Jay Som announces sophomore album, Anak Ko (out 8/23), shares first single "Superbike" + world tour dates

June 4, 2019

She's baaaaAAAAAAAAaaAAaAAAAAaaaaaack!!

Our girl, your girl, THE girl Jay Som - aka Melina Duterte - has announced her highly anticipated sophomore album, Anak Ko, out August 23. Pronounced Anuhk-Ko, and meaning “my child” in Tagalog, Duterte recorded, produced, engineered, and mixed the record in her own home (in some songs you can hear the washer/dryer near her bedroom). The follow-up to her breakout debut, Everybody Works, which received countless year-end list accolades in 2017, Anak Ko was written during a week-long solo retreat to Joshua Tree.

Listen to explosive lead single "Superbike" now with a behind-the-scenes sing-along video, featuring footage of the writing and recording process. For one of her favorite songs on the record, Duterte aimed for the genius combination of “Cocteau Twins and Alanis Morissette”—“letting loose over swirling shoegaze,“ she explains. “I came up with the vocal melody while chopping onions during a rare snowstorm in Joshua Tree, definitely one of my favorite memories from making the album.”

Pre-order your Deluxe Early Bird copy of Anak Ko on 180-Gram Red & Orange Galaxy Mix with bonus zine. Also available is a dreamy merch spread, plus a Test Pressing bundle – hand-numbered with a screen printed jacket and certificate of authenticity. 10% of proceeds will be donated to Trans Women of Color Collective.

The title Anak Ko was inspired by an unassuming text message from Melina's mother, who has always addressed her as such: Hi anak ko, I love you anak ko. “It’s an endearing thing to say, it feels comfortable,” Duterte reflects, likening the process of creating and releasing an album, too, to “birthing a child.” That sense of care charges Anak Ko, as does another concept Duterte has found herself circling back to: the importance of patience and kindness.

Melina recruited friends — including Vagabon’s Laetitia Tamko, Chastity Belt’s Annie Truscott, Justus Proffitt, Boy Scouts’ Taylor Vick, as well as bandmates Zachary Elasser, Oliver Pinnell and Dylan Allard — to contribute additional vocals, drums, guitars, strings, and pedal steel. Honing in on simplicity and groove, refining her skills as a producer, Duterte cracked her sound open subtly, highlighting its best parts: She’s bloomed.

Jay Som will embark on a massive world tour, including an appearance at Pitchfork Music Festival in July. Tickets for headline shows go onsale this Friday, June 7th @ 10AM local time. (hot tip: North American pre-sale tickets go on sale today at 10am EST with password “ANAKKO”)