The Beat Manila’s Up-and-Coming: Singer-Songwriter Jermaine Choa Peck
The Beat Manila’s Up and Coming is a series where we feature rising talented artists from the Philippines, giving them a platform to share what they’re passionate about and to promote the music they (and us too!) would love for the world to hear. Do you want or know someone who wants to be featured? Email us at [email protected] or slide through our DMs on Facebook or Instagram!
Pivoting in one’s career gives artists a chance to get to know themselves more, discover new sounds, and push the boundaries of their musicality. People are endlessly curious about their potential and limits; the same goes for musicians. Just take a look at our latest up-and-coming feature, Jermaine Choa Peck, who’s on the path of discovering her voice with the debut of her first solo single.
Creating music and performing has always been something Jermaine thrived in and enjoyed. As the percussionist and vocalist of the Filipino indie folk band, The Ransom Collective, Jermaine — or more popular known as “Jerms” — has made a dent in the local music scene with her bandmates since their debut in 2014 with their self-titled EP, which included hit singles “Fools,” “Settled,” and “Open Road.”
But much like the latter song, life is a literal open road that presents an endless array of opportunities, and for musicians like Jerms, the opportunity to create more, or even to discover a new sound has always been in the back of her mind, “Ever since I started the band, I’ve always been curious to learn more about my sound and to find my own voice,” she said. “With the band, we’re six people, and we all have different voices and we combine that to form the sound that we have now. So I’ve always wondered how I would sound like or what my voice would be as an individual artist.”
In this latest exclusive, Jermaine tells The Beat Manila more about her journey towards releasing her spirited and soulful track, “Alay Sa Gabay” which she described as a tribute to her close-knit “coven community” of friends and the many wonders nature provides for us. Read on the learn more about how she’s embracing this new chapter in her career.
A Musical Journey of Self-Discovery
Jermaine’s desire to pursue a solo project came from curiosity and the desire to learn more about her own sound. But it was also easier said than done.
“It took years. I mean, I've been saying, ‘I want to try writing my own stuff,' but I would always just say it, like, constantly. It took years for me to actually get here and have the confidence to do it,” she shared.
Jermaine told us about how some of the bandmates have already released solo tracks and believed it was the COVID-19 pandemic that pushed them to explore the boundaries of their musical artistry. With quarantine rules up, they were forced to be away from each other and needed a creative outlet. Jermaine admitted, “I always had this feeling inside that there's something I want to share. And I just stayed with it and I just tried to find it.”
Beyond the arts, Jermaine is a devoted advocate for the environment and has participated in various impactful initiatives like The Plastic Solution and the Tribes and Treks reforestation project in Zambales. Her work with The Circle Hostel sparked her journey in environmental advocacy, leading to her participation in these initiatives and collaborations with communities and foundations, including the Sambali Foundation which supports communities affected by ecological disruptions and development aggression, aiding farmers and fisherfolk in the region.
From there, Jermaine found the message she wanted to send as a solo artist, fusing her environmental advocacy with music. It began to take form in Zambales where she lived during the height of the pandemic.
“I was actually living with other artists. We all lived on a farm together and we were making music, just expressing ourselves, and making whatever we felt like making,” she shared. “But I guess this song [“Alay Sa Gabay”] was the first one that kind of resonated with me. And I wanted to explore where it was going to go toward.”
"Alay Sa Gabay" is a soulful track about surrendering to the unknown, trusting the journey, and holding on to hope in dark times. It’s a beautiful culmination of Jermaine’s journey through those early days of finding her voice which took form into a unique sound that not only honors that community that has supported her along the way but also celebrates her personal milestone as a solo artist. This single is the first of a three-part series leading up to her debut EP, which is produced by Kashira.
Jermaine happily reminisced on her time there, the projects she took part in, and the communities she helped support. She also found her entire journey akin to fate, considering she wasn’t from Zambales nor were her parents, but was somehow brought there. Much like her serendipitous experience, the song came to her at the most unexpected moment.
“I remember I was living by the mangrove with my dog, and I was with one of my best friends and we were just jamming and that line just came to me: ‘Ang mga ninuno ang gumagabay satin’ (Our ancestors are guiding us). And that’s how it started. When I went in the studio to work with Kashira, we were going through all my demos, all my jams, and we were like, ‘Oh, why don't we try to continue this one?’ At the time, I was in a dark moment in my life — just a lot of things were happening — and nature was really the one that helped me heal. And that’s what the song is, just remembering where we came from and how we can always ask for help from not just the ninunos (ancestors) but from the people around us. It’s really about the community who helped me get to where I’m at right now.”
When asked about the challenges she faced in creating her first solo track, Jermaine expressed she had doubts and insecurities which she had to overcome such as leaving a more collaborative space in the process of creating a song.
“I mean, there's a lot of challenges, especially coming from working with a band. It was different. Before there were six people, six different ideas, and it was easier because we were working as a group. And now working alone, just you… It's kind of scary,” she admitted. “Like 'What do I do now? How do I share the ideas and put them into the work that it is now?' Because I'm not really technically learned. I didn't study music, so I’m just going with the flow, with what feels and sounds right. I was fortunate enough to find the producers that I'm working with now who helped me hone the ideas into what it is now.”
Jermaine also shared with us that apart from how different her solo project journey was compared to composing songs with the band, she also found it hard to be more vulnerable and to share her innermost thoughts and feelings. This hurdle she seemed to have overcome, however, considering the new single felt like an expression when you listen to it. The intentions behind the lyrics and sound encapsulated her journey as an up-and-coming solo artist.
The single was accompanied by a very aesthetically pleasing music video which Jermaine was fully involved in. As a frequent traveler, she had thought about the concept for the video even before the song was finished. The idea took form while she was on an island in Indonesia and thought about how she wanted to feature some of the beautiful nature spots.
Together with her friend and cinematographer, Susan Larsson, they shot the video in Zambales where they showcased some of their favorite spots. It was a fitting setting as Jermaine’s journey as a solo artist started there.
“I also worked as a tour guide there,” she added. “And I guess this was like an expression of the beauty of Mother Nature and just being with one with her. It felt like a collaboration with the ninunos and nature.”
Throughout the shooting and production, Jermaine also shared that one of the most memorable memories she had was being able to work on it with her dog, Roti, and how her dog seemed to be a "paid actor," always knowing when to come in at the right moment, off script.
In terms of sound, Jermaine told us how she had discovered a bit more about it along the way, saying that it was different from the band’s but shared a folk aspect to it, “Honestly it is so hard for me to put things into a single genre, but if I had to put a label, it would be a new age, R&B type of thing. But I’m really just trying to create my own world — to be me — and express myself through music."
She added, “I also wanted to write in Tagalog, in our mother tongue, since all our band songs were in English. I wanted to honor our language. That's something we couldn’t really do as a band.”
Honoring where you came from and being one with nature are just some of the things Jermaine’s new song expresses. The singer-songwriter emphasizes her beliefs and shares her personal experiences through a track that is both inspirational and healing, one that encourages people to embrace the unknown and the things that are given to them.
“There’s so many layers to this song. But I think for me, it’s just to surrender to the unknown and allow your feelings to flow. And do not forget where we came from, give back, and share the love that we are getting from the people around us and nature, too. Just keep giving back and honoring.”
Jermaine had also been adamant in merging her affinity with nature, her advocacy, and her passion for music, saying how she had always intended for these things to align, and pursuing this solo project had allowed her to do just that.
“I do a lot of things, and I've been always thinking like how I can merge everything that I do into one thing, and right now it's music that’s kind of merging everything,” she said. “I always have to find that purpose in the things that I do. I always try to bring it into my life wherever I go, and now that I'm making music that is super aligned with nature, it just makes sense to add that advocacy in.”
Jermaine had been working with the people of Zambales for over a decade, participating in reforestation and other environmental initiatives so it made sense for her to feature them in the music video. The singer told us about the importance of finding purpose and play in everything that you do, and believed that this undertaking is the perfect example of that.
When we asked her what kept her going throughout these years, and what she has learned throughout it all, Jermaine answered, “Keep on following your excitement and your passion no matter how hard it gets. Also, if there’s a way for me to share about my advocacy and fight this climate crisis, I will!”
Jermaine also inspired aspiring musicians and people, in general, who are seeking to pursue new paths. She told us, “Follow what sets your soul ablaze. Following your passions doesn’t only open up doors for you but it opens up a whole community and that’s one thing that I really appreciated when I started this musical journey. Don’t let fear overcome you. I know it’s easy to say, but if you surround yourself with the right people, everything will be okay.”
You can listen to "Alay Sa Gabay” today, available on all streaming platforms. Follow Jermaine’s solo journey on Instagram and watch out for her next single!
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