Everybody Works

Released in 2017, Everybody Works marked a significant breakthrough for Melina Duterte, performing under the moniker Jay Som. Following the accidental success of her collection of demos, Turn Into, this album was her first intentional full-length statement. Recorded entirely in her bedroom in Oakland, Duterte acted as the sole writer, performer, engineer, and producer. This singular vision resulted in a cohesive but sonically diverse record that spans from the jangle-pop of 'The Bus Song' to the shoegaze-inflected '1 Billion Dogs' and the funk-lite grooves of 'Baybee'. The album is often cited as a definitive text of the mid-2010s bedroom pop movement, proving that high-level pop craftsmanship could be achieved without a professional studio. Critics praised its 'polymathic' nature and Duterte's ability to blend vulnerability with sharp, confident arrangements. It solidified her place as a leading voice in independent music, balancing technical proficiency with raw emotional resonance.