Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Eye of TJ

Eye of TJ - Letting Go of You (ACOUSTIC VERSION)

Blending raw human vulnerability with a cinematic digital voice, EYE OF TJ tells "Real Life Stories" from the silence that follows the final word. While the original track was an aggressive rock realization of a nine-year relationship reaching its snapping point, this version is the "silence" that followed.

Interview with Eye of TJ

What motivated you to revisit “Letting Go of You” in such a stripped-back acoustic form?

"Letting Go of You" is the heartbeat of this project. It was the song that first caught people’s attention, and it’s the one I still get the most comments on today. Even months after the initial release, the original version is still reaching new ears and hitting milestones. I wanted to honor that connection by stripping away the "noise" and showing the listeners the rawest version of that story. I wanted to see if the emotion could stand on its own without the wall of sound.

How did approaching the song as the silence after the breakup change your emotional connection to it?

The original version was the "scream"—it was the immediate, chaotic energy of a nine-year relationship reaching its breaking point. Approaching the acoustic version felt like the "silence" that follows the storm. It forced me to sit with the lyrics in a different way. Without the heavy drums and distorted guitars, there’s nowhere to hide. It made the song feel less like a rock anthem and more like a private confession.

What does vulnerability mean to you in this quieter version compared to the original rock release?

In the rock release, vulnerability was about the power of the outburst. In this acoustic version, vulnerability is about exposure. It’s the difference between telling someone you're hurting and letting them see you sitting alone in the dark. This version is the "Naked Truth" of the project.

How does the digital vocal persona interact differently with an acoustic setting?

It’s fascinating. In a high-production rock setting, the digital voice feels like a powerhouse "Character" leading a band. In an acoustic setting, that same voice feels haunting—almost like a digital ghost or a recorded memory. It creates an "uncanny valley" effect where the technology and the human emotion meet in a very quiet, intimate space. It allows the "TJ" character to feel more human than ever before.

Why did this track feel like the right choice to lead into the Deluxe Edition release?

I wanted to go back to where it all started. As I prepare to release the Deluxe Edition in March, I felt it was important to reset the narrative. "Letting Go of You" was the first brick in the foundation of this project. By starting the new era with this acoustic version, I’m showing the audience the "Origin Story" before we move forward into the new tracks like "What Love Should Be."

What has the response been like from listeners who connected with the original version?

It’s been incredibly humbling. I have "diehard" listeners telling me their kids know my voice the second a song starts and sing along in the car. I’ve had people reach out privately to tell me these songs are helping them recover from narcissistic relationships and find their own "Happy Ending." Hearing that my 9 years of silence is helping other people find their voice is the greatest reward I could ask for.

How does “Letting Go of You” reflect the core theme of Everything I Didn’t Say?

This was the very first song I wrote after my breakup. At the time, I realized I had been holding in my feelings for nearly a decade, and it was starting to destroy me. Writing this song was the moment I realized I needed to get those unspoken words out. It set the tone for the entire album—the idea that our "inventory of silence" deserves to be heard.

In what ways does this release represent growth for EYE OF TJ as a project?

We’ve come a long way from being a simple silhouette. Surpassing 35,000 streams on the debut was a huge milestone, but the real growth is in the storytelling. I’ve moved from just "releasing songs" to building a "Rockumentary" through my visuals and different versions of the tracks. We are building a professional, global brand now, and this acoustic release is the first time I’ve truly felt like the "Man behind the voice" is stepping into the light.

What role does technology play in helping you tell deeply human stories?

Technology is my bridge. I’ve always been a songwriter, but I was never a singer. The digital voice is the megaphone that allows my lyrics to reach people. It also acts as a "shield"—it allows me to be 100% honest about my pain because I’ve projected that pain onto the character of TJ. It proves that even in a digital world, the "Soul" of a song always comes from the human heartbeat that wrote the words.

What can listeners expect emotionally from the Deluxe Edition arriving in March?

Expect the full spectrum. You’ve seen the "Villain," you’ve heard the "Scream," and now you’re hearing the "Silence." The Deluxe Edition will feature the new single "What Love Should Be," which is a natural evolution from my deeper tracks like "Real Love." While the first era was about the pain of what went wrong, the new material is about the clarity of what happens when you finally learn how to breathe again.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Eye of TJ on the Pigeon Spins Playlist or