Jona | |
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![]() Jona in 2013 | |
Born | Jonalyn Roxas Viray November 15, 1989 [1] |
Alma mater | University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Years active | 1995–present |
Agent | Viva Artists Agency (2023–present) [3] |
Musical career | |
Origin | Pio Duran, Albay, Philippines [2] |
Genres | Pop, R&B, soul, classical |
Instrument | Vocals |
Labels |
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Website | YouTube channel |
Jonalyn Roxas Viray (born November 15, 1989), known mononymously as a Jona, is a Filipino singer and songwriter. [4] She gained recognition after winning Pinoy Pop Superstar . She was previously the lead singer of trio girl-group La Diva. Following the group's disbandment, she released her single "Help Me Get Over" which was awarded the Song of the Year Award at the 6th PMPC Star Awards for Music. [5] In February 2016 she changed her screen name to Jona. She has won several awards, both solo and as member of La Diva. [6] She is known for her belting technique, melismatic singing style, and her ability to sing operatic arias.
Jonalyn Roxas Viray was born on November 15, 1989, in Marikina, Philippines. She is the only girl and the eldest of four children from Pio Duran, Albay. [1] She started joining singing contests at an early age. [7] She won first runner-up in Birit Bulilit of IBC 13 as a child [7] and one of the finalists in MTB Teen Pop Star where her winning piece was Mariah Carey's "Never Too Far". [7] Jona was 15 years old when she competed at the singing competition Pinoy Pop Superstar held by the local television station GMA Network and hosted by Regine Velasquez. Jona emerged as the weekly champion after singing the Whitney Houston hit song "Run to You". She also sang "Reflection", "I Have Nothing" and "Never Too Far" on the weeks that follow, and after four consecutive weeks of being weekly champion, she qualified to the grand finals.
For winning the title of, Jona won 1 million pesos in cash and became the owner of a Futura Classic house and lot developed by Filinvest and a brand-new Toyota Innova. She also won an exclusive one-year contract with GMA Records, the recording arm of GMA Network, and received 100,000 pesos worth of Belo Medical services, plus gift certificates worth 50,000 pesos from Gandang Ricky Reyes. [8]
In February 2016, Jona ended her decade of exclusivity with GMA and transferred to rival network ABS-CBN. Part of her reintroduction was the changing of her screen name to Jona. Her earliest project in the Kapamilya Network saw her competing in the 2016 edition of Himig Handog, a songwriting and music video competition and also singing "I Will Survive", the theme song of primetime drama series, We Will Survive . [9]
From then on she has sung several theme songs for ABS-CBN films and drama series, became a mainstay of the longest noontime musical variety show ASAP , released her first album under Star Music which achieved Gold and Platinum certifications, held two major concerts, and competed and won second place in Himig Handog 2017. On the 31st Awit Award, Jona won 6 awards, Most Downloaded Artist, Most Streamed Artist, Most Downloaded Song for "You", Most Streamed Song for "Pusong Ligaw", People's Voice for Favorite Collaboration for "Till the End of Time" with BoybandPH and Best Selling Album of the Year for self-titled album "Jona". Her collaboration with Regine Velasquez, "Matibay", also won Best Musical Arrangement award for composer Marvin Querido.
On May 15, 2016, ASAP launched a group called the ASAP Birit Queens. The group is composed of Jona, Morissette, Angeline Quinto and Klarisse de Guzman. The group held a concert on March 31, 2017, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The group temporarily disbanded in late 2017, but has since reunited occasionally.
On the launch of the Billboard Philippines, three of Jona's songs charted in Billboard Philippines Top 20: "Pusong Ligaw" and "Maghihintay Ako" charted at number 3 and number 4 respectively, [10] and "You" charted at number 9. [11] She performed at the 27th Asian Television Awards that included a cover of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" a rendition of "The Magic Flute "Queen of the Night aria" ("Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen"). [12] On the artist's night, she performed "Love Don't Cost A Thing", "Into the Unknown", "Fifth Element Aria" and her own song "Till the End of Time". [13] She also headlined the YouTube Music Night for Southeast Asia in 2021. [14] [15] [16]
Jona has said that from childhood she has been influenced by Regine Velasquez, Céline Dion, and Mariah Carey for her musical style, and sound. [17] [1] [18] She also admires to Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Etta James, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Sam Smith. [19]
Jona has been noted for her "melismatic singing style" or use of melodic variations. [20] Her voice has been described "soulful" and "powerful". [21] She is a classically trained artist from the UST Conservatory of Music with a major in classical voice. [22] Critics often lists her among the Top Filipino singers in the world alongside music icons like Lea Salonga [23] for "her powerful vocals and her ability to convey raw emotion through her performances" [24] and has been referred to as the Philippines' "Soul Princess" for her vocal talent. [25] [26] [27]
Love is the subject for the vast majority of Jona's music. She is also known for her power ballads which deals with themes of heartbreak, hope, and perseverance. [24]
Studio albums
Extended plays
Title | Date | Venue | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jonalyn: Uncovered [28] | February 11, 2011 | Bagaberde Grill and Bar | • 24th Aliw Awards Best Performer in Hotels, Music Lounges, Bars (Female) | |
Beyond Limits [29] | September 2, 2011 | Music Museum | • Co-headlined with Julie Anne San Jose and Frencheska Farr. | |
One Love [30] | February 15, 2012 | Metrobar | • Nominated for Best Concert Performer - Female at the 25th Aliw Awards. | |
Fearless [31] | February 28, 2014 | Music Museum | • 26th Aliw Awards Best Female Performer in a Concert. | |
Journey Into My Heart [32] | November 27, 2015 | Music Museum | • Guest performers includes Ice Seguerra, Kyla, Tres Marias, and The Angelos. | |
Queen of the Night: Jona [33] | November 25, 2016 | Kia Theater | • Nominated for Best Major Concert Performer - Female at the 30th Aliw Awards. | |
ASAP Birit Queens [34] | March 31, 2017 | Mall of Asia Arena | • Co-headlined with Angeline Quinto, Morissette and Klarisse de Guzman. | |
Prima Jona [35] | November 18, 2017 | The Theater at Solaire | • Guest performers includes Regine Velasquez and Arman Ferrer. | |
Love, Jona [36] | March 30, 2019 | Online | • YouTube Music Night free online concert]. | |
The Aces [37] | March 30, 2019 | Smart Araneta Coliseum | • Co-headlined with Lani Misalucha and Darren Espanto. | |
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1996 | Birit Bulilit [38] | Herself |
2004 | MTB Teen Popstar [38] | |
2004—2005 | Pinoy Pop Superstar [38] | |
2005—2010 | SOP [38] | |
2005 | My Guardian Abby [38] | |
2006 | I Luv NY [38] | Jenny de Castro |
2010—2013 | Party Pilipinas | Herself |
2012 | My Daddy Dearest [38] | Guest Singer |
2013—2015 | Sunday All Stars | Herself |
2013 | Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman | Guest |
Kahit Nasaan Ka Man | Herself | |
2014 | Cattleya | |
2015 | Sarap Diva | |
2015—2016 | Marimar | Real Ate Corazón |
2016–present | ASAP | Herself |
2017 | Magandang Buhay | |
2018 | I Can See Your Voice | |
2023–present | Tawag ng Tanghalan | Hurado |
Award | Year [a] | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aliw Awards | 2011 | Jonalyn Uncovered | Best Performance by a Female in Hotel Lounges and Bars | Won | [39] |
2012 | One Love | Best Performance in a Concert (Female) | Nominated | [40] | |
2014 | Dares to be Fearless | Best Performance in A Concert (Female) | Won | [41] | |
2017 | Queen of the Night | Best Major Concert (Female) | Nominated | [42] | |
Awit Awards | 2018 | "Sampu" | Best Performance by Female Recording Artist | Won | [43] |
"Till the End of Time" | Best Collaboration | Won | |||
"You" | Most Downloaded Song | Won | |||
"Pusong Ligaw" | Most Streamed Song | Won | |||
Jona | Most Downloaded Artist | Won | |||
Most Streamed Artist | Won | ||||
Jona | Best Selling Album of the Year | Won | |||
2019 | "Take It To Forever" | Best R&B Performance | Won | [44] | |
ASOP Music Festival | 2013 | "Ikaw" | Song of the Year | Won | [45] |
Box Office Entertainment Awards | 2018 | Birit Queens | Most Promising Female Concert Artist of the Year | Won | [46] |
MOR Pinoy Music Awards | 2017 | "Maghihintay Ako" | Song of the Year | Won | [47] |
Myx Music Awards | 2017 | "I'll Never Love This Way Again" | Favorite Remake | Nominated | [48] |
2018 | "Ano Nga Ba Tayo?" | Song of the Year" | Nominated | [49] | |
Jona | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated | |||
"Til the End of Time" | Collaboration of the Year | Nominated | |||
"Pusong Ligaw" | Media Soundtrack of the Year | Nominated | |||
2019 | "Take it to Forever" [b] | Collaboration of the Year | Nominated | [50] | |
Star Awards for Music | 2014 | "Help Me Get Over You" | Song of the Year | Won | [51] |
2016 | "Naghihintay" | Nominated | [52] | ||
2017 | Jona | Female Recording Artist of the Year | Nominated | [53] | |
Album of the Year | Nominated | ||||
Female Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
Queen of The Night Jona | Female Performer of the Year | Nominated | |||
Birit Queens [c] | Concert of the Year | Won | |||
2018 | "Sampu" | Song of the Year | Nominated | [54] | |
Female Recording Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
Prima Jona | Concert of the Year | Nominated | |||
Female Concert Performer of the Year | Nominated | ||||
2019 | "Ngayon at Kailanman" | Female Recording Artist of the Year | Nominated | [55] | |
Revival Recording of the Year | Nominated | ||||
Wish 107.5 Music Awards | 2018 | "Ano Nga Ba Tayo" | Ballad Song of the Year | Won | [56] |
World Championship of the Performing Arts | 2006 | Jona | Industry Award For Female Solo | Gold | [57] |
— | Gold Medal for Broadway | Gold | |||
"Close to Where You Are" | Gold Medal for Original Song | Gold | |||
— | Gold Medal for Pop | Gold | |||
— | Gold Medal for R&B/Jazz | Gold | |||
— | Gold Medal for Variety | Gold | |||
"Close To Where You Are" | Overall Champion for Female Vocal Solo (Original) | Gold | |||
— | Overall Champion for Female Vocal Solo (Broadway) | Gold | |||
— | Overall Champion Female Vocal Solo (Pop) | Gold | |||
— | Gold Medal for Best Pop Duet [d] | Gold | |||
— | Gold Medal for Best R&B/Jazz Duet [e] | Gold | |||
— | Vocal Duet Industry Award | Gold | |||
— | Overall Champion for Best Duet (Broadway) | Gold | |||
— | Overall Champion for Best Duet (Pop) | Gold | |||
— | Overall Champion for Best Duet (Gospel) | Gold |