Melina Duterte has been busy collaborating with other artists, doing producing and engineering work, and touring as part of boygenius over the past few years, but she’s now announced her first new album as Jay Som in over six years. Belong is due out on October 10 via Polyvinyl. Duterte wrote, composed, performed, produced, engineered, and mixed it, with contributions from Joao Gonzalez, Mal Hauser, Steph Marziano, and Kyle Pulley. Paramore‘s Hayley Williams, Jimmy Eat World‘s Jim Adkins, and Mini Trees‘ Lexi Vega each contributed vocals, and you can see the cover art and tracklist below.
“When you try something for the first time, you’re always going to hold some type of fear, but I had to come to terms with the fact that I had to let go of some control,” Duterte says. “This record is essentially still me, but a lot of choices were made by friends who helped me, because I trusted them.”
The song with Jim Adkins, “Float,” is out now, along with a second single called “A Million Reasons Why.” About “Float,” Duterte says, ““This song is about desperately trying to hold on to past versions of yourself for self preservation. The fear of the unknown is so overwhelming that sometimes the best solution is to sit with it instead of fighting or running from it.”
Adkins adds, “Melina is an absolute professional in all aspects of music creation. I am honored she had space in her vision for me to contribute. And it was a lot of fun to work on. Great song!”
“Float” also has a Nina Ljeti-directed video that may remind you of Jimmy Eat World’s classic “The Middle” video, and a press release says that reference happened “unintentionally but very serendipitously.” Watch that, and hear “A Million Reasons Why” below.
Jay Som also announced a fall headlining tour following shows supporting Lucy Dacus. It includes a Brooklyn show at December 11 at Warsaw. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 11 at 10 AM local, with various presales starting Thursday, July 10 at 10 AM local, and you can see all dates below.
JAY SOM – BELONG TRACKLIST
01. Cards On The Table
02. Float (feat. Jim Adkins)
03. What You Need
04. Appointments
05. Drop A
06. Past Lives (feat. Hayley Williams)
07. D.H.
08. Casino Stars
09. Meander/Sprouting Wings
10. A Million Reasons Why
11. Want It All
JAY SOM: 2025 TOUR DATES
07/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ FDR Park %#
07/26 – Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live! #
07/27 – Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater #
07/29 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Theatre #
07/30 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark Mainstage Theater #
08/02 – Shelburne, VT @ The Green at Shelburne Museum #
08/08 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield Amphitheater #
08/09 – Boise, ID – Morrison Center #
08/10 – Carnation, WA – Remlinger Farms #
08/12 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre #
08/13 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre #
08/16 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre #
10/31 – 11/01 – Amsterdam, NE @ London Calling – Paradiso
11/03 – Berlin, DE @ Kantine am Berghain
11/6 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique, Rotonde
11/05 – Paris, France @ Pitchfork Paris – Le Trabendo
11/08 – London, UK @ Pitchfork London
11/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey
12/02 – Austin, TX @ The Parish
12/03 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
12/05 – Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5
12/08 – Washington, DC @ Atlantis
12/09 – Philadelphia, PA @ Foundry
12/11 – New York, NY @ Warsaw
12/12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit Hall
12/13 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
12/14 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
% w/ Hop Along
# w/ Lucy Dacus