Jensen gears up for a new Umpisa

MANILA, Philippines - In young singer-songwriter Jensen Gomez’s five-year-old music career, he has performed over a hundred gigs for free, written about 80 songs and produced three independent releases (two albums and one EP), making him one of the most promising acts of the local independent music scene.

His growing fanbase and a beautifully-penned song Umpisa paved the way for Jensen’s talent to be recognized by Orion Entertainment and Universal Records. In fact, just last month, Jensen launched his first mainstream album Umpisa via a street concert in Guijo Street, Makati.

Jensen performed all the songs included in the album during the launch, attended by around 500 supporters of his music. Also present were hosts Karylle and Robin Nievera, plus guest performers Tippy Dos Santos and former Rivermaya frontman Jason Fernandez. Bands Mayonnaise and She’s Only Sixteen as well as Carlos Castano also performed during the event.

Sponge Cola frontman Yael Yuzon also showed support to the young recording artist.

“Looking back on when I started, I can say that it was a slow, uphill climb,” says Jensen. “The launch of my first mainstream album Umpisa made me feel like I’m really starting anew because I’m in a different world now  — a world where I can share my music, words, emotions to more people, and maybe, in my own little way, I can tell them that it’s alright to be hurt every once in a while.”

Umpisa features original compositions of Jensen that display his versatility, not just as a singer, but also as a composer. The songs in the album, mostly discussing heartbreak, highlight the influences of the music of John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, among others, on Jensen.

Umpisa the single is the theme of the movie MNL 143, is enjoying good airplay on various radio stations and is included in the Pinoy Myx Countdown. The single also has a duet version with Tippy.

Other notable tracks in the album are Alone, Not Even Close, Could Have Been, Tulad Ng Dati, the lone “in love” song All I Want and the anthemic Sisikat Din Ang Araw.

“Playing music is my vehicle to express my personal mishaps, experiences, stupidity,” says the young singer-songwriter. “I hope my music will make you feel that you are the only one who is experiencing stuff — heartbreaks and heartaches. There is, after all, safety in numbers.”

Jensen’s uncanny ability to turn heartbreaks into beautiful songs and amazing vocals fulfilled one of his dreams — to be signed by a major record label like Universal Records, where he joins the elite roster of bands like Parokya Ni Edgar, Sponge Cola, Kamikazee, Callalily, Rivermaya, Malay and young acts like She’s Only Sixteen, Runmanila, among others.

“Being signed by Universal Records for recording and Orion Entertainment for management is really one of the highlights of my young career,” admits Jensen. “Even if I have already launched the album a few weeks ago, it still feels surreal. I’m inexplicably happy. Now that I’m promoting the album, I’m just thankful that I get to perform alongside bands I look up to like Sponge Cola and Rivermaya, and for a wider audience.”

Unknown to many, Jensen has also made waves in the Southeast Asian region when he was asked to perform in the Original Music Society event at the National University of Singapore and the Pengasih event in Malaysia. He also performed for IamTV in Malaysia.

“Like any musician my age, and a student at that, I have experienced many difficulties, including scouting for money for those trips to Malaysia and Singapore,” he shares. “I even went as far as singing in convenience stores near my school (De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, where he is taking up Music Production) to solicit support. It was humbling but a fulfilling point in my career. The people who have been supportive of me and my music made me pursue music more passionately.”

Jensen is being managed by Orion Entertainment.

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