A Quick Chat with Jam On Raw Dough
How did you get into music?
Music is basically in my DNA. My great-grandparents were professional classical musicians in the Philippines, and being from an Asian household, learning how to play the piano was an inescapable task me and my siblings had to do. But unlike my siblings, my heart was set on learning the guitar instead. I loved rock music and bands so I begged my parents for a guitar until they finally acquiesced and bought me one. Even though I wanted to play other genres, they insisted on classical training. I didnβt appreciate it at that time, but now Iβm grateful they did because that foundation allowed me to explore making my own music nowadays.
From there, I spent my formative years playing in different types of bands. Iβve played guitar, bass, and percussion and listened to all types of music across various genres, but I was never really interested in being the frontman. To be honest, I still donβt view myself as one. Like many people who made drastic changes in their lives, the turning point for me was COVID. I needed an outlet and I was faced with the stark reality that life can shift drastically in an instant, so I decided to pursue what I have been putting off for years and learn to make my own music. Once I got the hang of the technical fundamentals, I began writing songs and let the creative process wash over me. It took a global pandemic for me to find my own voice and sound, and that journey has now resulted in two albums, including this new single, Breathe.
How did you and the band meet?
Most bands follow the traditional path: meet up, jam, play some gigs and maybe then record some originals. My journey was the total inverse. I wrote the first two albums in isolation during COVID, so for a long time, the 'band' was just me and a laptop. Once the world opened up, I wanted the music to be heard live. The first iteration was mostly session players I knew whose schedulesβtours and other commitmentsβmade it hard for me to establish a rhythm.
The current lineup of Jam On Raw Dough came together much more organically. Russ (bass) and I connected through Bandmix and we have been together in the band the longest. I was flattered because he really liked my songs and we had that instant musical shorthand one always looks for. I met Christian (keys) during a corporate gig with another band; heβs an incredible keyboardist, and when I invited him into the fold, he jumped straight in. Alex (drums) is the final piece of the puzzle. His other band actually supported us at a show. He filled in for us when our original drummer couldnβt make it and fit so perfectly with the rest of the band.
Can you tell us a little bit about your new song 'Breathe', how was it inspired?
The story behind βBreatheβ is a personal one. A couple of years ago, I was navigating a difficult period marked by family illness and loss, which triggered an undercurrent of anxiety which I hadn't experienced before. I decided to see a psychologist for the first time in my life, which was a big step for me. Fortunately, the sessions provided me with clarity and effective coping mechanisms very quickly. This song is a reflection of that time. Itβs about the anxiety but more importantly itβs about the tools I learned to get through it.
Can you talk us through the writing and recording phase?
In most cases, I treat lyrics and melodies as two completely separate units initially. I write down in my notebook lyrics, ideas and emotions I want to explore, without having any preconceived idea of what the music will sound like.
On the flip side, Iβll sit with an acoustic guitar and just play around with melodies. Like most songwriters, my phone is essentially a graveyard of video recordings of myself. Just me mucking around with different chord progressions and riffs. When a melody starts taking shape and I feel a specific vibe, Iβll open up the notebook and start looking for the missing puzzle piece. I'll see which lyrics match the music and build from there. That 'match' rarely happens instantly. It can take months and even years for lyrics and melodies to develop together.
I only officially start the recording process once I have a really clear blueprint of the song's concept and structure. But because I do a lot of the production myself, that recording phase is still incredibly fluid. The track will continue to evolve and take on a life of its own as I experiment with different instruments, tones and textures. My music taste is pretty eclectic, so the final production often ends up being heavily coloured by whatever happens to be on my heavy rotation at the time.
What do you have planned next?
The full album, also named Breathe, drops in April, which weβre incredibly excited about. Right now, the main focus is taking this music out of the studio and onto the stage. The band and I are planning to hit venues all across Melbourne, mixing these new tracks into the set alongside some of the older material.
Even though I still have a massive backlog of ideas sitting in that video graveyard on my phone, Iβm in no rush to lock myself away to record a fourth album just yet. Right now itβs all about giving Breathe the airtime it deserves. I just want to focus on playing live, connecting with the local scene and giving these songs the opportunity to be heard, and hopefully appreciated, by a wider audience.
What do you hope listeners get from listening to your music?
Ultimately, I just want listeners to feel the authenticity of it. Because this project started as a personal outlet during COVID, there was never a manufactured persona or a push to chase a specific trend. It was just me in a room, figuring out how to express myself.
Now that itβs evolved into a full band with Russ, Christian and Alex, that honesty is still at the core of what we do. When people listen to the album, whether they connect deeply with a lyric or they just like the vibe, I hope they hear something real. I want them to feel like they are connecting with genuine music made by people who just genuinely love playing together.