A New Year means new music and we are fully getting into the spirit of the New Year with a regular musician here on Our Muchness Guide! Today, dear readers, we are going to be diving into TJ Maestro’s new single ‘No Option’. The single dropped on all platforms on Friday 8th January and the music video for ‘No Option’ dropped on YouTube on the very same day. Heading into this one, we both thought it was going to be similar to TJ’s other work and boy were we wrong! So, leave all assumptions aside and join us as we take a closer look at TJ Maestro’s latest track!
For those of you who are meeting TJ Maestro, with the former stage name T UNGA, for the first time, he is a Roscommon based rapper and for those of you who are familiar with his music thanks to this blog he is one of our own at this stage! His music has been featured in the past by Earmilk and Nialler9 and has got airplay on KCLR96FM. Fans of Schoolboy Q, Eminem, Jyellowl, and Big Sean will be able to enjoy TJ Maestro’s music. 2020 was an exciting year for TJ with the release of three singles throughout the year while this year is starting strong for TJ with the release of ‘No Option’.
No Option
E: The opening of this track sounds very retro in comparison to previous releases by TJ Maestro and the production and editing has given this scratchy tone, much like an old record player, and the fact that it’s looped makes it seem like the record is skipping, replaying the same part of the song over and over, which can be linked to the theme of this track. This sound, however, is a very stark contrast to the cleaner and more modern sounds used in previous releases and the theme of the song is far from singular. In one sense, it is referencing the insecurities caused by the creation and release of music, the lack of support from so-called friends while, in another sense, the song is essentially proving, more to the people who didn’t believe in him, that he is capable and deserving of what he has earned so far from his music. However, the repetitive aspect of the backing track can be mirrored by music creation and release and that the nerves and anxiety that comes from dropping new music is repetitive and never really goes away. The whole tone of the track tends to lean towards building anxiety and pressure, something I’m sure is placed on TJ by himself and others.
TJ generally releases tracks very rapidly but they tend to have similar features, No Option is very different when it comes to content and lyrics as well. This song seems to be about his insecurities in releasing music while other releases have been about how his life has improved since he has removed toxic people from his life and began chasing after his own goals. It seems to me that this song has less bravado; there is less hiding behind the facade of being totally fine and being totally ok. In all, it is a far more blunt and honest look at TJ’s life without glossing over the less glamorous aspects of what life as a creative is like. There seems to be a lot more to unpack emotionally and more focus on feeling rather than the present and what he has earned so far. This song isn’t about what TJ has, it’s about himself as a person. This track proves that TJ Maestro is capable of various styles, both lyrically and musically. Overall, it is a great track to kick off the New Year with as, lyrically, this is his strongest installment to date while being personal and relatable as well.
N: From the opening of this song you are hit with the fact that ‘No Option’ is different to anything TJ has released before! The opening feels like it is transporting you back in time from the sound of an old track being played on loop being it’s defining sound combined with the repetitive guitar chords and my personal favourite the flute sound which, based on my gut reaction, I thought it wasn’t a modern tale but rather looking back on a past experience. This is repeated throughout the song and warning it is going to get stuck in your head! Compared to his other releases to ‘No Option’ is produced differently and the storytelling within the song itself is different too! Is this a good different or a bad different or just different? Personally, it is a good different! Instead of copying the formula from his other releases that worked for him, TJ decided to go in a different direction with this song. The song itself tells the story of betrayal, lost friendships and rising above those who didn’t believe in him while proving them wrong.
Here is probably where I should admit that I felt the emotion strongly in this one that I did send a message to TJ Maestro to make sure he was doing better now as the track itself truly allows you to walk a mile in the Artist’s shoes! A lot of people are going to be able to relate to this song as most people in the world at some point during their life go through similar situations! One aspect of the song that really stood out for me was TJ didn’t sugar coat what happened and his feelings! Before now I always thought TJ’s lyrics were primarily showing his positive and inspiring moments in his music journey yet, this time round the song sounds more honest and blunt; just how I like my songs. ‘No Option’ sees TJ team up again with Dublin based music engineer Zak Higgins while the epic guitar-heavy instrumentals are once again provided by US Producer Depo; it is safe to assume that this trio working together are pushing the bounds to make sure TJ Maestro’s music stands out from the crowd in the Irish music scene. But, don’t just take my word for it, make sure you give the song a spin and if you feel like seeing the music video you can watch it below!
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