. The music industry is very competitive, so I've learned that consistency, patience and hard work are just as important as talent. I'm focused on growth rather than rushing success," he mentioned.
Marckel also revealed he was not signed to any label and was currently going at it solo.
"At the moment, I'm working independently, and it has been a real headache managing everything on my own. It isn't easy because you're responsible for everything from recording and promotion to visuals and marketing. The biggest challenge has been juggling creative and business sides, but that’s also helping me grow as an artiste and entrepreneur. I've had to learn things I never imagined I'd need to know, from budgeting for a music video to negotiating with vendors.
“It's demanding, but every lesson is preparing me for the future, whether I sign with a label eventually or continue building my own brand," he shared.
Notwithstanding the challenges of managing things solo, Marckel has released a number of songs, including Only You and Girlie O. His latest single, Julie, dropped on Friday, July 10.
