Newbie acoustic singer TJ Monterde goes after his passion

MANILA, Philippines - A big fan and an advocate of OPM music — this is how newbie acoustic singer TJ Monterde describes himself.

As a proof for that, he released an album April this year that consists of five original songs and six revivals. Among the artists he covered are Dingdong Avanzado, Gary Granada and Francis Magalona

READ: TJ Monterde, Galaxy Records’ new acoustic pop balladeer, debuts album 'Ikaw at Ako'

So far, TJ is happy with the feedback that his album “Ikaw at Ako: TJ Monterde” has received, four months after its release.

“Akala ko dati medyo mahihirapan ako kasi newbie ako, eh, bago ako dito sa industriyang ‘to. ‘Tas itong kanta ko medyo mellow pa,” he said Friday, September 20, at the Choice Ko Yum media launch.

“So noong una naman na lumabas siya, sobrang naging okay naman kasi last three weeks ago, I just made a one million mark sa YouTube. So naging okay naman siya, tinanggap naman ng mga youth natin.”

TJ says it was his passion for music that made him decide to leave his hosting career in Cagayan de Oro, his hometown.

He worked there as host for ABS-CBN’s tele-magazine show, which earned him a series of projects and endorsements.

Yet TJ says, “Ayaw ko na mag-regret pagtanda ko na hindi ko man lang na-try na i-share ‘yong music ko.”

He went to Manila and first lived with a friend until his “big break" came when he became friends with online writer Marcelo Santos III, a popular online love story writer.

Marcelo used TJ’s songs in one of his works titled “My Super Fan Girl,” and through this he gained a lot of followers, which finally lead him to release his debut album.

Another thing that helped TJ learn the ins and outs of the music industry is through his uncle Noynoy Tan and his cousin Champ Lui Pio, the vocalist of the defunct band Hale.

Some may think that because of Champ’s success in the industry, TJ would feel pressured. But he says otherwise.

“I take it as an advantage. Kasi sometimes kapag nahihirapan ako magsulat, nahihirapan ako sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, nasa industry na sila so I can call them up.

“So I take it as an advantage, not as a pressure.”

When asked if he have plans of joining showbiz soon, given his looks and hosting talent, TJ says he’s open to do so. But for now, he’d rather focus first with his music career.