Podcast Summary: Jay Som Performs in CR5

Podcast: All Of It (WNYC)
Host: Alison Stewart
Episode Date: December 10, 2025

Main Theme

This episode spotlights musician Melina Duterte, better known as Jay Som, who returns after a six-year hiatus with her new album "Belong." The episode balances live performances with an in-depth conversation about creative growth, musical collaborations, the indie musician experience, and navigating both the joys and difficulties of sustaining a music career. Jay Som discusses her evolution as a producer and engineer, dives into the stories behind her latest songs, and shares insights on friendship, nostalgia, and artistic vulnerability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Live Performance: "Casino Stars"

• [01:09] Jay Som and her band open with "Casino Stars" from the new album.
• The song is energetic and intimate, setting the tone for an episode focused on both performance and conversation.

2. Album Genesis and Production Journey

• [04:42] Host: "When did this album start to take shape?"

• [04:44] Jay Som:

  • The creative process began a couple years prior, but most of the album took shape in the early months of 2025.
  • Recording happened in both Philadelphia and LA, with bandmate Joao co-producing.
  • The completion was iterative: “It kind of was finalized within the mixing process… Happened kind of fast this year.”

• [05:12] On earlier failed attempts:

  • Multiple false starts due to burnout from years of touring.
  • Jay Som explains choosing studio work and production as an alternative path, describing production work as “a really awesome alternative to… experience.”

3. Stepping Into Production & Engineering

• [05:44] Host: “Was that a turn that you expected in your career, or did it just happen?”

• [05:59] Jay Som:

  • Did not expect it, but gradually “worked hard in teaching myself,” learning from friends, forums, and “YouTube University.”

  • Deep personal investment in learning new skills, focusing on mastering the recording console.

  • “I really wanted to learn how to walk into studios and patch things in without having to ask people.”—Jay Som [06:22]

• [06:34] She discusses the influence and inspiration of producer Catherine Marks during the Boy Genius sessions.

4. Impact of Success & Community

• [06:44] Host: “How much has the success of being part of that Boy Genius album changed the way people approach you about engineering, about producing?”
• [06:55] Jay Som:
  • The response has been “pretty positive.”
  • Boy Genius “universe” is “really special,” with songwriters who are "so personal and vulnerable.”
  • Fans now approach Jay Som at shows, referencing her Boy Genius work as an entry point.

5. Studio Habits and Humor

• [07:35] Notable Moment: Host references an Interview Magazine quote about needing “hunger” in the studio.
• [07:42] Jay Som:
  • Literal hunger! Studios can make people forget to eat, and “as a producer, you need to be like, you need to eat.”
  • Favorite snack: “I really love hot Cheetos. I'm trying not to have that ever again, but it happens.” [08:08]

6. Live Performance: “Appointments”

• [08:43] Jay Som plays “Appointments,” another song from the new album.

7. Songwriting: Friendship & Boundaries

• [13:26] Host: “That song is… about a relationship, right?”
• [13:34] Jay Som:
  • Recent writing focuses on platonic relationships over romantic ones.
  • Explores complexities, blurred lines, and emotional boundaries in friendships:
  • “Sometimes we have those friendships that border on, like, what is this? What's going on?... Lines get blurred for, you know, expectations and boundaries.” [13:36]

8. The Power of Collaboration

• [14:59] Host: “Did you go into this album knowing you were going to collaborate?”

• [15:02] Jay Som:

  • Yes. Wanted to break out of “echo chamber of your own emotions and decisions.”
  • Collaboration brings new ideas you “could never get to” alone.

• [15:32] Host: “Did you learn anything that you'll use on your next solo album?”

• [15:32] Jay Som:

  • “Maybe not overthinking certain things, like the tone of something… First take is best take. First or second take, I think, is always the best.”
  • Admits to striving for perfection in the studio, but now values spontaneity.

9. Featured Collaborators & Musical Influences

• Jim Adkins (Jimmy Eat World):

  • “[Bleed American] is one of my favorite records of all time…” [16:09]
  • “Jim and I talked on the phone and he just remotely recorded vocals.” [16:36]

• Hayley Williams (Paramore):

  • “I love emo.” [17:02]
  • Talks about growing up with Paramore, Blink-182, Green Day, and the significance of the Bay Area's alternative music scene.

10. Reflecting on a Decade: The 10th Anniversary

• [17:40] Host: “You’re growing into your 10th anniversary.”
• [17:53] Jay Som:
  • “To be frank? I think, wow, I'm getting old. But also I think I'm really proud… for putting music up online. I think it’s very brave.”
  • What she hears now: “A girl that’s just figuring herself out and she’s also having fun. A little too much fun. And there’s a certain freedom within her that I aspire to have again.” [18:13]
  • Expresses nostalgia for the period when music was simply a hobby free from career pressures.

11. A New Sonic Palette

• [19:03] Jay Som:
  • Embracing more electronic sounds, inspired by Frou Frou and Imogen Heap.
  • “I just love dance music. The first song on the album, Cards on the Table, was inspired by Frou Frou.”

12. Live Show & Album Close

• [19:31] Host: “Can you give us a little preview of what the show might be like?”

• [19:36] Jay Som: “The show is gonna be awesome. It’s gonna be at Warsaw… and everyone in New York should come.” [19:41]

• [19:47] Final live performance: “What You Need”—collaboration with bandmate Soft Glass (Joao). Jay Som thanks him on air: “He’s an amazing artist and friend and I love him a lot. This song exists because of him.” [19:54]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Production Growth:

  • “I was basically in YouTube University just watching videos all day long.” – Jay Som [06:11]
  • “I really wanted to learn how to walk into studios and patch things in without having to ask people.” – Jay Som [06:22]

• On Studio Snacks:

  • “I really love hot Cheetos. I’m trying not to have that ever again, but it happens.” – Jay Som [08:08]

• On Collaboration:

  • “Working with people gets you out of that [echo chamber]. It also offers new ideas and things you just could never get to.” – Jay Som [15:09]

• On Anniversaries and Growth:

  • “There’s a certain freedom within her that I aspire to have again.” – Jay Som, reflecting on her early work [18:13]

• On Nostalgia and Career:

  • “Before, ten years ago, I mean, I was just doing music for fun and playing shows with people. And it wasn’t a job, it was just fun. It was a hobby. It was fun.” – Jay Som [18:30]

Performance Timestamps

• Casino Stars – [01:09 to 04:12]
• Appointments – [08:43 to 13:26]
• What You Need – [19:47 to 24:20]

Episode Flow

• Live performances are interwoven with candid, reflective conversation.
• Alison Stewart’s thoughtful questions draw out themes of creative evolution, self-care, and artistic risk-taking.
• Jay Som’s openness gives listeners insight into the realities of life as a working indie artist—balancing burnout, creative ambition, and the unpredictable joy of collaboration.

For listeners new to Jay Som or those curious about the creative process behind "Belong," this episode offers both beautiful live renditions and a rare, genuine window into the mind and heart of a singular indie artist.