J. Rey Soul Explained

J. Rey Soul
Birth Name:Jessica Joy Seria Reynoso
Birth Date:7 October 1997
Birth Place:San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines
Occupation:Singer
Instrument:Vocals
Years Active:2007–2009
2013–present
Current Member Of:Black Eyed Peas
Module:
Embed:yes
Alma Mater:PATTS College of Aeronautics (BSBA)

Jessica Joy Seria Reynoso[1] (born October 7, 1997), known professionally as J. Rey Soul, is a Filipino-American singer known for participating in the first season of The Voice of the Philippines and collaborating and touring with the Black Eyed Peas since 2018.[2] [3] [4]

Starting her musical career at an early age, she appeared on the first season of The Voice of the Philippines and joined coach apl.de.ap's team, becoming a finalist in the show.[5] After a couple of released singles and a collaboration with apl.de.ap, Reynoso joined the Black Eyed Peas as a semi-official member, replacing Fergie as their singer in 2018.[6] [7]

Early life and career

Jessica Joy Seria Reynoso was born on October 7, 1997, in San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines to an African-American father and a Filipino mother. She grew up in the Philippines with her adoptive parents, never meeting her biological father, and was exposed to music at a young age.[8] According to Reynoso, she was able to sing the Whitney Houston song "The Greatest Love of All" in front of her family at age 5.[9] In 2007, she joined the competition show Popstar Kids at age 10.[10] In a later interview, she says that she didn't get much attention due to her skin color. She completed her contract with the GMA Network, the network who produced the show, in 2012. She attended PATTS College of Aeronautics taking Air Freight Operations, which she graduated from in 2015.[11]

Musical career

On July 21, 2013, Reynoso auditioned for the first season of The Voice of the Philippines, singing the Alicia Keys song "Fallin'". Coaches Lea Salonga and apl.de.ap tried to get her on their respective teams, with Reynoso choosing Team Apl for the competition.[12] In the fourth live-show episode of the show, Reynoso was put against Janice Javier, with Reynoso losing to Javier when the scores of the coaches and the audience was added up.[13] In 2014, Reynoso was signed to apl.de.ap's label, BMBX.[11]

In 2018, Reynoso (now going under her stage name J. Rey Soul) collaborated with apl.de.ap's group Black Eyed Peas on their album Masters of the Sun Vol. 1, after previous singer Fergie departed from the group.[14] She had been inducted into the group as a "semi-official" member who would collaborate and tour with them.[15] In 2020, she collaborated with them again alongside rapper Ozuna with the song "Mamacita".[16] [17] She was then involved with their albums Translation (2020) and Elevation (2022).[18]

In 2021, she signed with Epic Records and released the single "Pull Up" with will.i.am featuring Nile Rodgers, which was used for the Mercedes-Benz AMG campaign.[19] [20] That same year, she sang the national anthem of the Philippines at the professional boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugás.[21]

Discography

As lead artist

Title! scope="col" rowspan="1"
YearAlbumLabel
"Just Like You"2014Non-album SingleBMBX Entertainment
"Sing Along"
"Crazy 'Bout U"
2015
"Pull Up"
2021TBAEpic Records
"Holla"2024
"It's Saturday"

Collaborations

Title! scope="col" rowspan="1"
YearAlbumLabel
"Mamacita"
2020Translationwill.i.am/Epic Records
"Tonta Love"
"Double D'z"
2022Elevation
"Guarantee"
"Filipina Queen"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Here Comes Jessica – JR!. August 8, 214. InqPOP.
  2. Web site: Who Replaced Fergie in the Black Eyed Peas?. August 31, 2020. Runnells, Riley. Paper.
  3. Meet J. Rey Soul, The Black Eyed Peas' New Member. Billboard. May 19, 2020.
  4. Web site: Meet J. Rey Soul, the Black Eyed Peas' New Singer. Travis, Abi. Distractify. June 24, 2020.
  5. Web site: Where's Fergie? Jessica of 'Voice PH' joins Black Eyed Peas in new music video. ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. May 30, 2018.
  6. Web site: MAMACITA: J REY SOUL IS THE NEW LEADING LADY. September 9, 2020. Panos, Peter. Contrast Magazine.
  7. Web site: Who Is the New Woman in the Black Eyed Peas?. Haylock, Zoe. August 30, 2020. Vulture.
  8. Web site: Apl, Bamboo complete teams in 'Voice PH'. July 22, 2013. ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs.
  9. Web site: 7 Things to Know About Jessica Reynoso. January 14, 2016. DWNU.
  10. Web site: Jessica Reynoso. DWNU. July 8, 2016.
  11. Web site: The Voice PH finalist Jessica Reynoso signs up with record label of Apl de Ap. August 19, 2014. Delacruz, Leris. Philippine Entertainment Portal.
  12. Web site: Jessica Reynoso: The Voice PH Audition Video (July 21). July 22, 2013 . PhilNews.
  13. Web site: [Voice PHL] Goodbye, everybody, they've got to go]. September 16, 2013. Rappler.
  14. Web site: Malone. Chris. Black Eyed Peas Go Global With 'Translation' Album. February 3, 2021. Forbes. en.
  15. Web site: One To Watch: J.Rey Soul, Lead Singer Of The Black Eyed Peas. October 21, 2022. Vogue.
  16. Web site: Black Eyed Peas officially reveals Jessica Reynoso in 'Mamacita'. April 20, 2020. Panay News.
  17. Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna, J. Rey Soul Band Together in Stylish 'Mamacita'. April 10, 2020. Rolling Stone. Shaffer, Claire.
  18. Web site: Black Eyed Peas Release Their Ninth Album 'Elevation'. Méndez, Chris Malone. . November 11, 2022.
  19. Web site: J. Rey Soul releases debut single 'Pull Up' with Will.I.Am. September 13, 2021. ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs.
  20. Web site: Iahn, Buddy. September 10, 2021. J Rey Soul releases debut single with will.i.am & Nile Rodgers. The Music Universe.
  21. Web site: Meet J. Rey Soul—the Fil-Am rapper who sang the Philippine national anthem at the Pacquiao vs Ugas fight. Villanueva, Brooke. August 23, 2021. PhilSTAR Life.