Jyro Xhan is the stage/pen name of

Filipino American Filipino Americans ( fil, Mga Pilipinong Amerikano) are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipinos and other Asian ethnicities in North America were first documented in the 16th century as slaves and prisoners on ships sailing to and from New S ...

musician GD La Villa. He lives in California. He is a singer, songwriter, producer, guitarist and keyboard player. He has been in several bands such as Jyradelix, Cush, Juggernautz, but most notably

Mortal Mortal means susceptible to death; the opposite of immortality, immortal. Mortal may also refer to: * Mortal (band), a Christian industrial band * The Mortal, Sakurai Atsushi's project band * Mortal (novel), ''Mortal'' (novel), a science fiction ...

and

Fold Zandura Fold Zandura is an alternative rock band from California. They released four albums between 1995 and 1999, plus one white 7" vinyl. Each album was released under a different label. The two premier members also founded the industrial band Mortal. ...

. He was the main songwriter and lead singer for both bands. He first used his pen name in 1988 on a demo tape but spelled it "Gyro" until the release of ''Fathom'' where it became Jyro. He is married to Carla Joy Phillips. The title track from Mortal's 1995 album ''Pura'' is dedicated to her. In 1988 he,

Jerome Fontamillas Jerome Fontamillas (born June 20, 1967) is an American musician. Fontamillas has played in several bands, notably with industrial rock band Mortal and alternative rock band Fold Zandura, with longtime musical partner Jyro Xhan. Since 2003, he ha ...

, Ray Tongpo and Wilson Peralta released a six-song demo called ''Wish Fifteen'' as Mortal Wish. Four years later they signed with

Intense Records Intense Records was an independent record label whose releases were mostly in the metal genre. Intense was bought out in 1989 by Frontline Records and became an imprint of that company. The bands in their roster were some of the premiere Christia ...

and released ''Lusis'' and changed their name to simply Mortal. They released six albums with Intense Records. Their last album with the label was called ''Pura''. According to the liner notes of Pura, ''Solamente'' is inspired by ''Tonight I Can Write'' by

Pablo Neruda Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto (12 July 1904 – 23 September 1973), better known by his pen name and, later, legal name Pablo Neruda (; ), was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. Nerud ...

and is cited as Jyro's favorite poet. ''Serena'' by Fold Zandura also references this poem. In the summer of 1995 he and his friend Jerome formed Fold Zandura with drummer

Frank Lenz Frank Lenz (born 18 June 1967 in San Leandro, California) is a drummer from Southern California who has done work for many bands and artists, including Richard Swift, The Weepies, Everest, Pedro The Lion, Starflyer 59, Lassie Foundation, Duralu ...

. They released three more albums until 1999. Fold Zandura has not officially broken up according to their website, but they have not released anything since ''King Planet''. In 2000 he worked with

Crystal Lewis Crystal Lynn Lewis (born September 11, 1969) is an American contemporary Christian and jazz singer, songwriter and actress. Lewis has been nominated for several Grammy Awards, and has won multiple GMA Dove Awards. Additionally, she has release ...

on ''Fearless'' and co-wrote ''Satisfied''. In early 2002 he released a side project on Crystal Lewis' record label Metro One Music called Juggernautz without Jerome. In October 2002 Jyro released a new Mortal album on

Tooth & Nail Records Tooth & Nail Records is a Christian rock record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington where it is situated today. It is home to many well-known musical acts, including Underoat ...

called ''Nu-En-Jin''. They did not tour to promote however since Jyro has stated that Mortal could continue to exist albeit only as a studio band. He is currently working for Metro One Music as a producer, engineer, keyboard and guitar player for various bands. Jyro is currently "director/dj/guru" in Immersion a musical collective that meets every month for event style art. Jyro has also surfaced as the leader of the band LCNA (formerly Lucena) under the initials JFM. Their debut, Mercury Light, is available through iTunes and the band is at work on a full-length album. LCNA announced on their Myspace site that they broke up on December 30, 2009, but would reform under a different name in the near future. July 2022 Jyro and Jermome Fontamillas announced the formation of a new band. Combining Mortal and Fold Zandura and calling it MorZan.

Discography – major releases

LCNA (Lucena) Vocals, Guitar *''Mercury Light EP'' (2007) Ten Ten Juggernautz Vocals, Guitar, Programming *''Juggernautz'' (2002) Metro 1 Music Fold Zandura Vocals, Guitar, Programming *''Fold Zandura'' (1995) Xhan Records *''Return'' (1997)

Sub•Lime Records Sub•Lime Records was a short lived Christian record label. They were a sublabel of Essential Records, and by extension Brentwood Music (Based in Brentwood, Tennessee) and the Zomba Music Group. Their records were distributed by Provident Mus ...

*''The White 7"'' (1997)

Velvet Blue Music Weave details visible on a purple-colored velvet fabric Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed, with a short pile, giving it a distinctive soft feel. By extension, the word ''velvety'' means ...

*''Ultraforever'' (1997)

BEC Recordings BEC (Brandon Ebel Company) Recordings is a Christian rock record label that is an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. The label was formed in 1997 in partnership with the EMI Christian Music Group. The label promotes bands with more adult Christia ...

*''King Planet'' (1999) Nowhere Music Mortal Vocals, Guitar, Programming *1992: ''Lusis'' (

, Reviews: ''Cross Rhythms'', ''CCM Magazine'') *1993: ''Fathom'' (Intense Records, Review: ''Cross Rhythms'') *1993: ''Intense Live Series Vol. 5'' (Intense Records) *1994: ''Wake'' (Intense Records, ''Cross Rhythms'', ''CCM Magazine'') *1995: ''Pura'' (Intense Records, Review: ''Cross Rhythms'') *1996: ''Mortal'' (

5 Minute Walk 5 Minute Walk was an independent record label founded by Frank Tate in April 1995. Operations were based in Concord, California in the back offices of The Screem, a music club operated by Tate. They only carried Christian bands and considered th ...

, Reviews: The Lighthouse, ''CCM Magazine'') *1998: ''Godspeed'' (

KMG Records KMG (Killen Music Group) Records was a Christian record label. The label was established in 1997 by Buddy Killen as a subunit of the Killen Music Group / Buddy Killen Enterprises and sold in late 1998 to Cal Turner III, who is related to the Cal ...

, compilation, Review: ''HM Magazine'') *2002: ''Nu-En-Jin'' (

, Reviews: ''Cross Rhythms'', The Phantom Tollbooth,

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

HM Magazine ''HM Magazine'' is a monthly, digital and print on demand publication focusing on hard music and alternative culture of interest to Christians. It is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The magazine states that its goal is to "honestly and accurate ...

'') Mortal Wish Vocals, Guitar, Programming *''Wish Fifteen'' (1988) Blue Genius Jyradelix *''Invincible'' (1992) Myx

References

External links

Fold Zandura Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xhan Jyro Year of birth missing (living people) Living people American rock singers American rock guitarists American male guitarists American record producers American keyboardists American musicians of Filipino descent American performers of Christian music