Jay Som – the project of Los Angeles-based producer, songwriter and musician Melina Duterte – released her triumphant sophomore album Anak Ko last year, and today she announces a 7-inch single. “A Thousand Words” b/w “Can’t Sleep” are previously unreleased b-sides from the Anak Ko sessions, which earned praise from the likes of The New York Times, NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and more, and made numerous 2019 year-end lists. Stream both tracks now HERE.
Duterte on the singles:
‘A Thousand Words’
This song was made after a year of extensive touring plus a cancelled tour. I forced myself to make a sort of big and jovial song to bring me out of the funk I was in. I also wanted to remind myself that music can be fun! It was heavily inspired by Bruce Springsteen, Elliott Smith, Pavement and that song “Alright” by Supergrass.
‘Can’t Sleep’
“Can’t Sleep” was made in August or September 2017 while I was living with my parents in between US tours, before I moved to LA. I think I had all my gear packed away somewhere that I couldn’t access, so I used instruments left over in my childhood room: a broken acoustic guitar, chopsticks on a snare drum, a bad hi hat, and my trumpet. Everything was recorded through the laptop mic. I was pretty frustrated with the California heat and the fact that I couldn’t record properly, so this sort of fever dream song was born.
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