TJ Monterde opens up about artistic differences with wife KZ Tandingan

• TJ Monterde admitted in an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN that he and wife KZ Tandingan often encounter conflicting ideas when collaborating on music
• The singer recently swept the 11th Wish Music Awards, winning Artist of the Year and the KDR Icon of Breaking Boundaries award
• Despite professional disagreements, TJ credits mutual respect as the foundation for their successful personal and musical partnership
• The couple is preparing for their 'In Between' concert series this February, which has already sold out three of its four nights at the Big Dome

Singer-songwriter TJ Monterde has opened up about the creative friction that sometimes exists behind the scenes of his high-profile collaboration with wife KZ Tandingan.

In an exclusive interview on January 21, 2026 with PUSH ABS-CBN, the OPM hitmaker revealed that while they are celebrated as a "power couple," their artistic journey is not without its moments of professional disagreement.

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The "Palagi" singer admitted that as two distinct artists, their visions do not always align perfectly.

"There are times when her ideas and mine simply don't match," TJ shared. "May mga ganun minsan, may mga ideas na parang feeling niya, eto maganda ako, feeling ko eto maganda, but may mga times na parang tingin ko, hindi nagkakatugma yung ideas namin as artists"

He explained that these "clashes" typically occur during the conceptual phase of a project, where both want to offer the best possible output for their audience.

However, the 36-year-old artist emphasized that these differences are resolved through deep mutual respect.

He noted that despite his own convictions, he often yields to KZ’s expertise. "My respect for her as an artist is so high that if she feels a certain direction is right, I trust that," he added, jokingly noting that he is usually the one to compromise.

This admission of their "human" working relationship comes on the heels of TJ’s massive sweep at the 11th Wish Music Awards held on January 11, 2026.

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TJ was the man of the hour, taking home the night’s most prestigious titles:

Wish Artist of the Year: Winning after three consecutive years of nominations.

Wish Ballad Song of the Year: For his track "Darating Din," which ironically competed against KZ’s "Nagmamahal Lang Ako."

KDR Icon of Breaking Boundaries: A special recognition for his historic achievement of selling out three consecutive nights at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in 2025.

The couple is currently channeling their combined creative energy into their upcoming joint concert series, "In Between Live at the Big Dome."

Directed by John Prats, the event has already seen three of its four scheduled nights (February 6, 7, and 8) sell out, with a newly added fourth night on February 9, 2026, nearing full capacity.

TJ teased that the year 2026 will be defined by "more music and inspiration," promising fans that the creative "batuhan" (exchange) between him and KZ will only result in more authentic Filipino music.

Celebrated OPM artist TJ Monterde cemented his place in the music scene with his debut album Ikaw At Ako, showcasing his talent as a premier acoustic singer-songwriter. Beyond his chart-topping hits, the Cagayan de Oro native has enjoyed a diverse career as a broadcast host. He is married to "Soul Supreme" KZ Tandingan, a romance sparked by introductions from shared industry mentors.

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In December of last year, while extending festive greetings to his followers, OPM artist TJ Monterde took a clever side-swipe at the rising trend of unauthorized AI vocal clones. The "Palagi" singer specifically tailored his Christmas well-wishes to exclude individuals who generate and distribute unlicensed AI covers of his music. The singer’s social media post served as a firm reminder of the importance of artistic consent and intellectual property rights in the age of artificial intelligence. Fans and fellow musicians quickly rallied behind Monterde, flooding the comments with support for stricter regulations on digital voice theft.

Meanwhile, following the massive success of their 40-city global tour, TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan surprised their dedicated staff with a substantial financial reward. In a viral TikTok clip, team members were seen uncovering a ₱100,000 cash gift hidden beneath scratch-off cards provided by the celebrity couple. The celebratory atmosphere was filled with tears of joy as the crew realized the extent of the couple’s appreciation for their year-long hard work. TJ publicly lauded his production team’s resilience, emphasizing that their commitment was the backbone of the tour's record-breaking international run.

Source: KAMI.com.gh