Why Jaya’s new album is called Unleashed

Jaya calls her new album Unleashed. Unleashed from where or what I do not know. Jaya and her music have always been out in the open. I do not think I can ever imagine the likes of her confined in some music rut and just suddenly breaking out in one special album. And she certainly does no such thing here. Jaya, in Unleashed has the same sound that we have become familiar with these past five years. It is singing that is strong, soulful, subtly flirtatious, at times intensely introspective and always thoroughly competent. It is also music that is easy on the ears and which derives its charm from those little unexpected touches she comes up with and which have become her trademark.

Inside the package though is this panel containing a picture of Jaya with her mother, Elizabeth Ramsey and her Jamaican grandfather. On the left bottom corner is the word "roots." These, she wants you to know, are her roots, these are the people whose progeny Jaya is and it is from them that she inherited her talent. So in a way, this album is also a proclamation of thanks from Jaya. Instead though of filling up the cover with a long finely printed message, she went for the subtle gesture.

In a way, the contents of Unleashed also reinforce whatever roots Jaya has now grown in the local music industry. Take note that she was already doing well as a singer and dancer in the US of A when she was convinced to relocate to the Philippines in 1995. The risk she took was worth it and she is now firmly established as one of the country’s leading female singers. Despite this, she still chooses to keep part of herself embedded in the past and this album is also a celebration of a part of her roots, the music of the brothers Saturno, Vehnee and Freddie and their close associate Tito Cayamanda. These three people played a major role in creating her early hits and Jaya makes it a point to include some of their works in every album she makes.

Dahil Tanging Ikaw, Laging Naro’n Ka, I Won’t Let You Go Again, Hanggang Ngayo’y Mahal, Dahil Ba Sa Kanya and Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig are a few of the songs they created for Jaya and which turned out to be some of her biggest sellers. For Unleashed, Freddie contributes Noong Ibigin Ka and Kahit Mahal Ka, Vehnee has Umasa ng Labis and Tito has Maalala Sana Na Limutin Ka.

Like any other music artist, Jaya also has old songs among her roots and she has chosen one of these to be the carrier single of Unleashed. The song is the country western standard Love Hurts. This was originally popularized by the Everly Brothers in the late ’50s and was successfully given a rock ballad spin by Nazareth in 1975. Jaya’s version gives the well-known standard her distinct soulful touch. Other oldies included are Fra Lippo Lippi’s Beauty and Madness from the ’80s, the Johnny Nash composition I Can See Clearly Now from the ’70s and John Lennon’s mellow ballad also from the ’70s Love, which Jaya sings beautifully.

A quite interesting part of Jaya’s latest is the inclusion of four new songs by female songwriters. I do not know if this was intentional on her part or merely a coincidence. No matter what it was I think it was sweet of her to choose to deviate from her Saturno mold with these "girl songs." Best of the lot and certainly the most commercial is Christine Bendebel’s It’s You I Cannot Do Without. The others are Paulit-ulit by Lisa Dy, All That by Trina Belamide and Sa Aking Tabi by Alvina Sy.

Jaya will perform songs from Unleashed her big hits plus timeless favorites in Unleashed, the concert, at the Araneta Coliseum on July 28. For free tickets, you might want to join the Jaya contest currently going on at pinoycentral.com; philmusic.com or clickthecity.com. Simply log in to these websites and send in your replies to trivia questions about Jaya and the album. There will be one winner per website everyday, who will each get a copy of the Unleashed album. Three more winners from these daily winners stand to win two tickets each to Jaya’s concert.