Lucky Number Music

Jay Som – the project of Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Melina Duterte – returns today, announcing her first new album in over six years. Since Jay Som’s critically acclaimed sophomore album Anak Ko came out in 2019, Duterte has spent the last few years cultivating her passion for production and audio engineering. This led to producing credits on the GRAMMY-winning boygenius album the record, Lucy Dacus’ latest Forever Is A Feeling, and countless beloved indie records. She also joined boygenius as a touring band member, collaborated alongside the likes of Troye Sivan, beabadoobee and No Rome, contributed to the I Saw the TV Glow soundtrack, and more. Yes, Jay Som itself has been on a bit of a break; Duterte, however, has perhaps been busier than ever.

Finally, Jay Som is back to announce Belong, out 10th October. While Jay Som has always been a solo project for Duterte, this album finds her expanding her world by collaborating with outside musicians, writers and producers. Duterte wrote, composed, performed, produced, engineered and mixed the record with contributions from Joao Gonzalez (of Soft Glas), Mal Hauser (a collaborator to Mk.gee and Illuminati Hotties) and Steph Marziano (producer for Bartees Strange, and Cassandra Jenkins). She also welcomed guest vocalists for the first time on one of her albums, featuring Hayley Williams, Jim Adkins (of Jimmy Eat World) and Lexi Vega (of Mini Trees) on different tracks. The album finds Duterte searching for her place, or somewhere she belongs, within an indie rock ecosystem that Jay Som stepped away from for the past six years. The result is an album unlike any Jay Som record before it: a gripping 11-song set about self-definition that floats between supercharged power-pop hits and hazy ballads, between electronic curiosities and lighters-up anthems.

Alongside today’s announcement, Jay Som shares two tracks from the record. First is “Float (feat. Jim Adkins)”, plus “A Million Reasons Why”. Duterte grew up with rock radio outside of San Francisco, memorizing the hits of early ’00s pop-punk and emo as a teen. Though she was 400 miles north along the California coast, The O.C. soundtracks—Imogen Heap, Bloc Party, Death Cab for Cutie, and so on—became major touchstones, too. You immediately hear the collision of it all in “Float”, the first song Duterte wrote for Belong.

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 honoured she had space in her vision for me to contribute. And it was a lot of fun to work on. Great song!”

Listen to “Float” and watch the Nina Ljeti-directed music video, which unintentionally but very serendipitously references the music video for Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle”, below now.

Today, alt-pop provocateur Jessica Winter releases her sensational new single “Big Star”, the fifth single taken from her upcoming debut album, My First Album, which is set for release this Friday 11th July. The music video for “Big Star” was directed by Roger Spy and is available to watch below.

On “Big Star”, Jessica creates a soon-to-be iconic cult pop anthem.

Jessica explains “This song sums up the album for me, perhaps it’s a reminder to anyone on their quest for fame and fortune to remember that you are who you are, and you don’t have to be on a huge stage with loads of people applauding or liking you on socials to have real value in this life. Perhaps it’s an exposé on living a life in this industry which is all about making it and all about your success moments, but we have success moments every day depending on how you look at it. The way I constructed My First Album wasn’t with the intention of major cosigns and celebrity, I wanted to create something authentically me that allowed for exposure and vulnerability, and I believe I have achieved that.”

Jessica will play multiple in-store live dates to celebrate the release of My First Album, starting with Rough Trade East in London this Friday followed by shows in cities including Brighton, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool and her hometown, Portsmouth. All dates and details can be found on her website.

Today, alt-pop provocateur Jessica Winter has released her sensational new single “Aftersun”, the fourth single from her upcoming debut, My First Album, which is set for release on Friday 11th July.

On “Aftersun”, Jessica creates a soon-to-be iconic pop anthem. Channelling ’00s aesthetics and addictive dance-pop beats, the new single is endlessly addictive and sure to be the soundtrack of the summer. Relentlessly inventive, with her new single Jessica does what she has done for her whole career and takes a multitude of influences and stamps her unique, unmistakable ‘Jessica Winter’ sound across them.

Speaking about “Aftersun”, Jessica said: “You’ve had a long day at work, and you want to let loose. You head to the club and lock eyes with someone, they pull you onto the dance floor and for a minute you lose yourself and everything around you melts away. Waking up the next afternoon having lost your memory, your things, and your dignity, you don’t mind because that feeling was worth it”

Directed by Roger Spy, the accompanying video bursts open with Jessica in her blonde wig, a direct continuation of the “Wannabe” saga. But the illusion doesn’t last — in a striking moment, the blonde wig is ripped away, unveiling Jessica in all her raw, unfiltered glory. From there, it’s pure liberation: she dances like no one’s watching, glowing with sun-soaked confidence and fierce, unapologetic energy.

Also announced today is Jessica’s first UK headline tour which will take place in October 2025 and includes a date at London’s The Lower Third on Tuesday 28th October. All dates and tickets can be found on Jessica’s website HERE.

New York trio Sunflower Bean have made a momentous appearance on COLORSxSTUDIOS, becoming one of the first rock acts to perform on the globally acclaimed platform. Known for its minimalist aesthetic and genre-defining performances, COLORS has long been a launchpad for artists across R&B, hip-hop, and experimental pop. Sunflower Bean’s riveting live performance of “Nothing Romantic” brings the intensity and introspection of modern rock into COLORS’ signature visual and sonic world. Watch the landmark performance below.

The COLORS SHOW session coincides with the band’s recently released and most transformative record to date, Mortal Primetime — an album born from upheaval, introspection, and rebirth.

Sunflower Bean are currently on tour throughout North America, and today the band have also announced headline UK and EU tour dates for this autumn in support of Mortal Primetime. Renowned for their blistering live shows, the tour includes a headline performance at London’s The Dome. All dates and tickets are on the band’s website HERE.

Today, alt-pop provocateur Jessica Winter shares “Wannabe”, the third single taken from her upcoming debut, My First Album, that releases on Friday 11th July.

On “Wannabe”, Jessica creates a stripped-back, raw, and emotive pop anthem. Taking inspiration from ’90s grunge, the track has an earworm chorus and lyrics that will be on a loop in your head for days. “Wannabe” is an endlessly relatable track and demonstrates why Jessica is one of the most authentic and innovative alt-pop artists on the scene today.

In the accompanying video, directed by Roger Spy, we see Jessica depicted as Edward Scissorhands, recreating the iconic hair-cutting scene from the classic ’90s film but with a surprising end twist to reflect the message of the song.

Speaking about “Wannabe”, Jessica said:

“I wrote this song after a lengthy doom scroll. Got bored of feeling less than and the daily comparison. This song is a friendly reminder to stay in your own lane and to remember you are just as alien as everybody else.”