Ahead of her comeback gig in UAE, Ayegee talks to Expat Media about her journey

  DUBAI – At 33, Dubai-based singer Ivy Grace Paredes did not imagine that her star could still shine brighter than it did on the stage of Dubai’s comedy bar where she worked as a singer since 2009. But there she was on the X Factor UK spotlight, winning over judges like Simon Cowell with her powerful vocals, gaining a crowd of supporters and finding a new fire in herself. Ahead of her comeback gig at Club of Asia in Dubai on October 21 and in Abu Dhabi on October 28, Paredes, also known by her stage name Ayegee, talks to ExpatMedia.Net about her journey to rediscovery. What made you join X Factor UK? I wanted to be a part of one of the world’s biggest talent competition. I also wanted to be recognized one day and I know that X Factor can give me a big exposure. With that, I could have a better job and give my daughter a better life. You did so well in the tryouts. How did it feel to be on that show for the first time? It felt great! For a 33-year-old singer, I thought it was a bit late to try singing or joining a big talent competition but it turned out it was never too late for me to try and try everything to achieve my dreams. You dropped out of X Factor UK. Why? I was forced to quit since the issuance of my visa was delayed. I first applied for a visit visa together with other female contestants like Gifty Louise Agyeman. We were asked the same question and surprisingly Gifty answered for me before I got the chance to answer for myself. The embassy officer thought I was famous in the Philippines because Gifty told him that I have been working as a professional singer for years. So the embassy officer said that I was applying for a wrong visa category and advised me to apply for an artist visa instead. The X Factor team tried their best to re-apply for a visa and we waited for two days for the second appointment but the visa was granted a little late. The X Factor team left for the US on September 10 and my visa was issued on September 13. What did you learn from your X Factor UK experience? I learned a lot, especially during the boot camp stage. I met different people with different nationalities. It was fun but it was also stressful. We slept late and we woke up really early. I learned to manage my time properly and extend my patience even if I was so tired and exhausted. When I was not able to continue in the competition, I also learned that no matter what happens, I should not stop pursuing my dreams, especially since I am doing this for my daughter. What is next for you after X Factor UK? I am planning to do a talent search. I have talked to some people in Dubai and we are going to search for a real talent and help them become a big star. I am flying to Dubai on the 17th of September to do a show in Club of Asia on the 21st, and after that I will attend a meeting with some friends in Dubai who also helped me travel to the UK and participate in X Factor. I have my fingers crossed that everything will work out according to plan. Let’s rewind for a bit. Why do people call you Ayegee, by the way? It’s my nickname. I first used "Ayegee" when I joined in Eat Bulaga's ‘Birit Queen 1997’ contest. Few knew me as “Ayegee” and I have been using that as my stage name ever since. When did you first arrive in the UAE and what was your first job here? I arrived in UAE in 2009 and worked as a full time singer at Comedy Junction Al Mamzar. Why did you decide to work in the UAE? What do you do now? I tried working abroad and went to UAE to find my luck. I wanted to have a better future. I have resigned from my job at Regent Palace Hotel as a singer because I went to the UK to join X Factor. Right now I am preparing for my shows in the UAE. Where are you from in the Philippines? Can you tell us more about your life there? I was born in Digos Davao del Sur and I grew up in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. My mom is a teacher and my dad was a medical representative. He gave up his job to support my singing career. I have helped my siblings go to school and now our eldest sibling is a registered teacher and the youngest is a nurse. In 2009 before I went to Dubai, I also graduated from midwifery studies. My siblings and a scholarship funded my education. Now I am a registered midwife. Let’s move to quick five questions. Ready? The song you hate to sing and why. Any song with a rap. It’s like a tongue twister and I’m not really good at it. Ha! Ha! The first thing you do when you wake up. When I wake up I usually have a cup of coffee while thinking ‘When am I going to be rich?’ and ‘How will I be able to do that?’ Ha! Ha! Your pre-performance ritual. No talking as much as possible. Internalizing the songs and pray. Three words to describe yourself. I'm a fighter. Artist you admire most and why. Beyonce Knowles. I admire her because she can dance and sing really, really well. She is not just a singer but a performer and an entertainer.

CATCH AYEGEE IN DUBAI

What: Ayegee The Return Where: Club of Asia, Wafi Pyramids When: Friday, October 21. Show starts at 10 p.m. Ticket: Dh75 Contact: 0508330644

CATCH AYEGEE IN ABU DHABI

What: Ayegee The Return Where: Societe Club and Restaurant, Sofitel Hotel Corniche When: October 28. Show starts at 10 p.m. Ticket: Dh85 Contact: 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