Manila-based soul and R&B artist Jess Connelly has reemerged online and posted on her social media with news of her latest EP, fool’s gold, set to drop on May 23. Produced by soul and funk musician Lustbass, Connelly is back, and she’s tightening her hold on the R&B scene with a sound that’s sharper, smoother, and unapologetically raw.
Since her 2015 debut How I Love with crwn, Connelly has carved out a space where sultry vocals meet unfiltered lyricism. With albums JCON in 2019 and Bittersweet in 2022 under her belt, Connelly proved that she could balance introspection with groove, but fool’s gold pushes further into a world where vulnerability isn’t only confessed, but it’s also honed in every melodic note and vocal run.
“fool’s gold is a double entendre of my life and love,” Connelly says. “The project is a collection of pieces I’ve held onto over the years. Through the trials and tribulations of love and life, it all molds together in this moment.” There’s a weight to her words, a quiet defiance that mirrors the EP’s ethos. The project may contain tracks that have a ledger of lessons learned, a chronicle of heartache and resilience set to Lustbass’s lush, genre-defying production.
Back in 2023, Connelly’s standalone single “thru2u” with singer Jason Dhakal reignited their connection as collaborators. Additionally, her only two singles released in 2024 namely “Sweetest Lies” and “WYA” teased what was to come leading up to fool’s gold. While the local R&B scene has grown exponentially ever since the post-pandemic in terms of popularity with big names headlining the marquees, such as Denise Julia, DENY, and jikamarie, Connelly’s return to the scene comes at an exciting time where women continue to push the sound forward in the country.
