John Vesely: Not a 'secondhand singer'

MANILA, Philippines - Like most singer-songwriters, John Vesely of Secondhand Serenade turns to music to deal with the bumps in his life and move on.

When he released A Twist in My Story last year, the American acoustic rock singer just wanted to purge himself of his emotions the best way he knew how. Little did he know that the albums, plus a previous one, Awake (2007) would make Vesely a YouTube star, earning over 20 million views and earning him the title of No. 1 artist in MySpace. 

Success comes with a price, though. Vesely admits that he had to choose between the demands of his music (e.g. a lot of traveling) and his personal life. When he realized he can’t have both, Vesely and his wife decided to part ways amicably “before we end up hating each other.”

“Music is my therapy,” he grins, while looking at his guitar, which he strummed for all he’s worth at the presscon Ayala Malls held for his free concert today at Trinoma Activity and at Ayala Center Cebu tomorrow.

If Vesely showed that he still bore the scars of his broken marriage, he did not show it. He sheepishly proclaimed that he’s willing to meet single girls in the audience.

He also said he’s open to collaborations and he’ll spend a week in Manila before returning to the US. Then he’ll be off to Italy and the UK.

“I will also make a new album,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vesely is all excited for his first visit and shows in Manila, which he describes as intimate. And he promises to give fans a hell of a time as well.