Tenderness

Jay Som is the musical project of Oakland-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Melina Duterte. Starting as a bedroom recording endeavor, Duterte crafts lush, introspective indie rock and dream pop, handling nearly all aspects of the music herself – writing, performing, recording, and producing. Her sound blends warm guitars, textured synths, and intimate vocals, often exploring themes of self-discovery, relationships, and personal growth. Following the breakout success of her 2017 album "Everybody Works," the critically acclaimed "Anak Ko" (meaning "My Child" in Tagalog, reflecting her Filipino heritage) further cemented her reputation for creating thoughtful, beautifully crafted, and effortlessly cool music.