It’s not unusual to hear an artist’s hiatus described as a breakaway from the busy life of a celebrity. So it’s quite special that Miguel Escueta—who, for a time, was a regular on a Sunday noon TV show and signed with a major record label—did something rarely done by a singer-songwriter who walked away from it all: he kept himself busy putting up a coffee company.
The one he co-founded, Frank & Dean, is now an established brand, as he returns to recording with a song that essentially captures the mood of his entrepreneurial success.
Miguel’s new single, “Summer Dream,” made its way into digital stores a couple of weeks back and, by all means, reignited the excitement of old fans while sparking interest among listeners unfamiliar with his previous work. It’s a calming, middle-of-the-road piece anchored on a tapestry of modern sounds properly stitched together, and a vibrant vocal delivery innate to the singer. A keyboard riff holds the fort, while an exhilarating, monumental shift comes in the final minute.
Trust me, you’ll be satisfied that you waited for the song’s climax—which, if you listen close enough, you knew was coming.
“Summer Dream” is a return to songwriting after a self-imposed retirement from music. “It felt natural, necessary—like reconnecting with a piece,” the one-time host of GMA-7’s now-defunct Party Pilipinas said in a press release that meaningfully stresses his creative journey from full-time recording artist to hands-on coffee guru-CEO of a corporation running several espresso bars.
Miguel Escueta is re-embracing the showbiz spotlight “from espresso back to expression,” as his team cleverly puts it.
The stylish espresso bars operate under a brand name inspired by legendary singers Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin—two of its celebrated founder’s favorite acts.
Frank & Dean Coffee, co-founded by Miguel, has grown into a thriving brand. Its flagship café sits in the Five/NEO building in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, and it serves select Unilever and GCash locations. It also supplies top-tier clients like Wells Fargo, P&G, and Lazada. The company roasts its beans and pasteurizes its bottled coffee line to meet the demands of a fast-growing market.
Miguel clearly has a thing for the word “dream.” It shows up in both Frank & Dean’s popular Dream Latte and in the title of his new single, “Summer Dream.”
Backed by Liga Artist Group, Big House Records, and designer Pat Soriano, Miguel’s return to music is a continuation of the strong discography he built with songs like “Sleeping While the World’s Awake,” “Handa,” “Isipin,” and “Falling Away.”
He calls it “a reawakening of musical expression that never truly left.” While growing his business during the pandemic, Miguel never lost touch with his creative side. His return to songwriting came naturally, even therapeutic. “I forgot how therapeutic writing music can be,” he said.
“Summer Dream” is his first single in seven years. It carries lines like “You got me on a string / You pull me right back in” and “Take my hand / ’Cause I’ve got no other plans,” which hint at the healing power of music. He teamed up again with longtime collaborators: producer Juni Devecais, engineer Mikel Miller, lead guitarist Mateo Escueta, and bassist Paula Castillo.
Miguel has come a long way from his early 20s, when he began releasing songs and landed international publishing deals. Despite stepping away from performing and recording, he’s kept his emotive vocal timbre and artistic sensibility.
He used his time off wisely, building a brand that resonates with movers and doers—people like him. And as the world shifted, so did his creative energy. The result was a seamless return to music.
Now a devoted husband and father, Miguel credits his wife Laia and daughter Callie for inspiring him daily. “They’re a big part of who I am and what I do today,” he said.
