He graduated magna cum laude with an electrical engineering degree, opened for Anderson .Paak, walked New York Fashion Week 3 times, appeared in a film alongside Brian Tyree Henry, and almost made it to Broadway.
The kicker? He’s not even 30 years old yet.
Wyn Avillas, 25, also known as Wyn Makes Noise, demonstrated that the American dream is for everyone who dares to pursue it—and he’s not done proving his point.
He’s a Harlem-based Filipino-American musician, model, and multi-disciplinary rising talent who’s been collecting credentials while making it in the Big Apple.
Born in Quezon City, Philippines and raised in the U.S., Avillas honors his family’s sacrifice—a condition faced by many immigrants to the U.S.
When he’s unwinding, you can find him in Harlem’s many hidden gems for underground music heads. Often frequented by big players in the industry like Lil Kim and other New York City legends.
“I always remind myself that I do it for her.” he said of his mother—and his grandmother, who physically carried him on the 20-hour flight from the Philippines to the East Coast when they first arrived.
The engineering degree wasn’t a detour from music—it was the very foundation that built up his already illustrious career.
“I picked engineering because I knew that it would be a little more stable,” he told Bleed Magazine, acknowledging the ubiquitous high expectations immigrant families carry without ever saying a word.
Now—he’s doing both.
Avillas fronts Mangrove Red, a Filipino-American jazz fusion collective performing original work rooted in indigenous Philippine musical traditions.
“[My mission is] spreading healing and positivity—through the fusion of culture, music, and art,” he said.
Avillas made it clear that he’s a man of the people, offering advice for every young person of color who’s ever been made to feel invisible.
“Don’t let anyone ever dim your light,” he advised.
With Easter and the spring season in full effect, Avillas made it clear that he plans on expanding—with multiple secret projects underway.
The stages are only getting bigger. The bylines are already running. Harlem’s Wyn Makes Noise is here to bring in a new era of sounds from the Philippines.
