Fresh from the successful release of his first single, “Gusto Kita,” in 2023, Jeri Violago is set to go full blast with his music career in 2024.

“May mga kantang tapos ko na,” the contract artist of ABS-CBN’s Tarsier Records told DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview. “Pero ang gusto ng Tarsier is isa-isa ’yung pino-promote, nilalabas para focused talaga ’yung kanta” (There are songs I’ve already finished recording. But Tarsier Records wants to release them one by one to give focus to each song).

Violago is the youngest in business owners Joselito and Chiqui Violago’s brood of five. He said he got the talent to perform from his mom, who’s the go-to singer during family gatherings and other events. By the age of eight or nine, he started singing to Justin Bieber songs, which got his parents commenting, “May boses ka pala!” (You have a good singing voice!)

Violago then joined competitions in school, emerging as the champion at the Ateneo Grade School singing competition in 2011. He also joined and was later voted vice president of Ateneo Senior High School’s glee club. That was also the time he took formal lessons at the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab, focusing on theater performance. That’s why he can also sing Broadway show tunes aside from the usual pop and R&B songs. Once again, he emerged champion in his school’s Musikapella competition in 2014.

In college, Violago took up Business Management, also at the Ateneo, to give in to his parents’ wish for him to help run their rice mill business in Nueva Ecija.

But while completing his studies and eventually graduating cum laude in 2022, he continued to hone his skills in singing and songwriting. His inspirations include solo artist Zack Tabudlo and bands The Juans, Lola Amour and SunKissed Lola.

The newbie songsmith says he usually pens love songs that talk about a boy revealing his amorous feelings to a girl. He admits drawing from his experiences, but, to date, he still doesn’t have a girlfriend.

“Maraming nagustuhan, pero hindi ako sinasagot. Hindi ako ’yung popular kid sa school. Ako ’yung medyo torpe. Hindi naman nagtatagumpay. Hindi nagkakasunduan ang feelings namin (I’ve liked a lot of girls, but they didn’t say yes to me. I wasn’t a popular kid in school. I’m a bit sheepish when it comes to girls. I don’t win them. Our feelings don’t match).”

For now, Violago’s focus is his career. He derives joy from performing because “I like how I’m able to express myself” and it makes him more confident of himself. He hopes to be given more opportunities to perform in shows and concerts.