Fil-American indie artist Jay Som releases new album, Anak Ko.

Fil-American indie artist Jay Som releases new album, Anak Ko.

by rick olivares

Filipino-American indie pop artist Jay Som (or Melina Duterte which is her real name) is back with her second album, Anak Ko.

Fans who availed of Anak Ko via Illinois-based Polyvinyl Records before August 14 received the early bird package that included a booklet. The first pressing of the record in red orange color is limited to 750 copies and will be released on August 23.

The album title, Anak Ko, was inspired by a text message from Duterte’s mother that read: “Hi, anak ko. I love you, anak ko.” Anak Ko is her third effort in the last three years following 2016’s surprise EP hit, Turn Into, and 2017’s follow-up debut full-length album, Everybody Works. 

What further makes this even more cool is that in the last two weeks, three albums were released by Fil-American artists. Versus just released their sixth full-length album, Ex Voto. Versus’ fellow new Yorkers, Plus Minus, also came out with their digital only release, Summer 2019: Extended Play.

What further makes this even more cool is that in the last two weeks, three albums were released by Fil-American artists. Versus just released their sixth full-length album, Ex Voto. Versus’ fellow new Yorkers, Plus Minus, also came out with their digital only release, Summer 2019: Extended Play.

However, the Tagalog title is as far as any Filipino reference there is as the album was recorded when Duterte moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The songs were inspired by the Joshua Tree (the national park; not the U2 album), Nirvana, Portishead, and life.

“I feel like I’ve always written about giving so much of yourself and being sad/okay with it,” reflected Duterte. “But this record seems to deal with the same topic with the acceptance and resolution of this is who I am.”

Making the album, Melina added, “I was a caffeinated neurotic mess yet again. On some nights I would stay up all the way to 7am to finish the fine details of a song.”

True to the home recording nature of her music, Duterte cheerfully admitted that “you can hear the dryer or thee washer next to my room in some of the songs.”

Nevertheless, it is a wonderful new record that Jay Som has put together in Anak Ko. The new album is a mélange of lo-fi pop in intimate and mournful tones that straddle the lines of shoegaze and indie rock that make for a delectable listen. 

The album kicks off with the immensely hummable “If You Want It” with its discordant guitars that beg for your attention.

“Superbike” has that “Champagne Supernova” feel and is one of the best tracks on the album. 

“Peace Out” is like a slow PJ Harvey song that within the lo-fi range tears off towards the end. 

“Devotion” is a welcome change of pace with a quirky beat.

“Nighttime Drive” ends Side A with a song that reminds me of why I loved 1990s Sacramento lo-fi act Holiday Flyer and Los Angeles-duo, Best Coast. 

“Tenderness” which leads off Side B reminds me of why I love indie music. Jay Som shows that she can dabble in a poppier sound that will remind one of either Prefab Sprout or even the Pearlfishers with a jazzier melody.

The title track is next with its Portishead swells; a poignant reflection of what is to come in her life. 

The last two tracks “Crown” and “Get Well” have this melancholic country-esque feel to them. 

Summing up her latest effort, Jay Som reasoned, “I hope that people listen to the album whenever it feels right for themselves. It can be happy, sad, lazy, fun, or in the background experience.”