OPM singer-songwriters KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde are getting emotional as their successful In Between tour nears its end, with only two shows left in their international run this October.
In an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, the couple opened up about their journey, the memories they made on the road, and the overwhelming support they received from fans around the world.
“It's about to come to its end. Two shows na lang. We're down to our last two shows, two shows namin sa Qatar and Dubai and we feel very emotional kasi it's not just about the In Between tour,” KZ said.
For KZ, the end of the tour also marks the closing of a much longer chapter for the couple, who have been performing and touring together for several years.
“He has been touring for the past three to four years. Ako, touring with him since (Sarili Nating Mundo) for the past two years. So para siyang isang malaking tour kapag pinagsama mo yung SNM and In Between. That's a total of over 60-plus shows. Over 60-plus full-length concerts na ginawa namin for the past two years,” KZ said.
TJ echoed KZ’s sentiments, describing the moment as bittersweet after spending years on the road with the same team.
“Three years magkasama kami. Hindi lang naman kami, yung isang buong-buong team yung magkasama. So bittersweet sa amin kasi pagkakapalit na yung mga mukha namin for the past years. Every weekend kami magkasama, and ngayon dalawa na lang yung natitira,” TJ said.
He added, “Bittersweet pero very grateful and happy that we get to do this. Of course, hindi lahat nabibigyan ng chance na ganito.
Despite the emotions that come with closing this chapter, TJ remains grateful that they were given the opportunity to share their music with so many people.
“Hindi namin alam when it'll happen again, when we're able to do it again, if we will. But still grateful that when a chapter closes, another one opens. Another chapter is being started.”
KZ and TJ launched their In Between tour earlier this year, following their previous TJ’s Sarili Nating Mundo tour with KZ as the special guest in most of its stop. Since then, the couple have brought their music to audiences in different parts of the Philippines and abroad.
Looking back, KZ admitted that she initially had doubts about whether audiences would still show up for another concert so soon after their previous tour.
“When Cornerstone told us about the In Between concert, kaming dalawa, actually, mas ako talaga yung wasn't really sure mag-work siya kasi kaka-tour lang namin. We finished the SNM Tour. Before we started doing In Between, kaka-wrap up lang namin with forty shows. So parang nandun ako sa, "Why would people still wanna watch the concert if they just watched us?’” KZ admitted. “Kaming dalawa lng din ang magkasama doon.”
Those doubts were quickly replaced by disbelief when their fans showed up in force, including four consecutive sold-out shows at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“But the fact that the supporters filled Araneta Coliseum four days in a row, sobrang hindi kami makapaniwala.”
For TJ, one of the most memorable parts of the tour has been seeing fans who have followed them from one stop to another.
“May mga fans na kinukompleto nila yung tours namin. So parang may sumusunod talaga sila. Like, meron kaming ibang iba na mag-abroad din, sumasama. So dun ako naa-amaze sa fact na yun. Meron kaming isa na pumunta talaga siya. Nagkita namin siya sa Chicago, nagkita namin siya sa London, nagkita namin siya sa Europe,” TJ recalled.
“So parang sobrang overwhelming support. Siguro yun yung mga memories na tatandaan ko with In Between.”
The couple also recalled an unforgettable moment that happened during their Canada tour when KZ and TJ feared that a snowstorm threatened a possible show cancellation.
“Yung may snowstorm in Canada. We were already ready na magsabi talaga yung organizers that we might have to cancel the show because it's a snowstorm outside. It's literally dangerous to drive outside. Ganong kagrabe,” KZ remembered.
But despite the dangerous weather, fans still made their way to the venue, adding, “But still, people filled the venue. Sobrang dami namin, and the energy was wild. As in, oh, gano'ng kalamig sa labas yung snow, oh, gano'ng kainit.”
The In Between tour in Qatar and Dubai is happening this October 9 and 11, respectively.