10 Things to Know about Filipina Lead Singer of the Black Eyed Peas J. Rey Soul
While the name Jessica Joy Seria Reynoso may be new to you (she’s popularly known by her stage name J. Rey Soul) and indeed, is no stranger to the music scene. J. Rey Soul has come a long way since launching her career in the Philippines. She is now a force to be reckoned with, performing internationally with some of the most respected artists in the industry and has been touring with the Black Eyed Peas since 2018. Here are 10 things to help you get to know her a little better.
1. She was born and raised in the Philippines.
J. Rey was born to an African American father and Filipina mother. Though she has opened up about being abandoned, living with her adoptive family and never meeting her father, she has yet clarify the details around her parents and growing up. These days she goes back San Pedro, Laguna when in the Philippines and credits her mother’s love for Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand and Aretha Franklin as the influences that have shaped her love for music and ultimately sparked inspiration for her to pursue music with all of her heart.
2. J. Rey started competing at an early age.
Before she entered teenagerhood, J. Rey was already in the scene competing in singing and talent competitions on large scales. You might remember her from the popular televised show, Popstar Kids.
3. She won over the country’s hearts during her time on The Voice Philippines.
J. Rey took yet another stride in pursuit of her dreams by auditioning for The Voice Philippines in 2013. Her audition song, Alicia Keys “Fallin”, caught the attention of viewers across the globe and forced coaches apl.de.ap and Lea Salonga to battle to get her on their respective teams. In the end, J. Rey competed in 4 episodes before saying goodbye to the show.
@jreysoul
4. She was also the youngest in the competition at The Voice Philippines.
J. Rey competed at the young age of 17 years old on The Voice Philippines. This made her the youngest among all the contestants in the competition. Just by pursuing her passion, she sent a message to young kids across the globe to pursue their passions, no matter how old they are.
5. She is signed to Apl.de.Ap's label.
Shortly after competing on Apl.de.Ap’s team on The Voice Philippines, J. Rey continued collaborating with him as she signed to his label BMBX, his Singapore-based content and artist development and brand marketing company in 2014. Early on in the competition, Apl.de.Ap saw potential in her and wanted to pursue it in full force, regardless of if she won or not. Little did she know that picking apl as her coach was only step one in a beautiful journey to stardom.
6. J. Rey started off as semi-official member of the Black Eyed Peas but is now the lead singer.
With long-time star Fergie stepping down from the Black Eyed Peas, the group was looking for someone to fill in the gap and join in on the action. J. Rey was welcomed as a semi-official member of the group in 2018, and toured with them in various concerts. In addition to this, she collaborated with them in their song Mamacita in 2020 and was involved in their albums Translation (2020) and Elevation (2022).
@jreysoul
7. Her name was coined by wil.i.am.
In a recent interview, she admitted to often referring to herself as “J. Rey”, but it wasn’t until she was in a studio one day with will.i.am that it hit her. He mentioned to her that her last name “Reynoso” sounded very similar to “Rey no soul”. He then playfully mentioned that she had too much soul to have the word “no” in the mix and suggested “Rey Soul” instead. Ultimately, she combined the two ideas and came up with J. Rey Soul.
8. J. Rey is a Billboard Music Awards winner.
Winning a Billboard Music Award is one of the many goals that aspiring artists hope to achieve on their journeys through the industry. In 2021, J. Rey, the Black Eyed Peas, and Ozuna won “Latin Pop Song of the Year” for their hit song “Mamacita”. The song made waves for its fun, easy-to-dance-to vibe and quickly became a fan favorite after its release.
@jreysoul
9. As a child, J. Rey was bullied for her dark complexion.
Growing up, J. Rey faced a lot of criticism and hate for her dark complexion. At an early age, she was bullied for being the only black girl in her neighborhood. This forced her to spiral into negative thoughts and think less of herself and her beauty. However, she used this feeling as a source of motivation and powered through. She now is a source of inspiration to everyone to stand firm in their individuality and own who they are, regardless of the color of their skin.
She recently told Nylon Manila,”I grew up in very unfortunate circumstances. I was abandoned as a child and was always made to feel ‘othered’ as the only Black girl in my neighborhood. I faced a lot of bullying. Back then, I didn’t believe I was beautiful or special. Flash forward, those experiences fueled my determination to achieve greatness and prove my worth. They made me strong, resilient, and fearless. Looking back, I realize that those hardships were necessary to prepare me for this very moment.
Without the challenges I faced as a child, I don’t think I would be equipped to handle everything I’m going through now. My greatest hope is to inspire other Blasian/Morena girls, letting them know they have the power to become whoever they want to be. They are special and shouldn’t be defined by the color of their skin. If I can overcome, so can they.”
10. J. Rey proudly shows off her Filipino roots.
J. Rey’s Instagram is filled with photos and videos of her recent trips to the Philippines. When she is not touring, the Philippines is where she calls home.
Despite all of the awards and accolades under her belt that she has accumulated throughout her career, J. Rey still has a bright future ahead of her at only 25 years old. From performing in front of her family to conquering the biggest stages of the world in front of thousands of people, the sky's the limit for this Filipino-American star and we can’t wait to see her rise to even greater heights!
Written By Nico Belasco
Photographer, Writer, Speaker, Podcast Host, Creative
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