In the late ‘90s to early 2000s, Jay Justiniani was a vocalist for the Filipino pop rock band Cueshé. The band was responsible for some OPM hits that shaped a generation of music lovers and remain well-known among the public today.
However, Jay disappeared from the limelight for years, taking a seven-year hiatus from singing. But the artist in him calls out to his passion, urging him to return to what he does best. And he did.
This year, he ended his hiatus and reappeared in the industry, but this time, he’s working with a new group: Fireflies. Last September, the band held its relaunch during a gig at Fiyo Bagi Restaurant and Bar in Quezon City.
Fireflies initially started in 2016 but decided on the re-launch to introduce Jay as their newest member, who took the vocalist position.
Other band members include JC Del Rosario IV on vocals and bass guitar, RM Tolentino on percussions, and Pat Galut on lead guitar. Meanwhile, joining Fireflies was more than just turning a new leaf for Jay. It also allowed him to reconnect with his former bandmate, Jhunjie Dosdos.
Despite years of not working together in the local music industry, Jay shared that he remains good friends with Jhunjie.
“This group is easy to work with. Jhunjie is a former band member of Cueshé, so we do really know each other’s dynamics,” Jay said. “Our other band members are also good songwriters, so it was easy to work with even though we have different ideas. It was easier to make songs if you guys understand each other. Jhunjie and I are good friends, and good friends are hard to come by.”
Meanwhile, JC considers Jay’s addition to Fireflies as a positive sign for their band as they try to break into the local music scene. Jhunjie and JC were the first to work on songs for Fireflies, but now that Jay’s there, he also tries to pitch in with their creative process.
Still, since Jay and Jhunjie were former members of Cueshé, their songs sometimes reflect their old band’s music style. Nonetheless, they strive to create a distinct musical identity for Fireflies. The band has been working hard these past few months to write new songs, do covers of songs, and promote their band by performing in various locations across the Philippines.
The band also shared some trivia about their name. Initially, they planned on calling themselves alitaptap (the Filipino word for firefly), but other local bands already claimed it. Instead, they resorted to Fireflies.
Yet there’s more to the name than distinction. For the band members, their name signifies their desire to become that spark or flicker of light, especially in dark times.
As Jay relives his life as a performer after his hiatus, he and the other band members of Fireflies promise to satisfy eager fans and music lovers with new pieces worth a listen. Although climbing the top may take some time, the band is confident in each other to fulfill their roles as a group and achieve their goals together.