Earlier this year, Jay Som a.k.a. singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Melina Duterte announced her breakout debut album ‘Everybody Works’ alongside its lead single The Bus Song. Now, the song that kicked it all off, left fans proclaiming their love for public transportation and has amassed over 1 million streams to date gets its own music video. As a partnership with Amazon Originals, produced by House of Nod, and directed by Melina’s friend and former touring mate Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, The Bus Song finds Melina, her band members, friends and fellow Bay Area-area musicians including Plush, Future Shapes and No Vacation galavanting around their hometown. Watch the video via YouTube below.
Jay Som said this about The Bus Song video: “Michelle directing this video was honestly such a dream come true. I’m already honored to call her a friend and past tour mate so watching her in action in another field of work left me awestruck and so inspired. What made the video even more special was filming it in both Oakland and San Francisco with an ensemble cast of friends/non actors. It feels like a time capsule of sorts – a goofy reminiscence and portrayal of the Everybody Works album period.”
Michelle Zauner said the following about The Bus Song video: “I adore Melina so much, she’s like a little sister to me, my baybee. When she asked if I would direct her next music video I was over the moon.
“I worked on the video with Adam Kolodny, my Director of Photography who has shot all the Japanese Breakfast videos. It was important to me to really try to showcase Melina’s infectious charm and sense of humor. There is something just so lovable about her, it was great to try to capture her in her element, surrounded by her friends. The video feels like a love letter to the bay area.
“It was also important to me to focus on all the dynamic shifts in the song. It has a huge arrangement, all instruments Melina played, and I wanted to make something that really drew attention to that. An ensemble cast, lots of color, captured in a lot of wides and lateral tracking shots really helped us amplify those dynamics and showcase our locations.”
Jay Som is on tour now – see below to find a show near you, and watch her NPR Tiny Desk for a sneak peek of what to expect live. Get tickets here.
‘Everybody Works,’ Jay Som’s proper debut album which Duterte wrote, recorded, played and produced herself, is out now via Polyvinyl Records (N.A.) / Double Denim (EU/UK/Japan) / Inertia (AUS). The record earned the title of “Best New Music” from Pitchfork, debuted on Billboard’s Independent Album and Heatseekers charts, and has found itself on “Best of 2017 So Far” lists from the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, Stereogum, SPIN, Consequence of Sound, Paste, Uproxx, Newsweek, Newsday, Under The Radar and more. Jay Som has also received praise from the likes of New York Times, The New Yorker, NPR Music, The Fader, and more. Purchase Everybody Works on vinyl, CD, cassette or digitally here and on Amazon Music.
North American tour dates
10/18 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s $
10/19 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst *
10/20 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall $
10/26 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge & [SOLD OUT]
10/27 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge & [SOLD OUT]
10/28 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox &
10/30 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge &
10/31 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater &
11/02 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue &
11/03 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall & [SOLD OUT]
11/04 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick &
11/05 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
11/06 – Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
11/07 – Grinnell, IA @ Grinnell College
02/16 – 02/18 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom at Sabertooth
$ w/ Palehound
* w/ Never Young
& w/ Alvvays
