Singer-songwriter TJ Monterde looked back on the challenges he faced at the start of his music career.
In an interview with Boy Abunda, TJ shared how he moved to Manila armed with nothing but a notebook filled with songs and big dreams.
"Pumunta ako ng Manila 2011 with just a notebook full of songs, with my dreams. Nag-audition ako sa record labels, lipat lipat kung [saan] pwede kung mapuntahan at mag-sign sa akin at magtiwala sa akin," he shared.
One of those auditions would eventually change the course of his life. TJ performed "Ikaw at Ako," a song that later became his debut single, at PolyEast Records.
"There was this time na pumunta ako sa PolyEast Records, nag-audition ako and I sang the song. Tapos sabi nila, 'Uy sakto ikaw pala kumanta niyan. We've been looking for that song kasi narinig namin online,'" he said. "So sobrang sumakto. Yun binigyan nila ako ng deal and dun na nag-start ang career ko kumbaga," he said.
The singer also recounted the rejections he experienced early on in his career. "There was this one time, I remember may isa akong gig na nakuha, sobrang excited ako, [nakuha ko in] July, the gig September sobrang layo pa... Prepare ako, kanta ako every day, practice ako. Pagdating ng one week before [the event], biglang di na tuloy kasi may kinuhang bigger artist kaysa sa akin so those were one of the heartbreaks nung una. [I realized] di pwedeng sa industry na 'to, di ka pwedeng madaling ma-hurt," he said.
TJ also shared that early on, in order to support himself, he juggled multiple jobs. "As much as I can, nagvo-voice overs ako sa commercials. I do voice overs for radio and TV commericals, nag-host ako ng events, kung kaya ko. 'Yung daddy ko every now and then... chine-check niya kami, 'Okay ka lang ba diyan, kumusta ka?' And 'yun unti-unti kinaya naman through God's grace, pero mahirap talaga," he stated.
Fast-forward to April 2024, TJ released his single "Palagi," which became his breakthrough hit.
"It's really special kasi this song, this is one of the first few releases after na wala na akong record label, independent na ako ngayon. Isa ito sa mga sinulat ko," he relayed in a past interview with MJ Felipe.
TJ said that he wrote the track without putting pressure on himself to produce a hit song.
"There just came a point na sabi ko Lord magsusulat lang ako, walang pressure at all. I'm just gonna write because I write. That's it. Wala akong magiging barometer na malalagpasan kaya niya 'yung ibang songs ko dati? Binitawan ko na parang ayaw ko na ng pressure that I'm just gonna write," he remarked.
TJ revealed that "Palagi" is a song he wrote for his wife KZ Tandingan saying: "This song is a song of reassurance for KZ."
In the same year, "Palagi" became the soundtrack of the blockbuster movie Hello, Love, Again.