GARRETT BOLDEN
Finding His Way Home
A man who previously didn't want to draw attention to himself for fear of getting ridiculed, Garrett Bolden tells the story of how the many heartbreaks in his young life led him to discover his talent for music and, ultimately,
his love for self.
Text by Cherry Sun
When Garrett Bolden, Jr. started school, he packed his little yet prized belongings and decided to run away. It was the first of his many attempts as a kid to leave home in search of his biological father.
He rummages through his memory box with discomfort and breaks into a pensive smile, “I wanted to look for people na kamukha ko, parang ganun. Siyempre lalo ako naging pasaway sa bahay. Kasi kahit sa bahay, siyempre iba eh. Parang hindi ako ma-belong kung saan ko gusto pumunta. Tapos sa school I had no real friends that I could call kasi if I want to be with them, talagang as someone na aasarin lang nila or uutasan, ganyan.”
But after feeling pangs of hunger, the defiant little Garrett decided to call it a day and go back home.
“Hindi ko nga alam kung saan ako nakarating eh, basta highway siya, may dala akong damit… Tapos may nagbibigay pa nga sa akin ng pera. ‘Oh limang piso.’ Parang tingin talaga nila sa akin… so feeling ko talaga parang ano ako, parang aeta ako at that time. Kumbaga it made me feel at least I don’t have to be compared with the people like sa family ko dahil iba sila, sa mga friend ko. At least itong mag-isa ako, parang doon ko naramdaman ’yung sense na parang okey lang, parang ganun. So I really went like everywhere… not really everywhere. Hindi naman umaabot sa point na sobrang layo pero umuuwi naman ako pag nagutom na,” he chuckles, because he now finds that little story funny.
Garrett considered himself a loner, and he’s learned to embrace it to stay away from the criticizing eyes and hurtful prejudice. The unfortunate truth is for most of his childhood, he was the target of taunts and teasing.
Discovering his roots
Garrett was born to an African-American dad, but he didn’t know this until his pre-teen years. Despite bearing his father's name, he grew up with his Dutch stepfather. And with his curly afro hair and chocolate skin, he just couldn't identify with him.
“Growing up, how can I say, I can see the physical difference between my family tapos sa mga nakakasalamuha ko na tao,” the Kapuso Soul Balladeer recalls.
“So kumbaga nakikita ko na iba ako, up to a point nga na siyempre noong bata ako parang naniniwala ako na parang ano ba ‘yun, alien ako. Parang ganyan. Siyempre I wasn’t aware about the African-American culture so kung ano ‘yung kinalakihan kong mga kasama sa family ko, feeling ko talaga naiiba ako. So sometimes, nagiging cause siya na parang hindi ako nagbe-belong.”
Because he looked different, people around him treated him differently—and poorly. Garrett’s younger years were mostly about getting picked on and being bullied.
Fidgeting, Garrett tries to fix his gaze elsewhere and says, “That’s the main reason kung bakit para akong lumaki na shy or hindi masyadong outspoken. Because most of the time, just by my looks and just by how I look, I already faced rejections kumbaga. Like ‘yung mga kalaro ko, siyempre ‘yung parents nila pag nakita ako, parang ayaw, pinagbabawalang makipaglaro sa akin, ganyan. Just by looking at me. So ‘yun, talagang nabuo din ‘yung thoughts na parang pag gusto nila ng tatawanan, aasarin, ako kaagad ‘yun.
“So that’s how I got along with them din. I let myself be teased, whether by words or physically, para lang makasama 'ko sa kanila.”
Garrett was almost 10 years old when he finally got an image of who his real father was. His grandparents showed him a portrait of Garrett Sr. in navy uniform, and this made him dream of joining the army. The photo piqued his curiosity in finding out who he really was.
It was in his senior year in high school when his feeling of alienation heightened. That’s when Garrett decided to start looking for his dad. To do this, he turned to a strength only a few people commended him about – his natural flair for music.
“I started to join singing competitions noong I was in fourth year high school. Fourth year high school na kasi that was the peak talaga na parang I really didn’t want to go to school kasi talagang ang toxic nung environment para sa akin, and sabi nga nila, doon ko na-discover na I think puwede ako maging singer.
“I think music can be the way kung saan, unang-una ang sabi ko noon, if makilala ako like worldwide siyempre, mapapanood ako ng real dad ko tapos baka ma-meet ko siya. Tapos pangalawa, specifically mga classmates ko noon na parang gusto ko dumating ‘yung time na pagsumikat ako or makilala ako as a singer is kakaibiganin na nila ako instead of binu-bully nila, pinagtatawanan.”
Searching for his voice
The only place Garrett felt comfortable and secure about himself was in the company of his relatives. When he was younger, they generously gave him more coins so he could dial more tunes in their village karaoke. It was through this simple act of kindness Garrett discovered his talent for singing.
It was his high school glee club teacher who encouraged him to join singing competitions.
Garrett began his music journey, auditioning in local TV shows like Are You The Next Big Star? and Pinoy Got Talent, which eventually helped make his dream of finally meeting his father possible.
The now defunct reality competition used to air abroad and it was Garrett Sr.’s neighbor who saw his performance, noticed his name, and informed his dad about him.
“I was able to meet my dad. Nagkakatotoo ’yung sinabi ko na mapapanood niya ako sa TV, mapapanood nila ako sa TV. So that was the turning point na nakilala ko ’yung real dad ko.”
Garrett’s half-sister immediately tried to connect with him through Facebook, and the very next day, he was able to talk to his old man and hear his voice for the first time.
His eyes light up as he recalls such fateful event, “The following month after that, nag-visit siya dito sa Pilipinas. So he stayed here for a month or so, tapos we bonded talaga.”
While Garrett was searching for his father, his dream to be a singer also intensified. But unlike realizing his goal for a father-son reunion, his auditions especially on the international stage didn’t come to fruition.
“I tried for American Idol, I tried for X-Factor UK, and I tried for Asia’s Got Talent as well. Siguro pinaka-biggest regret ko was when I tried for X-Factor UK. Everything went well. I got through the producer’s stage pero my biggest regret was I didn’t ask enough. I was so happy so I went back to the Philippines. Dapat pala I should’ve stayed because then they sent me an email. Parang three days na lang, sasalang na ako doon sa judges, I mean like kina Simon Cowell but I wasn’t able to go kasi wala na akong pera pambili ng ticket. So that was my biggest regret, na sana I should’ve stayed a bit longer I guess and sana I tried to audition and did everything I could para makabalik.”
Garrett might have missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity but he didn’t let it weigh him down. When he learned about the auditions in The Clash, he knew that he should give amateur singing contests another shot.
“Meron akong parang mindset sa sarili ko na I won’t stop until I reach whatever my goal is so sabi ko noong dumating ‘yung opportunity ng The Clash, nag-decide ako na sumali kasi sabi ko sa sarili ko parang if I don’t grab this chance, feeling ko wala nang ibang chance na darating. So yeah, it’s basically for myself talaga. Auditioning for The Clash, I wanted to prove na I won’t let this opportunity just pass by.”
Garrett joined the first season of the Kapuso reality competition. He delivered noteworthy performances and proved to be a tough contender. By the end of the show’s run, he placed fourth and Golden Cañedo was hailed champion.
While he fell short in clinching the title, his efforts weren’t all for naught.
Steering his way home
According to Garrett, his participation in The Clash still ultimately led to his victory.
Speaking with certainty in his voice, Garrett says, “The Clash gave me the freedom, my own voice, style, even sa image. The Clash gave me the opportunity to really show everyone kung sino si Garrett Bolden as a singer. Also ‘yung The Clash lang talaga, I could really say that The Clash is the only one that gave me the chance to really shine. ‘Yun, ‘yun talaga ‘yun eh.
“Kasi they really pushed me to my limits up to a point na marami akong bagay na na-discover sa talent ko. Na parang pag ginawa ko pala, kung nag-take ako ng chance, ang ganda pala ng result.“
And the lesson that he learned out of his The Clash experience?
“Never doubt yourself. That’s the biggest lesson na natutunan ko kasi sa The Clash we were all different. You know different Clashers from different types of environment, sa pinanggalingan, but at the end of the day it’s you who are going to represent yourself. Parang no one will be with you on that stage. So kapag sumalang ka na, once na you go to The Clash arena, ikaw lang talaga ‘yung magsasabi kung you’re either gonna fail or not. So doon ko natutunan sa The Clash na when you really stop doubting yourself, that’s when you begin to show your best capabilities.”
Garrett eventually signed with GMA Music, which officially made him a recording artist. He earned the title Kapuso Soul Balladeer, and he has since appeared in various live performances, TV shows, and social events.
In January 2021, he released his self-penned single, “Our Love,” a tribute to Garrett Sr.
“I was locked down sa Manila and I wasn’t able to go home sa family ko. On that point siyempre ang daming parang emotional na pinagdaanan nun. Siyempre mag-isa ka, malulungkot, ganyan. Pero one day, I was really sad, I missed my dad. Kasi nga when my dad passed away three years ago, I wasn’t able to see him. I wasn’t able to go even to his funeral.
“Then I started to create these melodies and lyrics. Parang I was hoping na sana bumalik ‘yung time na ‘yun para I could’ve spent more time with him. And then nagulat na lang ako during the writing process. You know the lyrics just came up and then ‘yung melody. And then siyempre naisip ko na rin ‘yung past experiences ko, then ‘yung stories din ng mga friends ko. Nagulat ako kasi na I was able to finish that song, I was able to finish ‘Our Love.’”
Amid the success of his music career, Garrett continues to dream big. Greater opportunities opened up for him, and he remains to be impassioned in exploring his potentials and in unravelling what the future holds for him.
In a tone no longer bearing the shame and insecurity he had when he was a child, he says, “I want to actually really enter the OPM scene. I want to create more songs, I want to bring out more songs that you know people could relate to. I want to make a mark not only here in the Philippines but hopefully parang ma-recognize din internationally.”
Navigating through life, Garrett felt lost, found a crossroad, and made a detour, which eventually led him home. All those experiences brought him far from where he was over a decade ago.
“Ang pinakatalagang malaking bagay na na-discover ko is to first of all, before everything else, you really need to love and appreciate yourself kasi that was lacking in my part. I believed in whatever people were telling me or calling me. I didn’t love myself enough to fight back, I guess. So now I discovered na when you really love yourself, that’s the only time na people can love you back. Because when you love yourself, it shows so people can see it and they will love you, whatever or whoever you are.
“It’s a message na I wanted to bring out there, sa lahat. Kasi now I know I’m not the only one who experienced this. Some are even you know, mas drastic pa ‘yung pinagdaanan pero you see these people survive or these people were able to get past that when they really accepted themselves. I guess when you really love yourself, doon mo mararamdaman na kahit ano pang lait ng ibang tao sa’yo, hindi ka maaapektuhan.”
Now, he can admit that he has found a home where he belongs. He is proud of his roots, comfortable in his skin, and confident of his own voice and identity.
