Meet Jaeya Bayani

 

We were lucky to catch up with Jaeya Bayani recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jaeya, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

My journey towards becoming a more successful, effective, and young creative-professional was shaped my choice to leave home in the Bay Area for Columbia College Chicago. “Home,” a.k.a. California, has the highest population of Filipino Americans in the United States. Growing up, the issues I saw in our community resembled underrepresentation less than it did the crab mentality and struggle to build genuine solidarity with each other. It was a catalyst for the decision to not remain stagnant, to make an impact, and get to know myself in an environment that wasn’t comfortable.
I began my journey into music publishing, Hip-Hop studies, and eventually, pre-law in 2020. I struggled to make friends out of colleagues in a new place, and often romanticized my memories of home or felt like I took my bubble for granted because it was all I knew.

Being out of my depth mentally and financially wasn’t so much a wake up call as it was a constant mountain to climb, to realize I quite literally could not afford to waste this opportunity. As a student in the Hip-Hop Studies program, one of our mantras was “each one, teach one.” I had to want for myself to learn about others and respect their culture as much as I wanted them to put in the effort to learn about mine.

This first lesson I took and turned into my first personal project, “Black and Filipinx Solidarity: History and Hip-Hop Culture.” I wanted to highlight the ways in which our communities have shared untold history, suffering, and healing during a time of division. In turn, this project bloomed into lifelong professional relationships with peers and faculty mentors. These relationships were instrumental in helping me get through college, completing my first EP, the first event I produced, and even setting me up for the first jobs I had out of college.

Instead of trudging along on my own, I learned to lean on my resources and be there for them back. College ultimately felt like this great, collaborative project that we all had an important part in—which will forever make my heart full and inspire me. I was lucky enough to study alongside some of the brightest, most talented future minds of the music industry. I can say I did find my niche in researching and speaking about the difficult, but necessary topics in my culture. I’m even humbled to say that these projects have inspired similar ones, or even dialogue around the project’s themes. But, more significantly, I realized it’s not so much about being the only person in the room; it’s more about being the person who makes sure you’re not the only one in the room. I was blessed to have a support system and mentors who did that for me, and taught me to pass it on.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My name is Jaeya “Jaeonic” Bayani and I am a Filipina-American singer-songwriter, dancer, and rapper from the Bay Area, CA. I am also a Columbia College Chicago honors graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Business: Recorded Music and Publishing and a Double-Minor in Hip-Hop Studies and Pre-Law Studies. My experience has led to me becoming a 2024 GrammyU Ambassador, BMI member, and the 2024 recipient of the CCC Parker Lee Williams Award for Hip-Hop Excellence. For 5 years, I’ve established a space in the global Filipino music industry dedicated to uplifting underrepresented creatives through my roles as an Operations Assistant at The Luna Company, LLC (Traverse Music Group & Zion Agency). I currently help with catalog administration and management as Music Publishing Admin Intern for Thizzler on the Roof, and recently completed the Brownthought Academy Content Writing Internship for Kultivate Labs.

With my background in events, marketing, and talent management expertise, I co-created and co-produced my first Fil-Am event with Cali Castillo — Kapwa Chicago Vol. I — at the Rizal Center on April 27th. During this, I secured my first sync deal for “510” and “Believe Me” in Episode ONE of “No Room For Love” by Malou and Randal Kamradt. I’ve been featured in multiple blogs, articles, campaigns, and podcasts — not to mention the podcast I co-hosted, Movement, Body, & Soul. I co-founded the popping crew, Electric Minds with Myka “Slump Puppet” Okot, with professional dancer and instructor Torrence “Tea-Buggz” Griffin as an honorary member.

I released she freshman EP, BAYANI, in June 2023, and have led the lineup for Bay Area, Chicago, + ATX shows. My 2024 highlights include headlining Darwin’s Piano Bar @ SXSW and APAture’s Music Showcase @ DNA Lounge by Kearny Street Workshop. Having studied in the Bay Area and Chicago, I am a Filipinx-American practitioner of Hip-Hop culture. I blend my consumption of unapologetic, informative flows inspired by local Fil-Am emcees with my lifelong training as an R&B vocalist. My ultimate goal is to take my music dreams beyond myself, by pursuing an intellectual property law degree to serve local Filipino/Filipino-American artists who lack adequate legal representation or resources. My latest single, “Witchy Woo,” with Chicago/Bay Area artist, Bre5lin is currently out on all platforms. I’m also coming out with another song, “Growing Pains” with Chicago artist, Color., in late January.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Intentional honesty is a skill I developed as a vocalist in youth church bands and school choirs—environments that demanded not just a receptiveness for constructive feedback, but also an understanding for how to give it back. It’s important to be transparent, but not to the point to where the criticism becomes counterintuitive to your or others’ growth. This realization was key in helping me find a balance with tone and structure when I was crafting blogs about local Filipino-American creatives for my now-complete content writing internship. It helped me focus and pull the best bits of information to showcase each creative’s project and journey in the most engaging, intimate ways. Furthermore, it helped me build relationships with the artists I interviewed based off of mutual respect and admiration. One of the best compliments from an artist I interviewed was how thoughtful and well-researched the questions were. For me, I was just happy to be able to contribute to a space where them and their work could truly shine.
2. My “no task too big or too small” attitude has always been core to the success of my goals. The reliability and flexibility were skills gained through years of events production assistance, talent booking, curation, volunteering, and more. These experiences, in addition to being an independent artist, require a streamlined, creative, DIY approach. It instilled a greater appreciation, respect, and preparation for crews I’ve worked with during my times as an artist, instead of a PA. There is minimal room for error, especially if you’re working on a tight budget, schedule, and roster of talent. In having to work within the context and parameters of these events, gigs, and volunteer events, it helped me to gain a better understanding of my own boundaries and others’. It can be crucial to take advantage of as many opportunities as one can; but it’s also important to do so strategically, so as to prioritize energy for the most worthwhile ones.
3. The green-eyed monster can be daunting and haunting in an uber competitive entertainment and influencer industry. Although striving to be the best you can be is great, doing so out of comparison can be dangerous and lead to burnout. I’ve found that remaining rooted in my culture, my support system, and overall learning how to bring it back to being a team player is the greatest remedy to jealousy. We’re not slicing up a pie, we’re trying to learn how to multiply it. The possibilities for mutual success and collaboration are endless when finding joy in seeing others win, as well as in winning, “labbing,” and building together.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’d like to connect with women and femmes of color in the production and audio engineering space. I’m working towards my first full-length album and I’m passionate about it being women/femme-centered, as well as inspired by someone else who is hopefully also Filipina-American.

I’d also like to connect with women / femme professional funk-style dancers. I’m a practitioner of the dance style, popping, which is a style that was born from the Boogaloo, Struttin, and Robottin (B.R.S.) Bay Area culture. The history of popping is rich, long-stretching, and is complex; I’m still a student that is learning about it from the mentors around me. My hope is to find more people in my area who want to learn more and lab together. I want to host more dance sessions next year and get deeper in my craft, while making friends!

If you’re interested in collaborating, follow me @jaeyabayani on all socials (especially LinkedIn!), and/or shoot me an email at jayneliceb@gmail.com.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

@sloaneshotit
@alyssamcorpuz / @isolyssa
@amy.schwartz_

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