Young up and coming artists release their debut single: Monsters

The relationship between singer Talija and actor Gerald Steyn could be compared to two siblings constantly bickering, teasing each other but ultimately looking out for each other. With their new single Monsters releasing on July 15, the goal was finding out how the song came about. It became evident that it was more than just a romantic ballad; it is about what is and what is to come.

Talija who is a broker consultant at a life insurance company has always had a love and passion for music, and asked Binnelanders actor Gerald Steyn to relay the story of how they met and started making music together.

“A friend of mine was trying to get her in his good graces. He was invited to her 21st and took me with him because he didn’t want to go alone. She heard that I could play the guitar and invited me to her room to write a song. We wrote a song on the spot and performed it for the guests at the party,” said Steyn.

They stayed in contact and a friendship that started in 2015 blossomed over the years to where they are today – friends who have become family. Talija is the stage name that the singer and lyricist uses to separate her personal life from her alter ego; the “j” in her name is a tribute to her late father who was her number-one supporter.

Having travelled the country and to America, Talija reminisced on the days when she was still finding her feet. “In 2016 I was transferred to Stellenbosch for my second semester. I have attended quite a few universities; Pretoria, Potch, Damelin and Stellenbosch.” Steyn chipped in and asked whether she finished anything during her years at varsity, and as a witty sister would respond, “Yes … my years”. Even when she was travelling and finding her feet, music was not her main goal. It became a real passion in 2017.

Steyn, a qualified lawyer, admitted that Talija had not changed much, as she continued to start things without finishing them. “We would start writing songs but never finish them; when I would go to her house to practise, she would want to start a new one.” Their first single, Monsters was completed thanks to Steyn’s persistence because he cannot start something without finishing another first.

“I have learned never to play something for her because once she hears it, she’ll want to start something new,” said Steyn.

Speaking to the Northsider about the single which was written in 2017, they both admitted that the song is for everyone to interpret differently as they also interpret it completely differently from each other. Talija gives her interpretation with a background story. “Before the song I never had my first love,” said Talija. For her ‘first love’ means more than surface-level attraction and liking someone. She wanted that depth that comes with an emotional connection. “I wanted my feelings to be safe.” The ‘monsters’ that this single helped Talija deal with were the whole idea of waiting for the right moment, whereas now she creates the right moment which is now.

Steyn described himself as always having been a romantic idealist, an optimist, and a caring person. He described the song as two people in a relationship being driven apart because none of them is willing to open up to the other. “My philosophy is that people build walls around them because of their fears; and unfortunately love needs courage and bravery,” said Steyn.

Giving us a taste of the song, Steyn gave away some of the lyrics and highlighted it as his favourite, “Here we go again, I keep hiding myself to protect myself from my feelings.” Steyn views his ‘monsters’ as the challenges of following the dream. “I wanted to make a point that nothing could stop me; a go for broke vibe.”

The song is labelled by the two as relatable and not “workshopped”, because it is not your typical romantic ballad – more than anything it is like a personal journey. Although Steyn loves music, his love was not what pushed him to release the single but rather the fact that he felt he could not get the song out of his head. After sitting on the song for five years, it was time.

The official release date for the song is July 15 on all streaming platforms and the release date for the music video is July 23.