Jay Som Announces Return with “Float” Featuring Jim Adkins

Jay Som is back with a shimmering new single, and it was well worth the wait. “Float,” featuring Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World, is the first offering from Belong, Melina Duterte’s first Jay Som album since 2019’s Anak Ko, and it arrives like a deep exhale after years of quiet build-up.

Both lush and propulsive, “Float” is a stunning showcase of Duterte’s growth—not just as a performer, but as a producer. Over the past few years, she’s quietly shaped the sound of some of indie’s most lauded records (including boygenius’ the record), and here, her sonic precision shines through in full. The track’s driving guitars and airy synth textures make for the perfect bed for Adkins’ guest vocals, lending the song a bittersweet edge.

Thematically, “Float” taps into the disorientation of personal transformation—grappling with identity, memory, and letting go of who we used to be. “The fear of the unknown is so overwhelming that sometimes the best solution is to sit with it,” Duterte explains. It’s a sentiment that defines much of Belong, a record that promises deep introspection through collaboration.

The full LP, out October 10, features a dream lineup including Hayley Williams, Soft Glas’ Joao Gonzalez, and Lexi Vega (Mini Trees), making Belong Jay Som’s most collaborative work yet. After years of working behind the scenes, Duterte steps back into the spotlight—this time, with community at her side and clarity in her sound.

“Float” is more than a comeback single—it’s a reintroduction. Jay Som sounds at home, at ease, and entirely in her element.