Author: Labs

Meet Jan

In the heart of the Bulacan creative scene, everyone simply knows him as Jan. No fanfare, no fancy titles—just Jan. While a few close friends like Eys and Alvin lovingly call him “Jani” (a phone name that stuck from their workdays together), to the rest of the world, it’s just Jan—raw, honest, and real. This understated simplicity echoes in both his art and music, forming the quiet foundation of a vibrant creative force.

A Natural Gift: Drawing from Four Years Old

Drawing wasn’t something Jan had to learn—it was something that simply was. At four years old, without any formal lessons, he picked up a pencil and started sketching the world as he saw it. Being a left-hander added a symbolic layer to his journey, but his talent went beyond handedness; it was instinct. And it still is. “Kahapon, ngayon, bukas—magdodrawing pa rin ako,” he says, a promise to himself and to his art.

Expanding Creativity: From Drawing to Drums and Songwriting

At eight, life handed Jan another instrument: the drums. Taught by his cousin, he fell in love with rhythm, then later found his voice through singing. Drawing, drumming, singing—these creative pillars grew together, weaving into the multi-dimensional artist he is today. Each skill fed into the next, building a deep, emotional reservoir that still fuels his projects.

The Emotional Bridge: How Jan’s Art and Music Connect

In his teenage years—those intense emo days—art and music seemed almost inseparable. As he grew older, however, each medium adjusted to its own rhythm. His music became heavier, sadder, deeper. One of his proudest songwriting moments is “Adrenaline” by Continents, a song about a dying man confronting betrayal, faith, and fear. Lyrics like “the unforgiving snake I see, hissing questions of what I believe” reveal the emotional complexity he pours into his music.

Meanwhile, his artwork remained heavily influenced by rock culture but allowed for a broader expression of his experiences. If his songs wrestle with inner chaos, his visuals often explore the intricate beauty of life’s complexities.

A Glimpse of the Perfect Creative Day

For Jan, perfection isn’t grand or loud—it’s subtle and sacred. The perfect day? A Friday morning at 4 a.m., freshly awake, sitting at a desk under a single lamp, the soft hum of the electric fan filling the quiet air. Coffee in hand, he works on two separate drawings, letting the world sleep while his imagination runs free. By 6 a.m., he pauses for another cup, just before the rest of the world stirs awake.

Deep Roots in the Bulacan Rock Scene

Jan entered the Bulacan indie music scene when he was just 16, during the iconic “First of Summer” era of bands like Narda. The scene didn’t just influence him—it transformed him. Once known as the “mabait na bata,” Jan evolved into an artist whose rocker soul can never quite be erased, no matter where life takes him. Today, he stands not just as someone shaped by the scene, but as someone who has quietly shaped it too.

Pieces That Reflect the Soul

When asked what artwork feels like him, Jan points to Peter Bruegel the Elder’s “The Fight Between Carnival and Lent.” Like the painting, he straddles worlds: religious yet worldly, joyful yet melancholic. It’s a silent battle within—one that only the deeply reflective could understand.

Musically, his life’s soundtrack would be “Simple Math” by Manchester Orchestra. Lyrics like “What if I’ve been trying to get to where I’d always been?” mirror his endless journey of self-questioning and discovery. Listening to it, you feel the weight of an artist who isn’t just creating for applause, but for understanding.

The Role of Silence and Reflection

Jan knows that creativity demands space. “Pag wala talaga, wala talaga,” he admits. It’s not a loss of passion but an acknowledgment that true ideas need genuine fuel. His quiet hiatuses aren’t gaps in his artistry—they’re part of the cycle, necessary periods of reflection that deepen everything he eventually creates.

Dreams and Inspirations

In the visual world, Jan dreams of joining the exhibits of mixed media masters like Ian Quirante, Eys Alamillyo, and Jukus Sepada. Musically, he dreams to build a band as profound as Manchester Orchestra or join groups like Legarda or Basalt Shrine, who embody the deep emotional resonance he craves.

Final Message: Reflect, Question, Forgive

If there’s one thing Jan hopes people take from his art and music, it’s this:
“Question yourself. Reflect on yourself. Forgive yourself.”

Change is inevitable. Emotions rise and fall. But through reflection and self-compassion, we find who we really are.

Conclusion: Jan’s Journey is Just Beginning

Jan may be a quiet figure in the Filipino art and music community, but his impact is undeniable. He is a force shaped by reflection, struggle, and unrelenting passion. In every sketch, every beat, and every word he sings, Jan reminds us that sometimes, the loudest battles—and the most beautiful creations—happen in silence.

For Jan, life isn’t simple.
“Life is hard. Life is complex. Especially what’s inside your head—those are the hardest battles to fight and the hardest stories to explain,” he shares. But when he turns those inner storms into drawings, or into songs, they somehow transform. “Parang nagiging iba e,” he says. Art becomes not just an expression, but a way to survive, to understand, and to heal.

At the core of it all, Jan’s journey is about one thing: questioning yourself. Through every line he draws, every lyric he pens, and every quiet moment he takes, Jan invites all of us to do the same—to dive deep, to sit with our doubts, and to find something beautiful inside even our darkest thoughts.

Because for Jan, and for those who connect with his work, questioning isn’t weakness—it’s where real strength, art, and meaning begin.