MANILA, Philippines?Singer-actor Jay-R?s work load doesn?t look like it?s going to lighten soon, and he?s thankful for that.

The 27-year-old Fil-Am is busy recording songs with TV host-singer Iya Villania for the World Peace Federation, as well as with acting in the GMA 7 soap ?La Lola.?

The night before an early morning shoot for ?Desperadas 2,? Jay-R launched a Christmas album, ?Holiday of Love??sales of which will be donated to the Kapuso Foundation.

He gave an exclusive interview to Inquirer Entertainment during the album launch at Red Box in TriNoma.

What do you know about the industry at this point?

I?ve been in show biz for five years. I definitely wish I knew what I know now back when I started. I would?ve done things differently, I think.

What are the challenges now?

Medyo mahirap, actually. Kasi, when I came to the Philippines, there wasn?t really a male vocalist at the time. My rise to popularity was pretty fast. The hard part is sustaining it. That?s what I?m currently doing.

How has your music evolved?

Dati, my R&B was really urban na danceable. Parang hip-hop/R&B. It?s still danceable now, but it?s changing. Now it?s like soul-R&B from my last album to jazz-R&B with this Christmas album. Parang nagiging mellow siya. That?s how Filipino R&B is, I guess. And it still talks about love.

How would you describe the Christmas album?

It?s a fusion of jazz and R&B. it?s like a new sound for me. At first, I didn?t know what I?d come up with. It was fun, because it?s really experimental. And when I finished the album, I was pretty satisfied with the results.

How did you choose the songs?

There are 14 songs. They?re definitely my favorite Christmas songs when I was growing up. ?Yung mga ?Sleigh Ride,? ?The Christmas Song? and ?Winter Wonderland.? Of course, they?re traditional Christmas songs that everybody knows. And also, there are two originals: one that I wrote and one by my sister, Ate Jhing.

What?s the most important thing you?re learning about the music business?

Definitely respect. Respect everyone. Everything is a team effort. It?s not just me that?s important during a show or recording.

As a Filipino music artist, how do your efforts contribute to the big picture?

I know from some kids that I?ve seen na ginagaya nila ?yung style ko. I think I?m contributing my best as a vocal teacher. I?m very proud. So I think I will be a teacher as a contribution to Filipino music.