Jay Som - Belong

Six years on from 'Anak Ko', Jay Som’s Melina Duterte returns with 'Belong': a confident, quietly bold indie-rock album shaped by distance, reinvention and a whole lot of studio hours.

In the years since her last release, Duterte has been everywhere but centre stage – producing Grammy-winning records, touring with boygenius, and rebuilding her relationship with music behind the mixing desk. That time away wasn’t just a break; it was a recalibration. 'Belong' is the result: a record that opens itself up, lets others in, and still sounds entirely like her.

Opener 'Cards On The Table' is playful and layered, with vocals that glide over warped electronics. 'Float', featuring Jimmy Eat World's Jim Adkins, leans into crunchy, melodic alt-rock with real ease, while 'Past Lives', with Hayley Williams, goes big on emotion and even bigger on guitars. Both collaborations feel purposeful, not performative – real creative chemistry, not just names on a tracklist.

There’s contrast throughout. 'Appointments' is a delicate, open-hearted highlight. 'Casino Stars' is quirky and offbeat. 'What You Need' and 'Drop A' sit somewhere in between – polished, charming and quietly infectious.

Lyrically, 'Belong' circles themes of identity and connection. It’s an album about letting go of control and letting other voices into the room. “Collaboration brings me one step closer to understanding myself,” Duterte says – and you can hear that across every harmony, every layered guitar line.

Jay Som’s return is anything but hesitant; 'Belong' is assured, emotionally rich and full of depth. A quiet triumph.