California born and raised, Melina Duterte, professionally known as Jay Som, has been writing and recording music since her preteens. Inspired by her parents’ cultural background and customs, Duterte took her love of music and began creating music from her bedroom studio. What she created in that studio, led her to a multitude of opportunities such as opening for Lucy Dacus’ on her Forever Is A Feeling tour. Accompanied by a touring band of incredible musicians, Jay Som readied the eager crowd of fans at Detroit’s Masonic Temple on July 29, 2025.

In early July, Jay Som released two singles, “Float” featuring Jimmy Eat World’s Jim Adkins and “A Million Reason Why”, and announced their comeback album, Belong, set to release in October via Polyvinyl. Jay Som treated the crowd with these new singles, as well as a slew of unreleased tracks that the rest of the world won’t be able to experience until the fall.

With the announcement of Belong, Jay Som is officially back. Duterte recently accompanied boygenius as a member of their touring band, as well as writing, composing, producing, and engineering her own music and the music of other creative minds in the industry. While Jay Som has been on a hiatus, Duterte has been busier than ever and is finally ready to transition their talents back into their own project.

Along with the album, Jay Som will be traveling across the United States on a short headlining tour in early December to share the new releases. You can view tour dates here, but until then you can find Jay Som continuing to accompany Lucy across the United States and beyond.