TJ Monterde’s Ikaw at Ako Bloggers’ Conference

TJ Monterde

When TJ Monterde decided to leave his promising career in entertainment/broadcasting in his hometown of Cagayan de Oro to go to try his luck in Manila as a recording artist, most of his friends and colleagues told him that he’s making a huge mistake. But a couple of years later, TJ has proven them wrong by coming out with his debut album entitled Ikaw at Ako, released by Galaxy Records and distributed by Polyeast Records. TJ belongs to the new breed of singer/songwriters who has made inroads in the music industry through the power of the internet especially social media and networking sites.

TJ’s album Ikaw at Ako is made up of 11 tracks, five of which were his own compositions. The songs in the album are a collection of easy listening tunes with stripped down, acoustic arrangement along with some nice touches like that of a rainmaker and a Hammond organ. The lead single of the album is the title track Ikaw at Ako which was used as the theme of the online film My Super Fan Girl. The success of this video has made this TJ’s signature song. But among the originals included in the album, it is Nandito Lang Ako, a song about unconditional love that TJ considers as his personal favorite. Other originals included in the album are Sa Tuwina, Treat You Right, and Wala Ka Na. The covers he has recorded in this album include Cold Summer Nights originally done by Francis Magalona, Hindi Mo Na Ba Minamahal by Dingdong Avanzado, Iyong-Iyo by Big Thing, Mabuti Pa Sila by Gary Granada, Mahal na Mahal Kita by Archie D and Huwag Na Lang Kaya by True Faith.

At a conference held at the Polyeast Records office, TJ sampled a few songs from his album and also a few requests from the press and bloggers who were there. He also urged people to join him and dish out a song or two. During this activity, I heard TJ’s innate musicality which is heavily influenced by whom he refers to as the three J’s: John Mayer, Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson. His eloquence and his ease in communicating were evident throughout the press conference. Without a doubt, the years spent as a radio DJ and as a television host of ABS-CBN's regional magazine show MagTV served him really well.

I had the opportunity to ask him if he has already returned to Cagayan de Oro since becoming a recording artist. He said that he hasn’t yet but he is really looking forward to going back again and finally seeing his friends and colleagues who warned him before from leaving. And ever since TJ’s music career took off, they’ve started giving him their all-out support. This homecoming might happen soon as TJ constantly joins Martin Nievera and opens for him for his album mall tours happening around the country.

TJ Monterde’s Ikaw at Ako, released by Galaxy Records and distributed by Polyeast Records, is now available in record stores nationwide. The single Ikaw at Ako and the rest of the tracks are also available in digital format over at MyMusicStore Philippines and at iTunes.

Ikaw at Ako

Tracks:

1. Cold Summer Nights

2. Hindi Mo Na Ba Minamahal

3. Ikaw at Ako

4. Iyong-Iyo

5. Mabuti Pa Sila

6. Mahal Na Mahal Kita

7. Nandito Lang Ako

8. Sa Tuwina

9. Treat You Right

10. Huwag Na Lang Kaya

11. Wala Ka Na