The UB Interview: TJ Jackson Talks New Music & Jackson Legacy

TJ Jackson is no stranger to music. With a legendary last name, he is the son of Tito and nephew to Janet and Michael Jackson. He has an impressive music career of his own as a proven global star and multi platinum selling artist.

After making their debut on “2300 Jackson Street” The Jacksons, featuring Michael and Janet Jackson.

TJ and his brothers formed the group 3T and became an international success surpassing even Boyz II Men in overseas record sales and were ranked 2nd behind Spice Girls, as the biggest-selling group in Europe.

3T’s debut single, “Anything” featuring Michael Jackson. Which was also written and produced by 3T, went gold in the United States, Denmark, Belgium, United Kingdom and Norway, selling over two million copies worldwide.

In 2015, 3T starred in Lifetime’s docuseries The Jacksons: Next Generation that featured the brothers as they worked to balance a career and their lives as traditional family men while living up to the pressures and demands that comes with their last name. As a tribute to their mother and honoring her everlasting imprint on the lives of so many, they launched the Dee Dee Jackson Foundation.

Now TJ Jackson is ready to return to music. With his new seductive, sultry single “Insomnia.”

The lead single from his forthcoming EP, “Last Night” coming this winter.

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This week, Aries from UB spoke with TJ Jackson, about his new single and visual “Insomnia,” his upcoming EP, fun memories with Michael into his disgust of current falsities. TJ tells us life lessons he learned from his parents and his favorite songs from his aunt and uncle. TJ also provides advice for the loss of a family member and more.

Get reacquainted with TJ Jackson.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s so cool to me is today you released the visual for Insomnia, which was filmed in Paris. Today is the 30th Anniversary of your aunt Janet’s Rhythm Nation release and one of her biggest hits from that album, Come Back to Me. The video was filmed in Paris. Was any of that on purpose?
TJ Jackson: First that’s a good question and point. It necessarily wasn’t on purpose, but it did cross my mind. While we were filming, that my aunt also did a video here in Paris. But we’ve always had as far as 3T, where France and Paris were our biggest markets. They were always just so loving to us. That it felt right for me to go there and do the video. It’s the city of romance and the song is very romantic. So it just felt right to do the video there. But again it did cross my mind while we were filming. I had already had a great talk with the director in terms of what direction we wanted it to go. The color schemes and such and I was like you know what? This is kind of like my aunt’s video. But at the same time, my family has done so many videos. It’s kind of hard not to touch on something that someone has already done already.

UrbanBridgez.com: What was it about Insomnia that made you want to release that as the lead, coming back from an hiatus?
TJ Jackson: I felt I needed to establish myself with a different style as a different artist. Than what people last saw me in, I think a lot of people were rocking with my as I was a teen. I just wanted to come back a bit stronger. I wanted to let people know that time has happened, I’ve matured, I’m grown and I’m comfortable. This is the new me. My whole project isn’t like this single, for me it was a point to kind of shake people up. Try to let them see more, than just TJ from 3T.

UrbanBridgez.com: You have such a good point there! What made you want to return to music now?
TJ Jackson: I’ve always done music, but most of the time it’s just been private. In terms of why now and coming back out in the spotlight. It just felt right, all of the kids now are older. I have kids of my own and I was guardian for my uncles kids. I still am for his youngest. But life was slowing down for me and I was able to put myself more in focus. And it just seemed like now is the time. I’m past the days of trying to make sure that everything is perfect. And try to plot everything right. Because if you go through that, you’ll never come. So for me it was now.

UrbanBridgez.com: Can you tell us the vibe of your forthcoming EP and what fans can expect?
TJ Jackson: It’s still going to have that R&B flavor. There are songs that are going to be a little different than Insomnia. But R&B is my roots. It’s what I grew up on, it’s what I love listening to. It’s my soul and base for me as an musician and artist. So it’s definitely going to have an R&B vibe. Some up-tempos and all different types of music. I’m excited to share it with the world because I’ve been sitting on it for quite some time. Just making sure it’s something that was strong. Something I would look back on 10 or 20 years later and be proud of. I got a lot to share and I’m super excited for this journey.

UrbanBridgez.com: 3T released music last in 2015, any plans to record new music with your brothers in the near future?
TJ Jackson: We haven’t discussed it. But that’s my bros and I love them and we will always be 3T. Before we were anything, and even before our song Anything, we were brothers and spent a lot of time making music. There’s a special feeling that goes with that for me. So I will always want to do 3T and will always consider myself a third of 3T. As far as dates, we haven’t picked one. But I’m sure within the next couple of years, we’ll be releasing something.

UrbanBridgez.com: Really good to hear! Staying on family, give our readers just one of the thousands I’m sure you have, of one of the fondest memories you have with your uncle Michael Jackson.
TJ Jackson: Yeah I remember we were hanging out with him alot when he lived in Encino, we lived up the street. So growing up, we would always be with our uncle Michael. What he use to always love doing when we would return home, like after a day of fun. He would always just pull over on the side of the road. And this was after Thriller had just came out. And he would always turn around (like in Thriller) and say that line…”I have something I want to tell you, I’m not like other guys.” I was probably like 5 at the time, so the first few times he did it, it was scary. I didn’t know what to expect or what was going to happen. But after awhile of him doing it, we would be keen to it. So we would be like can we keep going, we already know what you’re going to say (laughs). It was just a really fun time. And he would literally go through the whole routine! So that is one of the biggest fondest memories for me I have to say as a kid with my uncle Michael. There really is so many! I mean so many! He was just an amazing person. Someone that I will always love and cherish. And someone who I’ll always look up to.

UrbanBridgez.com: I was such a fan, he looked like he had such a fun personality!
TJ Jackson: Oh my goodness! A lot of fun, he really loved to have a good time. But he was also just very magical. He had a great sense, especially for us that wanted to be musicians and artists. He was the absolute best inspiration we could have. He was very giving and open with us in terms of why he did certain things and how he thought. Now I look back and realize how fortunate we were to have him. He’s always been an incredible person in my life and one who I’ll always love, respect and cherish. I miss him tremendously.

UrbanBridgez.com: You’ve been very vocal about your disappointment in the HBO Documentary regarding your uncle. With it now winning an Emmy of all things, tell us your thoughts.
TJ Jackson: I think it’s trash, to be honest. It’s one sided, with a lot of manipulations, with a lot of falsities. You know, it’s featuring two performers. Two performers who have been performing since they were kids.

UrbanBridgez.com: Exactly!
TJ Jackson: I think it’s so wrong how they’ve done that. It actually really angers me. I try to keep my cool. While other artists are getting feature films and there are a lot of them. They’re trying to trash my uncle, who’s been the most giving and helpful in the world with his messages. Not only in music, but outside of music. It’s just wrong and I think my family said it right. When they said it’s a modern day lynching, that’s exactly what they’re trying to do.

UrbanBridgez.com: As Michael Jackson fans and supporters, how can we do more to help prevent things like this happening in the future?
TJ Jackson: I think what the fans can do what they’ve been doing. Which is look for the truth, search the truth and do your own research. And spread the news, because the nation media isn’t going to. They have an agenda and they’re only going to show or say what they want. Whether it’s true or false. It really angers me. I mean it’s like a good old boys club, really trying to tear my uncle down. History is a long term thing though, so in the end all will be right. But it’s just a really wrong to do. Not just to his fans but his family and kids are dealing with the consequences of the narrative they’re trying to push.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s one of the biggest lessons about life that your mother taught you and what’s one about the music industry that your dad Tito taught you?
TJ Jackson: Well about my life from my mother, was to be respectful and to give back to the community. My mother was big on respect. We did not talk back to her, we did not disrespect any adult. Or disrespect anyone or anything. She worked hard on that, she wasn’t a big person she was only 5 feet tall. And she didn’t weigh nothing, but when she talked you listened. So that’s what I learned from her, because she was that mother that was the head of the parent club at school. And at our little league. She was just embedded in her kids and I respect and love that about her. From my father, I think it’s just the humility. He would go on tour and perform at stadiums and then the next day he would be coaching my little league. Just the way he handles people, he had just performed for 50 to 60 thousand people and was incredibly approachable and would laugh, talk and check on you. When you see that as a kid, you see how it’s supposed to be done. So no matter what type of success I receive or achieve, I’m real confident in how I’ll be. I know I won’t change, because I have the perfect example in my father.

UrbanBridgez.com: Being that you took on an additional parental role after a family tragedy. What advice could you give to my family, as we recently suffered a tragedy where we loss my 5 year old niece and her mother in a car accident.
TJ Jackson: I’m so sorry.

UrbanBridgez.com: Thank you. My brother is now raising his 3 year old as a single parent, who survived the accident. It’s been a lot.
TJ Jackson: First of all my condolences to you and the whole family. You know I loss my mother a month after I turned 16. It was the most devastating thing and it’s something that I haven’t quote on quote, gotten over. In the last 5 years me and my brothers actually started a foundation in my mothers honor, called the Dee Dee Jackson Foundation. It deals with loss and grief. We do a weekly radio show where this is like the type of topics and things we discuss. The whole purpose for us was to bring light to loss. Our society fails us in that way because we always celebrate the winners. After a championship, we go straight to the winners and we see them celebrate. Losing is a real life thing. Because loss is going to happen to you. To each and every one of us. I think learning how to deal with loss can help a lot. And the other thing I would say, is you’re not alone. Someone is dealing with a very similar situation and you have to kind of unite. And loss can be such an isolating process. That even though you may want to be by yourself, like I did. You have to find a way to still connect to people and your loved ones. That will help empower you at times when you’re alone. But again, loss is real and my heart is there for you. And you just have to be there as a family member for your family. Time heals slowly, it will never heal completely but it helps a lot. Oh also, my uncle Michael was crucial. When I loss my mother was whole world was flipped. He pulled me and my brothers aside and told us make her proud. She’s there for you, make her proud. So just refocusing your energy and your thoughts as much as you can on your loved one proud. It really helps.

UrbanBridgez.com: Thanks so much! On a fun note, I have to ask you this. Out of Janet & Michael’s catalogs, tell us one of your favorite songs by each and why?
TJ Jackson: So from Janet, it’s That’s The Way Love Goes and Come Back to Me. Come Back to Me was literally always my favorite song of hers. Something about that R&B love song, the sound and 808 it’s just great! That’s The Way Love Goes I love the vibe and chillness of it. So I think those two would be my favorites from my aunt Janet. As for uncle Michael, I would say Man In The Mirror, because of the message. And to me, it’s just an incredible song. He spoke about changing the world and making it a better place. Throughout my life, even before that song was done. Hearing that song and seeing the power it had in the video, it’s just the perfect stamp for what he’s always said. So for that, it speaks a lot to me. Then the other one would have to be Human Nature. There’s a lot though. So if you ask me tomorrow, it might be something else. But something about that Human Nature for it to be 36 years old and to be sounding like it does and still fresh. As an artist that’s incredibly inspirational. Obviously it starts with a great song, but the production and everything on that song is strong and tight.

UrbanBridgez.com: What do you want to leave your fans with?
TJ Jackson: I just want to thank them for supporting me and my entire family. Through the ups and downs. We’re a family who tried to do things right. And try to represent positivity and to make our listeners and fans as great as possible. That’s something we will always try to do as a family. Then also if you want to follow me on my journey, you an go to my website (tjjacksonmusic.com) and sign up for my newsletter. Once a week, I write a newsletter to A, encourage people to live their best life. But also I give them an insight to what I’m up to an where my project is heading. So it’s been a cool experience that my fans have enjoyed. So I’m just spreading that out more.