Melina Mae Cortez Duterte, aka Jay Som, has a very distinct sound to her music. At times sparse, other times big fuzzed-out guitars, Jay Som makes indie rock that can spend equal time in big pop production and also low key and lo-fi. Her official debut as Jay Som, 2017’s Everybody Works was catchy radio-ready dream pop and intimate and open-hearted songwriting. And with the 2019 follow-up Anak Ko Duterte took Jay Som to the next level with thoughtful, engaging, and expertly produced indie rock. Fans of Soccer Mommy, Mitski, Japanese Breakfast, and Boygenius take note.
Jay Som returns with the excellent Belong. It’s the project’s first record since 2019s Anak Ko and it sees Melina Duterte picking up where that excellent album left off, and pushing the songwriting and production to new levels. The pop songs are poppier, while the guitar songs are louder, and Duterte seems more interested in connecting in a deeper way overall.
Belong opens with the catchy “Cards On The Table”, giving Jay Som a new electro-pop sound. Given what’s considered radio pop these days, this is a song that would be a hit for a more prominent “name” artist. Layered vocals, driving rhythm, and Jay Som’s dreamy whisper of a vocal give it all a modern sheen. “Float” is a big, driving rocker with help from Jimmy Eat World’s Jim Adkins on vocals. “Past Lives” is a moody track that features Paramore’s Hayley Williams. Williams and Duterte’s vocals blend incredibly well together.
While there are plenty of big songs, there’s also quieter tracks like the great “Casino Stars”, or the Oneohtrix Point Never-esque “Meander/Sprouting Wings”. There’s also the lo-fi grooves of “A Million Reasons Why” that brings Mac Demarco to mind. And closer “Want It All” ends things on grunge-y guitar tones with an emphatic delivery that is reminiscent of Lucy Dacus.
Belong is a welcome return and triumphant return of Jay Som. It’s an engaging album from start to finish.
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