“I was in a whole bunch of bands and went to gigs whenever I could,” she said, flipping her red-colored hair, which appears to be her source of youth.
She’s now 27, but her passion for sounds, words and tunes makes her seem like she will never grow old—the geology student of the University of the Philippines in Diliman who jumped from one band to another, doing the things she loved.
“I played rhythm for a pop punk band called Apollo Creed for a while. Then I was lead guitar for a band called Glory Days of Summer,” she recalled.
She had stints in an all-girl band and in a goth music band.
When she moved to Cebu, she performed solo in bars every weekend.
When she finally went back home to Davao, she formed her own band and rose sky-high, leading the independent music scene in the city.
Her band recorded her original songs and independently released them in an extended play (EP) entitled “Fixed Points and Pendulums.”
2bU talks to Jad about inspiration, the craziest thing about being an independent music artist, and her advice on starting your own band.
What inspires you and your music?
Anything and everything! But my songs are more based on emotion; you could say they were always born of experience, rather than fabricated for a specific purpose. I feel that the more honest the music is, the stronger it becomes over time.
My music is now inspired by my favorite indie folk/acoustic artists. I do listen to a lot of genres, but my current favorites are Lucy Rose, Ellie Goulding, Jose Gonzales, Ben Howard, and a whole bunch of similar artists. I’m also into a lot of electronica and experimental music.
Collaboration and spontaneity
What sort of music can we expect from your EP?
Songs from my EP can be roughly categorized as indie folk or pop-rock. But I don’t really label my music—it’s a result of collaboration and a lot of spontaneity. Hard to put a name to what comes after!
Tell us a little something about the songs in your EP. What stories do they tell?
It’s a collection of six songs based on experience. Some touch on loss, friendship, humor, forgiveness, relationships—all subjects people can relate to. I find the fact that my songs are easy to relate to a good thing—it means everyone is complex and imperfect.
Why did you name your EP “Fixed Points and Pendulums?”
The name is reflective of people, who can be either. I believe that this album says things about my personality that words seldom do: It’s about knowing where you came from, where you’re going, and what you have done, with absolute certainty. And it’s about being okay with all of that, whether it’s been good or bad.
What’s the craziest thing about being a music artist?
The craziest thing about being a music artist is that you spend a lot of money to make none! You can ask any independent musician—it takes a lot of time, effort and money to be a musician, but not enough support is given our local artists. It is a huge pool of talent that shouldn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated!
What makes you keep on doing what you do?
The sheer love for what it is. Music is music, no matter how you got there. When you’re listening to it, there it is, a truly pure and beautiful thing, set apart from political connotation, social commentary, or intellectual manipulation, although it can and has been used for those things.
What advice can you give aspiring musicians, especially college bands?
For bands that are still in school—finish school! It takes a lot of preparation and courage to follow your dreams! Finish school, get the security of a good job, then pursue your artistic inclinations, and you will find that without the pressure of wondering where your next meal is going to come from, the art you produce will be well-adjusted, well-balanced, and generally better than the art you produce under pressure.
To find out how to buy her EP and to listen to Jad sing, visit https://jadmontenegro.com and https://facebook.com/jadmontenegro.
