Jay Som
Everybody Works
Polyvinyl Records
Melina Duterte, the Bay area-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist who records and performs under the moniker of Jay Som, had a soul opening experience while on tour last summer. According to an interview via Pitchfork, Duterte described opening for “kindred spirits” Mitski and Japanese Breakfast. “We’re all Asian-American women in indie music, which is mostly white-male dominated,” she reflected. “For me, it felt like we had a mission.”
“Everybody Works”, is a ten song road trip through dream pop configurations, whip-smart fuzzy indie rock hues and endearing slinky tracks that surreptitiously remain in the head after only a brief listen. Duterte wrote, recorded, played and produced the offering entirely by herself. In her bedroom. In three weeks.
Duterte has expressed that in making this album, she was inspired by Tame Impala, Yo La Tengo, The Pixies and Carly Rae Jepsen.
Which one can assume to be true, but there is a heavy Sonic Youth vibe on “1 Billion Dogs”, and a beautiful Kate Bush ethereal presence on “Remain”. Yet the most impressive caveat with “EveryBody Works”, by the Oakland, Ca resident, is the nonchalant attitude positioning of “One More Time Please” and “Baybee”. These two songs, in particular, establish a laid back confidence, well beyond Jay Som’s 22 years. “Baybee” marks Duterte’s on-screen debut appearance in a music video.
Everybody Works will be released on March 10th
Jay Som North American Tour Dates:
3/10/17 – Las Vegas, NV @ Neon Reverb
3/11/17 – Phoenix, AZ @ Viva Phx Downtown Music Festival
3/13-17/17 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/18/17 – Dallas, TX @ Trees ^
3/20/17 – Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop #
3/21/17 – Madison, WI @ The Frequency #
3/22/17 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry #
3/23/17 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club#
3/24/17 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern #
3/25/17 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s #
3/26/17 – Toronto, ON @ The Garrison #
3/28/17 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott #
3/29/17 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s Alright #
3/31/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle #
4/1/17 – Washington DC @ DC9 #
4/4/17 – Iowa City, IA @ Mission Creek Music Festival
4/6/17 – Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge #
4/7/17 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court #
4/8/17 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux #
4/10/17 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge #
4/11/17 – Vancouver, BC @ The Colbalt #
4/12/17 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile (Back Bar) #
4/21/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
4/22/17 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
# with The Courtney’s
^ with The Drums and No Joy
