Rising singer Titus John “TJ” Monterde jammed with Jelly Kiss on the Roadshow singing his singles “Tulad Mo,” “Imahinasyon” and his rendition of “Dessert.”

Apart from the performances, TJ also shared some of his experiences and thoughts:

What are your fondest musical memories?

Singing with my family, most of us sing. I miss it because I am in Manila and they are all in Cagayan De Oro (CDO).

What are some risky things you did for your love of music?

I came here to Manila from CDO without anything; it is like I do not know where to go. I came here with a small amount of money, a bag of clothes, a guitar and a notebook. It’s an adventure since I want to be independent. In CDO I used to host a TV show while I’m doing my thesis while here in Manila, I don’t know what to do. I didn’t have anything to look forward to, just pure adventure, anything goes.

How long have you been like that?

Probably a year. People ask me, “Was there a time you wanted to quit?” I said, “The first few months, coz that’s always the hardest.” It’s important to have the right support system and I’m fortunate to have that. After a year, I found a label and the blessings are continuous.

Which famous musician do you admire and why?

Internationally, I usually say there are three J’s for that: John Mayer, Jack Johnson, and Jason Mraz, they are my musical references; they are the people I listen to when I want to write new songs.
Locally, I admire the lyrics of Ogie Alcasid and Noel Cabangon. I am also huge fan of APO Hiking Society and Hale.

How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

I am not perfectionist. I just let it pass by. For me mistakes are normal especially when you go live.

Do you get nervous?

Yes, before I go on stage all the time, it’s like “I’m next…” And the more my spot is near, the more the agony is. But when I’m on stage and I sing the first note, I feel okay.

How long do you practice?

It’s been part of the routine. There’s not a day that I don’t play guitar unless there’s no guitar at home.

How do you balance your music with your other obligations?

I go to my hometown every three months to meet my family.
With my girlfriend KZ [Tandingan], I’m glad she understands because we’re on the same ground, sometimes she’s busier than I am…like when I’m done with my interviews or gigs, she’s still on her taping with her new show, I sleep then I wait for her. We usually go out and have midnight dinners around Tomas Morato area. We got used to it and it’s okay. It’s all about priorities. The thing is, we’re together, we communicate and we spend time with each other. We both write a song in my new album, there’s a line there we both agree on, “You don’t need to force things, and you need to prioritize things…”

What’s one question you cannot answer?

Music or love? They are equally important; I can’t live without one of them.