Singers and real-life celebrity couple TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan who are now living under one roof as husband and wife shared some of their respective discoveries and experiences on what it’s like to be married.
In the virtual media conference for their latest releases, Inday and Dodong, Tuesday, August 3, KZ and TJ talked about the pros and cons of being together.
Collaborations are now easier and harder.
The two admitted that it was easy and at the same time hard to be working alongside each other.
She said that having him by her side made it easier for her to work. She highlighted how her husband knows the ways she works and how she thinks, making it easier to have a collab with him.
“Masaya. Sobrang saya. Kasi di ba sa ibang tao medyo nahihiya ka magsabi ng mga gusto mong sabihin.
“Pero with TJ kasi, alam ko na kahit anong sabihin ko sa kanya, alam ko na he knows it’s always what’s best for the both of us.
“So masaya ako at alam niya kung sa’n ako nanggagaling, alam n’ya sa’n din yung spotlight for me, spotlight for him, alam n’ya pa’no yung galawan namin. Masaya.
“Tapos kahit patulog na kami tapos maya-maya may maiisip kami na mga changes, ‘ay ay wait lang’. So it’s so easy na ang co-writer mo katabi mo lang matulog,” revealed KZ.
Her husband, TJ, admitted that he was more of a singer than a songwriter. But with KZ by his side, she helped him with all the things he needs to do with the song he is working on.
“Maraming bagay ang natutunan ko at most especially that my wife is the Asia’s Soul Supreme, so malaking-malaking bagay yun sa ‘kin.
“Like what she said, yung pag-compliment n’ya sa’kin, same thing na yung sa kanya. Kasi ako, I write songs but I really don’t consider myself much of like—singer talaga ang musicality ko.
“Sakto lang ang chords ko, yung progression ko, just enough to write songs. So ‘pag nagsulat ako, mas lyricist kasi ako eh.
“So pagdating sa mga takbo ng mga notes ng song, malaking tulong ang naibibigay ni KZ sa’kin lalo na ngayon na isang bahay na kami.
“So marami akong natutunan kay KZ lalo na sa loob ng marriage na ‘to.”
But there were also times that they argue while working. These were the times when their sense of professionalism kicks in.
TJ said: “Pero yung professionalism, lumalabas pa rin. So minsan, iba yung ideas namin.”
However, KZ is there to remind her and TJ that “it’s always me and you against the problem and not me against you.”
Normal co-workers, whenever they face a conundrum, could just try and sleep on it in the comfort of their own homes. The next day, they would try and solve the problem.
But in the case of KZ and TJ, they could not since they are practically married and living in the same house.
TJ levels up, KZ is fun to be with.
According to KZ, she thought that TJ’s sweetness would wane now that they’re married. But she was wrong as she admitted that her husband only gets better and better.
“Si TJ akala ko… usually kasi parang feeling mo kapag nangliligaw pa, best foot forward ‘yan. Pero ‘pag kinasal kayo, wag ka nang mag-expect na maging gano’n pa rin s’ya.
“Pero si TJ, imbes na [bumaba], umangat pa s’ya. Parang mas hinigitan n’ya pa ang sarili n’ya no’ng nanliligaw pa s’ya. Sobra s’yang mas maalaga, sobrang maintindihin.”
For TJ, he realized that KZ is very fun to be with now that they’re living together. She is also easy to fall in love with.
“Gano’n ka rin naman. Si KZ naman, ang sarap n’yang kasama, very maintindihin din, very maalaga. Gusto ko man isipin na ang dami naming adjustments kasi newly married kami, mag-one year na kami this month. Pero hindi eh. Parang it’s very…smooth ang lahat. Hindi super smooth pero it’s not hard to love you. Ang dali mong mahalin.”
Not keen on having a baby just yet.
However, despite their profound love for each other, KZ and TJ is not ready to have a baby just yet.
Being married during the pandemic made it hard for the couple to enjoy some quality time together. So when the situation subsides, they’ll have to make up for the lost time—traveling.
“Sa ngayon, wala pa. Kasi sabi ko nga, mag-anniversary kami this month. Pero hindi pa namin totally na-experience yung pagta-travel na kaming dalawa lang. Kasi kinasal kami sa pandemic. So ang priority namin kami muna. Kung maaari, makapag-travel muna kami ‘pag pwede na,” TJ explained.
She also added that they want to travel outside the country with just the two of them. If they plan to have a baby right now, all of their attention would eventually focus on their child.
“Actually sa 7 years namin together, dalawang beses palang kaming nakaalis ng Manila na kaming dalawa lang, Tagaytay pa tsaka Batangas. And both happened nitong taon lang na ‘to. So madami pa kaming gustong gawin,” she added.
“Isa din sa reason why ayaw muna namin mag-baby is because kumbaga ‘pag may baby na kasi, it changes everything. Yung baby automatically becomes your top priority over anything. So gusto muna naming ma-enjoy yung time na kami lang dalawa muna.”
Catch their latest releases, KZ’s Dodong and TJ’s Inday, both endearing Bisaya songs as their way of showing dedication to each other.
It is available on all music streaming platforms, and make sure to check out the “Simula” playlist on YouTube.
The newest playlist of the Bisaya couple also includes their collaboration Can’t Wait To Say I Do, which the couple launched after they got married in 2020, as well as the titular track Simula.
Catch the music video of their songs which will be available on August 7, 7 p.m., via Star Music’s and PolyEast Records’ YouTube channel.
