"What You Need" New Single Shows Jay Som’s Subtle Mastery

Jay Som returns with “What You Need,” the latest taste from her forthcoming album Belong—her first in over six years—and it’s a reminder of why Melina Duterte’s songwriting has always carried such magnetic weight. Built in collaboration with Joao Gonzalez (Soft Glas), the track pulls inspiration from a Peter Bjorn and John cut, but quickly reshapes itself into something unmistakably Jay Som: equal parts wistful and sharp.

The production is quietly dazzling, layering curdled synths and crisp percussion beneath Duterte’s glistening guitar lines. Lyrically, “What You Need” balances affection and frustration, embodying that fine line between intimacy and irritation with refreshing honesty. It’s both airy and grounded, a song that catches your ear on first listen but rewards repeat plays with its subtle textures.

While Jay Som has long been known as a solo project, Belong marks her most collaborative body of work yet. Duterte wrote, composed, performed, produced, engineered, and mixed the record herself, but also welcomed in outside voices, from Gonzalez to Mal Hauser (Mk.gee, Illuminati Hotties), Steph Marziano (Vundabar, Sir Chloe), and Kyle Pulley. For the first time, she also features guest vocalists, further expanding her sonic world.

At its core, Belong is about searching for place and self-definition. Across its 11 tracks, Duterte moves between supercharged power-pop, hazy ballads, electronic curiosities, and lighters-up anthems. “What You Need” proves that even when she keeps things understated, Jay Som continues to craft music that’s inventive, deeply textured, and emotionally resonant.