After thirteen years away in Sweden, Jeazell Grutas, fondly known as Zelle, is back, with new music and a radically transformed artistic perspective centered on strength, truth, and healing, heralded by her latest single, “Martir,” a raw exploration of the turbulent spaces between love and toxicity.
Zelle, known for her powerful vocals in hits like “Sabihin” “Akala Mo Lang,” “Hindi Na Sana,” and her memorable turn on Gloc-9’s “Upuan,” took a hiatus from music but has recently made a comeback after facing a difficult time in her life.
“I fell into depression… biglang naunawaan ko si Chester Bennington at Cris Cornell,” she shared, admitting the fear she felt. But through the darkness, an answer emerged. She realized that the opposite of depression is expression.
“I saw myself being passionate on screen [during online gigs] and thought, ‘Wait, that’s Zelle.’ I asked myself what Zelle would do outside of her depression. So ngayon, I’m expressing myself to heal.”
This journey of recovery has transformed her artistry, making her music highly intentional. She is now unapologetically genuine to herself, with her songs aimed at sending a message of strength and truth, particularly to women.
Her sound has similarly evolved, transitioning from purely emotional tracks to something more reflective. “My lyrics are more psychological now,” Zelle explained. “My songs have become healers. They’re meant for reflection, for finding yourself again through music.”
This focus on psychological growth is crystallized in the new single, “Martir.” Though the track was written years ago, Zelle felt its exploration of anxious attachment and toxic love was profoundly timely for her return, setting the stage for the upcoming single, “Liberate Me.”
The song is a raw examination of codependency and losing one’s self for love, of “crossing boundaries” and “craving reassurance.” Zelle points to a particularly jarring element in the song’s composition.
“That insane laugh in the song? It represents the madness that comes with insecure attachment and losing yourself for love.”
For Zelle, heartbreak songs like “Martir” are perpetually relevant because they serve as a necessary form of therapy. “Not everyone can afford a therapist,” she notes, “and sometimes, songs like Martir help us cry and release what we’ve been holding in.”
Zelle has fully embraced the modern, independent music landscape, taking on the demanding roles of executive producer, music producer, and stylist for her releases. This “indie life” is taxing but deeply fulfilling. She credits her solid bandmates, John Abiathar De Leon on drums, Archie Salvador on guitar, Chester Ventura on violin, and Jing Gonzales on bass, along with a supportive production team, for keeping her grounded.
“It’s like everything aligned this time,” she says of her crew. “All of us share one unshakable truth: we live for music. That’s the bond, that’s the fire.”
Despite the scale of her undertaking, Zelle approaches this chapter with wisdom. Her main goal is simply to “enjoy and stay grounded.” To her fans, both long-time supporters and new listeners, she offers a shared invitation to vulnerability.
“Guys, I’m back. Let’s bleed and heal together. Feel that pain until it hurts no more.”
Ultimately, Zelle wants her legacy to be one of empowerment. “I want to be remembered as a pure-blooded Filipina who inspires women to be independent and unafraid.”
