The stud

At three ‘o clock in the afternoon, R&B singer Jay R is barely awake. Touted as the Justin Timberlake of the Philippines and predicted to become as big as Mr. Energy Gary V, Jay R shuffles into the living room of the condo unit he shares with two other friends, gives a rueful smile and apologizes for his quasi-zombie state. His gaze is directed somewhere between your nose and the headrest of the living room couch, his expression almost as blank as the wall behind you. He goes into his room, promising to be ready in a while.

Fifteen minutes later, he comes out. He wears a blue T-shirt with the words Los Angeles carelessly written in front – his favorite shirt and conveyor of his birthplace – a Fubu cap smacked backwards on his head, and the R&B singer’s signature bling bling accessory, in his case a shining pendant in the form of a letter "J" hanging from a chain around his neck. You notice that his energy levels have amplified and that his smile is a lot more playful.

He tries to apologize again for having just awakened. You shrug off the apologies. You’ve been forewarned that Jay R lives in a house of insomniacs, that his sleeping pattern involves crashing at 4 a.m. and 5 p.m. lunches. It’s the usual lifestyle of the entertainer, a pattern Jay R got used to from singing at late night gigs back in LA – where he was born, raised, and where he realized his musical calling – and brought over to the Philippines where the gigs have doubled and expanded to include tapings for shows, and promotional tours for his album, a medley offering of R&B tracks, Tagalog ballads, and upbeat tunes.

Jay R is one of the few local artists trying to push R&B in the local music scene. At 22, he has managed to produce an album (with people even younger than he), move out to a country he last visited when he was four, gain a reputation good enough for other artists to entrust him with creating their songs, and earn comparison to Gary V, one of the country’s most dynamic performers.

YStyle: Full name?

Jay R: Gaudencio Aquino Sillona III.

Where’d you get Jay R?

My dad’s name is Jun, short for Junior. When I came out, they gave me his name but I couldn’t be Junior because he was already that so they just called me J-R.

How did you enter the Philippine music scene?

I visited for business with Universal Records and GMA last year when I was 21. I come from a family of musicians and back in the States we would always jam during parties. My aunt who worked with GMA would hear me sing each time she would come to the States for a visit and she would always tell me to come out here to the Philippines – ever since I was 13. But I didn’t want to move to the Philippines at 13. But eight years later, I decided to give it a try.

Have you always wanted to become a professional singer?

Definitely.

Did you try to pursue a singing career back in the States?

Yes, that’s all I did. I would sing at gigs, do demo recordings, and just practice.

When did you begin working on your first album?

Natapos before I moved out here. I was already working on it back in the States.

Do you write your own songs?

I wrote three in this one. My friend Jimmy and I co-wrote two. My ate wrote one of my Tagalog songs and Vehnee Saturno wrote the other Tagalog song, Bakit Pa Ba? Various artists wrote the others.

Are you working on another album now?

Yes, pretty much. We’re doing demos and all that.

How did you think your album was going to be received here?

I was hoping for the best. A lot of people were telling me that R&B wasn’t too popular out here, that no one had really gotten into R&B so I was pretty nervous that they weren’t going to accept it. But some people are liking it so that’s pretty good for me.

How and when did you fall in love with R&B?

I started listening to R&B when I was 13 years old. I started listening to Bobby Brown and New Edition.

How’s your Tagalog?

Marunong naman. Sa bahay nagta- Tagalog kami. Nabubulol minsan but I think I’m better than a lot of other people who come from the States.

Whose style do you try to emulate or whom do you idolize?

I like Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Gary V – that type where you combine singing with fast dancing…

Do you dance?

I try to. It’s fun.

Are you taking lessons?

Yeah. My cousin Miggy is a dancer-choreographer and he teaches me some steps.

What do you do in your free time?

My friend Jimmy and I write songs and do music for other people. We’re trying to get one on Gary V’s album because he’s trying to do a couple of R&B songs. I’m collaborating with this other guy who does music for Gary V. I’ll write the song.

Would working with Gary V be a dream project come true?

Oh yeah. He’s my idol. I’m actually singing at his concert on the 28th and the 29th.

What are your other interests aside from making music?

Basketball. I played for the varsity team all four years of high school. I was part of the starting line-up. I played guard.

What do you miss most about LA?

Taco Bell and In-N-Out burgers, Krispy Kreme. Plus I had my own car…Taco Bell and In-N-Out. And I also miss the sushi back at home because everything there is so fresh. I can eat oysters back at home. Dito my stomach hurts each time I eat oysters. But there are some pros about living here too. Back at home, since I was bunso, I had to sweep the floor, do the laundry, clean the bathroom, wash my car, do everything. Tapos dito when I get home, there’s food on the table, my bed is fixed. Sarap! I love it here!

Did you expect to like the Philippines this much?

Actually no! I really didn’t want to move out here. They just pleaded with me. I mean I was born and raised there. I didn’t want to leave my friends and my family. Now I’m so happy that I chose to come here.

You had one hand inside the waistband of your jeans in your billboard photo. What’s up with that? Were you trying to make a statement?

No. I think the photographer was trying to make a statement. He’s very artistic. He made me do a lot of poses. There were even a lot of poses that you see those Cosmopolitan guys do – my shirt off and my pants down to here (gestures to area below his navel). I was like, "Man…." But I was just participating. I didn’t want to be a bad sport. Good thing they didn’t use those for the billboard.

What’s your dating status?

There’s really no time. I would like to date but it wouldn’t really be fair to the girl.

What attracts you in a woman?

Nice eyes, nice lips, long hair and I like them pretty tall.

What’s the biggest compliment you’ve received about your singing?

Well people say I’m the next Gary V – I think that’s a great compliment. And they say I’m like the Justin Timberlake or the Usher of the Philippines…

Have you experienced being criticized?

Oh yeah. There’s even a website called the "We hate Jay-R" site. They say I’m ugly, mayabang, and the only thing I have going for myself is my singing.

How do you feel about that?

I love it. At least they’re thinking about me. It’s OK. I wasn’t expecting everybody to like me anyway.

How’s the fan mail?

Well there’s this guy who started a little website for me. He put it up about a month and a half ago and now we have about 500 members. It’s pretty cool. I get e-mails and stuff.

Have you been a victim of the local gossip mill?

Yeah. People try to pair me with Kyla ever since we first started singing together. We’re really good friends and when we sing together, we know exactly what works for us and I guess the audience sees that.

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard about yourself?

Oh, that I do drugs. We were trying to get a sponsorship from Lee. They said they were interested in me and they wanted me to come on board but then they found out that I do drugs and I was like, "What? No way!" It sucks because, of all the clothes I’ve been given, I liked the Lee clothes best.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done since you got here?

SOP was launching all their new artists this one time and I was one of the artists. We were supposed to walk down this runway and do a little pose for the camera. When my turn came – I have this thing from LA, yung ngipin na bulok that looks really ugly when worn – I started walking then I put it on and I smiled for the camera. It was really pangit. They got so mad! They were cursing when I got backstage and I was just giggling inside. My tita got my teeth after that and she still has them now. At least she didn’t throw them away.

Where else do you want your music to take you?

The whole world. But as for now, I’m just happy with what I have. I also want to accomplish 10 times platinum out here. I want to make R&B masa. I want to start my own record label. I want to buy property, monopolize the entire Philippines…

All before you turn 25?

Oh yeah. That would be really good!

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