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Through dreamy melodies and a distinctly feminine point of view, Cebuana artist Jolianne has already carved out a space for herself in OPM while inviting listeners to grow alongside her. Since establishing herself as an artist, she has released several singles, an EP, and collaborations with some of OPM’s biggest names.
But amid her steady rise, Jolianne remains deeply connected to where it all began. Speaking with MEGA from her hometown, she reflects on the roots that continue to inform her music today.
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Discovering Music
Eleven years ago, Jolianne joined The Voice Kids for what she now considers the wrong reason. “I had a crush on a contestant the previous season,” the artist admitted with a laugh. It was her first singing competition, and she wasn’t even sure she had the voice to compete. Before long, she found herself in Manila, joining Team Sarah.
“Before that, I really had no hopes of singing, but the competition made me realize I was good at music,” she shared.
After the competition, she focused on her studies while continuing to write songs and develop her craft. In 2019, she released her debut single, “Irises.” But that was hardly the beginning. In the years following The Voice Kids, Jolianne quietly honed her artistry behind the scenes, taking the time to discover the kind of musician she wanted to become.
Cebuana Roots
“Cebu is a haven of untapped talent, and Cebuanos are notorious for being a tough crowd,” Jolianne reflected. The region has long produced some of the country’s most distinctive musical talents, including Janine Berdin, JK Labajo, and Dom Guyot. Today, Jolianne is adding her own name to that growing legacy.
For the singer-songwriter, Cebu remains as both her home and the foundation of her artistry. “Cebu as my training ground really pushed me to get better at what I do, and I think other Cebuano artists can say the same,” Jolianne reflected.
While talent may come naturally, inspiration often arrives in unexpected ways. According to Jolianne, her mother once believed that listening to harp music during pregnancy would bless her with a musically inclined child.
“For some reason, the superstition ended up coming true,” Jolianne laughed. “I don’t really have any recollection of it, but I feel like the dreamlike quality of the harp influences my current sound.”
It’s a fitting image for an artist whose music often feels delicate and quietly transportive.
Evolving Sound and Style
As Jolianne continues to grow as an artist, her music evolves alongside her. “I like to think of my music as a coming-of-age film,” she pondered. “I feel like the people who listen to my music are seeing a girl who grows up with them. Someone who’s figuring things out in real time.”
“I want my music to feel like a companion to my listeners. Something that they can return to at different stages in their life.”
– Jolianne
This sense of identity extends beyond her sound and into her personal style. “I like to look how I sound,” Jolianne said simply. Through delicate textures and dreamy pastel hues, her wardrobe mirrors the softness that defines her music. Yet for Jolianne, femininity goes beyond aesthetics.
“Embracing femininity means allowing myself to be soft, without seeing it as a weakness,” Jolianna reflected on her feminine personality. While softness is often mistaken for something to outgrow, she views it as one of her greatest strengths. “There’s so much strength in being gentle, emotional, and nurturing. Creatively, femininity is the center of everything I do.”
Women Supporting Women
As Jolianne navigates the music industry, she finds inspiration in the women who are helping shape it. “I’m deeply inspired by a lot of the other female artists in the game right now,” the singer said.
More than admiration, however, she believes success for women in music depends on mutual support. “My goal as an artist has always been to see more women on the charts. I feel like it’s a collective effort of us supporting each other,” she reflected.
Among the artists she looks up to are her best friend Janine Berdin, as well as Denise Julia, Angela Ken, and Jikamarie—women she believes are carving out their own spaces while uplifting others along the way.
That sense of community has also shaped the advice she carries with her today. “It’s really important that you find your community of female artists, the ones who pave their own paths and encourage you to do the same,” Jolianne said.
“I’d want people to understand that I am learning as I go. The songs, the videos, the performance—behind all of that is just a person trying to figure everything out day by day.”
– Jolianne on what she wants people to know about her
With new music in English, Tagalog, and potentially even Bisaya on the horizon, Jolianne’s journey is only beginning. Through songs that embrace self-discovery, she continues to offer listeners a world seen through her distinctly rose-colored lens—one that proves gentleness can be a strength all its own.
Keep an eye on Jolianne‘s upcoming releases as her musical journey unfolds.
Featured Image and Photos: CARELESS MUSIC
Frequently Asked Questions
Jolianne is a Cebuana singer-songwriter known for her dreamy, feminine sound in OPM. She describes her music as a coming-of-age experience — soft, emotionally layered, and built to grow with her listeners. She cites Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and SZA as key influences, particularly in her songwriting.
Jolianne first came to national attention as a contestant on The Voice Kids Philippines, where she joined Team Sarah. Though she initially auditioned for unconventional reasons, the competition revealed her musical ability. She later released her debut single “Irises” in 2019 and has since built a steady catalog of singles, an EP, and collaborations in OPM.
Jolianne credits Cebu as both her home and her artistic training ground. She describes the region as a haven of untapped talent with a notoriously discerning audience — one that pushed her to sharpen her craft. Fellow Cebuano artists like Janine Berdin, JK Labajo, and Dom Guyot are part of the same musical legacy she continues to build on.
For Jolianne, femininity is the center of her creative identity — not an aesthetic choice but a philosophical one. She views softness, emotional openness, and nurturing as sources of strength rather than vulnerability. This perspective shapes her music, her visual style, and her advocacy for women supporting women in the Philippine music industry.
Jolianne has new music in the works across multiple languages — English, Tagalog, and potentially Bisaya. The multilingual direction reflects her Cebuana roots and her ambition to reach broader audiences while staying true to the intimate, self-discovery-driven sound that has defined her rise in OPM.
