I love discovering new artists and exposing them to our readers, so when I first heard of American project Eye of TJ, I just had to find out more! Eye of TJ have just released a killer EP called Knowing the Risk, so I decided to sit down with TJ himself and learn about this wonderful new set of songs he’s released – you can also check out the EP in full at the end of the interview.
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a fantastic new EP titled Knowing the Risk. What can you tell us about the record? What has the reception been like so far?
Thank you! Knowing the Risk is what I call a ‘calculated pivot.’ It’s the second chapter of my ongoing inventory of unspoken moments. SONICALLY, it’s where my roots in 2000s stadium rock meet the gritty, humid atmosphere of my home in Mobile, Alabama. It explores the tension of moving forward while still occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror. The reception has been incredibly validating.
In just the first two weeks, we’ve seen the tracks cross over 1,000 combined streams and receive some amazing support from critics who really seem to ‘get’ the Cinematic Grit aesthetic I’m building.
The lead single from the EP is called Headlights in the Drive. What can you tell us about the song?
That song is about the ‘hollow’ kind of waiting. We’ve all had those nights where you’re sitting on the tailgate or the porch, the radio is loud to drown out your thoughts, but you’re still eyes-fixed on the end of the driveway, hoping for a set of headlights that you know deep down aren’t coming. It’s about the ghost of a relationship and the difficulty of finally turning the porch light off.
Why did you pick Headlights in the Drive for the main single? Are there any plans to release any other singles anytime soon?
I chose Headlights because it was the perfect bridge. It has the big, anthemic chorus that fans of my first album expect, but it also introduces those Southern, dirt-road textures that define this new era. As for future singles, Backroad Serenade has actually started taking on a life of its own – it’s currently the most-streamed new track on the EP, so it has effectively become the ‘fan-selected’ second single.
Knowing the Risk is actually the second in a series of releases from your Archive project. What can you tell us about the Archive project and do you have more releases planned as part of the series?
The Archive project is my way of organizing the ‘Inventory.’ I spent a lot of years in the shadows just writing in private notebooks. This project is about digging those stories up and giving them a voice. My album, Everything I Didn’t Say was chapter 1- the raw aftermath. Knowing the Risk is chapter 2 – the pivot and the reflection. I’m already nearly finished with the third chapter, which will be a full-length album returning to my alternative-rock roots, completing the narrative arc.
An album titled Everything I Didn’t Say was also released earlier this year – you’ve been very busy! Do you have any other musical projects or jobs on the go at the moment? How do you find the time to work on so many things at once?
I don’t know if ‘busy’ covers it! Being an independent artist in 2026 means you are the songwriter, the producer, the marketing manager, and the street team all at once. I do balance this with a ‘real-world’ life in Alabama, but Eye of TJ is the heartbeat. I find the time because I have to – these stories feel like they’ll stay stuck in my chest if I don’t get them into a microphone. The ‘grit’ in my music comes from that actual daily hustle.
What can you tell us about your recent album release, Everything I Didn’t Say? Do you approach writing and recording albums differently to EPs?
That album was a massive data-dump of nine years of silence. It was everything I held back during a long relationship. Writing an album feels like painting a landscape – you have room to wander and explore different moods. An EP like Knowing the Risk is more like a single scene in a movie. It’s tighter, more focused, and intentional. I love the album format for the depth, but I love EPs for the punch they deliver.
Do you have any plans to tour within the UK in the near future?
I would love nothing more. I’ve been amazed at the amount of support coming from the UK and Europe lately. As an independent project based in the Deep South, seeing my ‘miles travelled’ reach across the Atlantic is surreal. We are currently working on building the foundation here in the States, but a UK tour is absolutely on the bucket list. I think the ‘cinematic grit’ sound would feel right at home there.
What can people expect when they come to an Eye of TJ concert? Do you pull anything special out for your live shows?
Expect a ‘wall of sound’. I want the live experience to feel as widescreen as the records. We lean heavily into the anthemic energy – those 2000s-style stadium rock moments where everyone can scream the lyrics together. But I also make sure there are those ‘unspoken’ moments – just me and an acoustic guitar, bringing it back to the porch-side honesty where the songs were born.
Jane: What/who would you say are your main musical influences?
It’s a collision of worlds. On one side, you have the high-fidelity energy of bands like Shinedown, Daughtry, and 3 Doors Down. On the other, you have the masterful storytelling of Jason Isbell, the atmosphere of Needtobreathe, and the raw honesty of Zach Bryan. I try to live right in the middle of all of them.
Any last words for the fans?
Just a huge thank you for joining the convoy. Whether you’ve been here since the first album or you just discovered me through Knowing the Risk, thank you for helping me clear out this inventory. If you’ve ever drafted a message you never sent, just know you aren’t traveling this road alone. The porch light is staying on.
Social media: Facebook, X, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok