Up-and-coming singer-songwriter and producer JEL REY navigates through complications of love—from falling hard and wearing thin to letting go with grace and finding the courage to love again—in his new extended play (EP), “Southbelle 517,” named after a memorable vacation.
“Yung songs sa EP na ’to nabuo sa isang room kung saan ako nag-staycation sa Baguio, ‘Southbelle 517.’ Doon ako nagkaroon ng maraming ideas dahil tahimik yung lugar, walang pressure, kaya naging mas honest ako sa pagsusulat,” the StarPop artist said.
The alternative pop-rock EP features five heartfelt tracks—“Anghel,” “Sariling Mundo,” “Nakakapagod Lang (feat. Jarea),” “Lapit-Layo,” and “Gusto Kitang Pakasalan”—which were all written by JEL REY, who also co-produced the record alongside StarPop label head Roque “Rox” Santos. Some of the selected tracks were co-written with Edsel Gabriel De Guzman.
“Inspired siya ng mga panahong hindi ka okay, pero kailangan mo pa ring magpatuloy. Nandoon yung burnout, love na parang too good to be true, takot, pagdududa, at yung mabagal na realization na hindi lahat kailangang ipaglaban nang maingay,” he shared.
JEL REY first made waves with his debut single “hele pono” in 2023, earning a nomination for Best Performance by a New Solo Artist at the 37th Awit Awards the following year.
He followed up with his first EP, “TERAPEWTIKA,” featuring standout tracks like “Tayo (Ating Istorya)” and “Nasa Alapaap Ang Paraluman.” JEL REY continued to showcase his artistry through singles such as “Parapelikula” and “Naiilang,” with the latter landing in Spotify Viral Songs Philippines’ Top 10 and garnering over 480,000 streams.
Check out JEL REY’s “Southbelle 517” EP, available on digital streaming platforms. For more details, follow StarPop on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.
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