TJ Monterde shares challenges of recording a song amid COVID-19 pandemic
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Showbiz News
Did you know that TJ Monterde only uses a USB mic to record his newest song, 'Puhon,' while under quarantine?
Singer-songwriter TJ Monterde releases his newest single, a Bisaya song titled “Puhon,” to bring positivity in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic with its midbeat and goodvibes rhythm.
According to TJ, producing and recording the song in the comfort of their homes wasn't easy.
“'Yung song na 'to, kaya siya special din, aside from it being a Bisaya song, special siya kasi parang for me, naging experiment siya.
"Kasi, hindi ko alam kung magwo-work siya kasi walang recording studio, [we didn't record that] in a studio with a vocal arranger, and 'yung mix ,” TJ admitted.
“Ngayon, iba't ibang bahay. So naisip namin, kaya ba natin mag-produce ng isang kanta na Spotify, at least, Spotify-quality na sa bahay mo lang ni-record?”
TJ added that he recorded the vocals of the song in his home with lots of pillows and blankets surrounding the mic to avoid the bouncing of sounds.
After he recorded the vocals, he and the team went back-and-forth to perfect 'Puhon,' which he started writing in 2017.
“'Yung nangyari, nagpasa ako sa arranger, binigay niya sa akin 'yung areglo, pinaayos ko nang konti, tapos ngayon, nilapatan ko boses dito sa bahay with a USB mic that you can buy in the mall na mura lang,” he shared.
“'Tapos, binato ko 'yung una kong rough doon sa vocal coach ko naman. 'Tapos, ibabalik niya sa akin with comments.
“'Tapos uulit ko, tapos bato ko na naman sa kanya ulit na rough lang.
“Mga naka-3 drafts kami hanggang sa 'Okay na yan.'
“After noon, finaynal 'yung boses, hanggang sa nabuo namin ['yung song.]
“'Yun yung interesting thing na na-conquer namin during this quarantine period, na kaya naman palang bumuo ng isang kanta with the use of technology, na kahit wala kayo sa studio, kaya naman pala bumuo.”
'Puhon' is a Bisaya term of "someday" or "God's time." The song is about a guy who longs to be with a girl that is way out of his league.
But the guy couldn't forget the girl despite how much he tried, his heart still belongs to the girl, thus, waiting for the perfect 'puhon.'
'Puhon' is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon music, and other digital streaming platforms.
A lyric video of 'Puhon' is also available on PolyEast Records' official YouTube Channel.
