TLDR
Singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist in Fayetteville looking to jam, collaborate, or possibly join or start a band. I primarilywrite songs on guitar with a certain degree of complexity (different movements, key changes, dissonance, syncopation, etc.) to keep it interesting. I can also play bass, drums, and ukulele. Looking for something casual & exploratory (I am in grad school schedule, so ~1 night/week), but open to long-term, recording and live projects if it clicks.
Hey, I’m TJ. I primarily play rhythm guitar, but I’ve played lead before in a band and really enjoyed that. I have an acoustic right now, though I’m comfortable on electric. I also play ukulele, bass, and drums, so I’m flexible depending on what a project needs.
What I tend to write:
Emotionally expressive indie/folk with some classical influence and rock mixed in. Again, I like complexity, but not necessarily busy or overly complex. I want my music to sound good but also intriguing and different. My voice is unique – Conner O’berst was a big influence on me believing in my voice enough to write and sing.
What inspires me:
I love immersive, thematic albums — records you can listen to front-to-back without wanting to skip a song. I’m drawn to music with movement, dynamic shifts, syncopation – music that sounds good but is not predictable.
Some favorites include:, Dear and the Headlights, The Dear Hunter, Bright Eyes, Tool, The Mars Volta, At The Drive-In, Artifex Pereo (particularly the album Divisi), Between the Buried and Me, Bayside, Band of Horses, Punch Brothers, and Nickel Creek. I listen to a mix of post-hardcore, indie folk, 90s rock, bluegrass, and more.
Musicianship / background:
Mostly self-taught, but I took Harmony I & II in college and learned traditional theory on staff paper. I’m most comfortable writing from a “guitar-theory” perspective that is the way I learned, but I enjoy learning from people who have different or deeper theory backgrounds.
I’ve played lead guitar in a progressive pop-punk band before and really enjoyed writing melodic lead parts for someone else’s songs — adding my own flavor while serving the song. I’ve played bass in several bands.
What I’m looking for:
Anything from casual jamming and making new friends to collaboration or forming a band. It could be centered around my songs, your songs, or something we build together. I’m pretty open and curious about what others are into.
Availability / goals:
I’m in grad school, so I can only commit to one evening a week for a few hours. I have more time during winter and summer breaks. Short-term I’m interested in casual and exploratory collaboration, but long-term I’m open to recording, putting an album together, and potentially playing shows or touring if a project really clicks. I’ve written about two albums’ worth of material but haven’t recorded much I’m happy with yet.
Vibe:
I can be self-critical and a bit of a perfectionist with my own work, but I enjoy collaboration and compromise. I am opinionated in that I want to make music I’d actually want to listen to, while respecting other people’s ideas and tastes. I enjoy performing, even with some performance anxiety — rhythm guitar is where I’m most comfortable live.
If this sounds like it might align with you, feel free to reach out and tell me what you’re looking for.
Here is a song I recorded long ago. I think I have gotten a lot better at singing but it gives you an idea. https://tjfmusic.bandcamp.com/track/the-newold-order