Two young J’s off to music stardom

Truly amazing is Jayke Reyes’ dedication to making it as a singer in the Philippines. The daughter of Filipino immigrants in the US, the talented 18-year-old left behind a cushy life to try her luck here in show business. It is not just wanting to record and be on television. She can also do that there. She has fallen in love with the country and the people that she refuses to live anywhere else. Jayke should come out with her reasons one of these days to convince migrating Pinoys to stay here instead.

Growing up in the States though gave Jayke a lot of advantages, most important of which is her training as a performer. She went to the Los Angeles High School for the Arts, the place where they train talented kids like Josh Groban and studied with Michael Jackson’s voice coach, Seth Riggs. She was also exposed to auditions and commercial shoots. Thus she came well-equipped to be the next hot singer in town.

Jayke’s new album is a mix of old and new tunes produced by Arnold Reyes. The first single is Kay Palad Mo originally by Jamie Rivera who also wrote it with Jimmy Antiporda. She also has Perry’s Will by Regine Velasquez; Paano Na Kaya by Bugoy Drilon; We’re In This Together by Steve Siler; and Sana’y Pagkaingatan Mo, a new song composed by Arnold, who did a good job. Jayke also does very well and her refreshing pop vocals is a pleasant change from the usual screaming divas out here. Check her out at SM Novaliches on Nov. 9; SM Rosario, Nov. 10; SM Masinag, Nov. 24; and SM Clark, Dec. 9.

Another young artist whose dedication to his music is most remarkable is Young JV. Like Jayke, JV grew up comfortable and able to choose whatever he wants to do.  He chose show business, specifically R&B music, so he can rap, dance and sing soul. He has lately ventured into acting and appeared in teleseryes and the movies. There might soon come a time when he will be in good demand as an actor. But I know his priority will always be the music he works so hard for, writing songs, arranging and performing them.

Young JV’s latest, Doin’ It Big marks his first for his new label, Star Records. The CD is a solid production attesting to his painstaking work. What I like about this one is that he has chosen to experiment with new rhythms. His attempts with acoustic ballads and house sounds come off very well that we can now rightly say he is more than hip-hop. With this success, I will not be surprised if he will do more of the unexpected in his next CD.

Doin’ It Big includes Get Up And Dance; Kailan Kaya; Tanong; Got To Have You; and Pinas, all with Young JV on solo. It is most notable though for the collaborations that show him with different types of artists. Boy Meets Girl with Yeng Constantino; Alay with Akiko; Rock This Town with Laze and Yumi; Hurts So Bad with Karylle; and the big single Your Name featuring Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 4 winner Myrtle Sarrosa.

The Pinoy MYX tabulation. Do take time to watch the Pinoy MYX show in the music channel. You will not only enjoy the videos, that are almost always very well done. You will also like the songs. These go from the usual ballads to the ingeniously out-of-the-box tunes, proofs that our artists are ever in search of ways to keep the music not only going but also interesting. 

Who says OPM is dead? Watch the Pinoy MYX Countdown and find out that it is very much alive. Incidentally, Young JV’s Your Name is in No. 2 this week.  Maybe we will also find Jayke’s in the countdown soon. Here is the list:

Pasasalamat by Callalily; Your Name by Young JV; Tao Lang by Loonie feat. Quest; Prinsesa by Daniel Padilla; Manong Guard by Emmanuelle feat. Yeng Constantino; XGF by Sponge Cola feat. Chito Miranda and Los Magno; Anak by Sarah Geronimo; Sirena by Gloc-9 feat. Ebe Dancel; In Your Arms by Krissy and Ericka; Thousands Of Pieces by Markki Stroem.

Paalam by Silent Sanctuary; I’ll Be There by Julie Anne San Jose; Bagsakan by Parokya Ni Edgar feat. Gloc-9 and  Frank Magalona; Sa Bawat Paghinga by Sabrina feat. Joe D’Mango; Hindi Na Magbabago by Erik Santos; Dying To Meet You by She’s Only Sixteen; Retribution by Even; Urong Sulong by Bea Binene; Hindi Ka Na Mag-iisa by Jennylyn Mercado; and Kung Ako Na Lang Sana by Khalil Ramos.