For singer-songwriter Jan Roberts, music is a way of processing life; its uncertainties, relationships, heartbreaks, and quiet moments of hope. He brings these experiences together in his debut EP, "Pusong Pabrika," an intimate collection about the many ways people experience and understand love.

Born and raised in Albay, Roberts occasionally returns home to find peace away from the pace of Manila life. That sense of observation and reflection also informs his songwriting.

In an interview, Roberts explained that the title, which translates to “Love Factory,” reflects the EP’s central idea of constantly creating and processing emotions.

“For me, Pusong Pabrika or ‘Love Factory’ is really about the idea that we are constantly making, processing, and learning about love,” Roberts said. “Parang factory siya where different emotions, experiences, and memories come together and become something new.”

More than a collection of romantic songs, Roberts wants the EP to take listeners through the different experiences that come with growing up.

“For me I want to take listeners to an emotional journey with love, desire and self discovery,” he said.

That openness to different perspectives is central to Roberts’ songwriting. Rather than looking exclusively inward for inspiration, he finds stories in everyday encounters and the people around him.

“I like setting myself in the POV of people who interest me,” he said.

For Roberts, listening to other people’s stories is also an important part of understanding those emotions. His empathy allows him to recognize pieces of himself in experiences that may not necessarily be his own. “I've always been someone who likes listening to people's stories,” he said. “I find it interesting how everyone carries something different, and I think I'm naturally empathetic toward those experiences.”

“Even if I haven't gone through exactly what someone else went through, I can still understand the feeling behind it. Sometimes, hearing someone else's story gives me a different way of looking at my own life,” he added.

That sensitivity is reflected in the journey he hopes "Pusong Pabrika" offers its listeners.

“I wanted it to feel like you're going through different chapters of a person's life,” Roberts said. “There are moments of excitement, confusion, heartbreak, hope, and acceptance.”

As his debut EP, "Pusong Pabrika" also represents an important introduction to Roberts as an artist. He approaches songwriting organically, allowing stories and emotions to arrive rather than forcing them.

“Writing songs feels very natural to me,” he explained. “I don't really like forcing a song or forcing myself to write about something just because I feel like I need to make a song.”

The EP also features contributions from artists and creatives including Johnoy Danao and jikamarie.

“Every collaboration brought a different perspective,” Roberts said. “You start with your own idea, but when another person brings their personality and experience into it, the song becomes something bigger.”

Roberts also draws from relationships, friendships, challenges, and the process of growing up. “Growing up and going through different relationships, friendships, and challenges naturally changes the way you see the world,” he said. “I think songwriting became one of the ways I process all of that.”

"Pusong Pabrika" is out now on all streaming platforms.