MONTAIGNE ANNOUNCES ANTICIPATED DEBUT ALBUM ‘GLORIOUS HEIGHTS’ SET FOR RELEASE ON AUGUST 5 + NATIONAL TOUR THROUGH SEP/OCT
Thrilling, unconfined songstress, Montaigne has today announced the greatly anticipated release of her debut full-length LP, Glorious Heights set to drop on August 5. She will be celebrating with her extensive BECAUSE I LOVE YOU national tour, set to kick off at The Brisbane Festival on September 13, moving through Toowoomba, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Port Macquarie, Caloundra, Wollongong, Sydney, Newcastle, Geelong and finishing up at the iconic Corner Hotel in Melbourne on October 15.
The new single released earlier this month, Because I Love You offers an electrifying perspective on pop music and an exciting taste of the debut album. Ever the innovator, Montaigne collides an impossible variety of influences on this track. Catchy piano chord progressions and sparkling string arrangements are sculpted to perfection around the anchor of her stunning vocal. The woman behind Montaigne, Jess Cerro, says of the release, “Because I Love You is a look back at what you’d known to be a healthy and fulfilling relationship whilst experiencing it, but with a little perspective discovered was pretty bad.”
The new album, Glorious Heights is an in-depth exploration of the world that encompasses Montaigne. 80’s inspired, but impossible to contain, Glorious Heights was written in close collaboration with Tony Buchen (Andy Bull, Spookyland, The Preatures) and recorded at Sony Studios and Studios 301. Montaigne’s voice is ubiquitous and soaring throughout; an earnest staple that empowers and inspires sincere emotion in the listener. Of the release, Cerro says, “Tony and I did whatever the hell we wanted without thinking about things we’re fans of too much, only using references to illustrate to one another what kinds of sounds we wanted. I want to preach empowerment by means of self-improvement; to be able to identify ones weaknesses, analyse them, and mitigate them. I want people to realise that the warrior of this age is the kind that combats evil by refusing to take part in the processes that sustain it.”
A Montaigne show must be seen to be believed, as the undeniable talent this young person encapsulates is truly something to behold. Pumped to be hitting the road to tour her new album for fans in September and October, Cerro enthuses, “I think this will be the most fun tour yet. It’s gonna be like a grand quest, and what we’ll be questing for is les frissons which come with live performance. It’s gonna be so nerdy and great!”
New single, BECAUSE I LOVE YOU is out now
Debut album, GLORIOUS HEIGHTS is set for release on August 5 (out through Wonderlick Records), available for pre-order now* *all pre-orders will receive BECAUSE I LOVE YOU as an instant grat track + the ability to enter a competition to win tickets to an intimate, private acoustic showcase with Montaigne, more info at www.montaignemusic.com.au
Tickets to the national BECAUSE I LOVE YOU tour are on sale now, excluding Brisbane Festival which will go on sale from June 30
MONTAIGNE ‘BECAUSE I LOVE YOU’ TOUR DATES
presented by triple j and music feeds
TUE 13 SEP | THE SPIEGELTENT @ BRISBANE FESTIVAL, BRISBANE QLD (ALL AGES)
Tickets available from www.brisbanefestival.com.au *On sale Thu 30 June
FRI 16 SEP | CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS, TOOWOOMBA QLD (ALL AGES)
Tickets available from www.tcof.com.au
FRI 23 SEP | FAT CONTROLLER, ADELAIDE SA
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 24 SEP | JACK RABBIT SLIMS, PERTH WA
Tickets available from www.ticketbooth.com.au
SAT 01 OCT | BEYOND FESTIVAL, CANBERRA ACT (ALL AGES)
Tickets available from www.beyondfestival.com.au
SUN 02 OCT | WILDWOOD FESTIVAL, PORT MACQUARIE NSW (ALL AGES)
Tickets available from www.wildwoodmusic.com.au
MON 03 OCT | CALOUNDRA MUSIC FESTIVAL, CALOUNDRA QLD (ALL AGES)
Tickets available from www.caloundramusicfestival.com
FRI 07 OCT | UNI BAR, WOLLONGONG NSW
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 08 OCT | OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY NSW
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SUN 09 OCT | LIZOTTES, NEWCASTLE NSW (ALL AGES)
Tickets available from www.lizottes.com.au | 02 4956 2066
FRI 14 OCT | WORKERS CLUB, GEELONG VIC
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 15 OCT | CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE VIC
Tickets available from www.cornerhotel.com | 1300 724 867
MELBOURNE’S KINGS. ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO (u) West Coast
Melbourne-based electro-pop newcomers, KINGS. have today announced their infectious new single (u) West Coast, a gem of a song that is soaked in seasonal nostalgia, set for release on July 1. The band have also announced the fittingly sun-kissed video for (u) West Coast, directed by Lawrence Phelan (Chris Watts, Reika).
(u) West Coast is a shimmering example of uplifting electro pop. Characterised by its sharp production and cyclic synthesisers, the song is intricate, dense and seriously satisfying. It transcends time and transports the listener into the haze of an Australian summer, intrinsically narrated by lead vocalist Hayden Jeffery’s honeyed, soaring vocal. The chorus is joyous, effortlessly cool, and buoyed by endlessly catchy hooks. Speaking on the inspiration behind the tune, Jeffery says, “(u) West Coast draws on the feeling of nostalgia, it’s one of my favourite emotions to feel; it sparks a very colourful and creative energy. The letter (u) in the title refers to a place where I once was and once experienced, it holds plenty of memories, stories and sentimental feelings.”
The lyric video for the tune is reflective of this energy, and consists of stunning, sparkling footage of beaches so picturesque they could have been plucked straight from a daydream. Rolling in and then receding, waves flow underneath the words as they flicker and fade, perfectly timed to emphasise the ebbs and flows in the music. Speaking on the clip, Jeffery explains, “We wanted the lyric video to tie in with the aesthetic of the artwork, as well as the themes of the lyrical content. The video is more or less a pleasing sight to envisage while listening to the song.”
With 80,000 spins across Spotify and Soundcloud, and 30,000 YouTube views for their last single, Whispers, KINGS. have the industry and music lovers’ primed and waiting for this anticipated second single and it will not disappoint. The skilled producers and musicians have a jam-packed year ahead, continuing to create new tunes for themselves and for other musicians, as Jeffery enthuses, “The unique thing about KINGS. is that all the music is DIY from home. We have a little rehearsal studio built in my garage and all of the records come together on my laptop. In our spare time we’ll be making more music and producing for other artists.”
KINGS. is Hayden Jeffery, Sam Buirski, Caleb Williams, and Tim Cox.
(u) West Coast is available for purchase on iTunes on July 1
ADELAIDE CHANTEUSE ‘MANE’ ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE ‘BITTER’ + DEBUT EP ‘HOUSE OF HORROR’ + EAST COAST TOUR
The enigmatic chanteuse, MANE has today announced her new single, Bitter to be released on June 10, alongside a fast-paced, abstract video directed by Benjamin Lancaster Powell. Bitter is the first taste of MANE’s debut EP House of Horror, a bluesy exploration of darkness, set for release on June 24. MANE will be hitting the road to celebrate the release in July, kicking off in Adelaide at The Bluebee Room on July 15, moving through Whole Lotta Love in Melbourne on July 24, and wrapping up in Sydney at The Newsagency on July 29.
Haunting and distinct, Bitter is an intriguing release, completely characterised by MANE’s irresistible voice. With catchy hooks that marry pop and blues influences together flawlessly, a driving percussive force, and intricate, edgy production values, Bitter is a venomous reminder to stay away from the bad side of a good songwriter. The woman behind MANE, Paige Renee Court, says of the release, “Bitter was inspired by a very evil, manipulative person – someone who was once very close to a family member of mine. I usually only write songs that are personal to me, but this song became an exception that flowed out onto the page of my songbook within a matter of minutes. If I’m totally honest, it’s probably too nice of a song for this particular person, knowing what I know now.”
The video for Bitter is a visual reflection of the ubiquitous contempt that propels the track. MANE stands alone, silhouetted and soaked in flashes of psychedelia. Directed by Benjamin Lancaster Powell (Aspirations) of Lightreel Films, the video is visceral and forward-moving. On the clip, Court says, “The concept of this clip is to project the attitude of the track through some abstract images and edits. It’s a fast-paced song and we really tried to keep the pace of the clip going with it.”
Produced by Jack Hookey (Harry Hookey, Imogen Clark) at Kanutsens Studio, the House of Horror EP is a melancholic, soulful journey through the human experience. As an avid fan of a variety of different musical genres, MANE calls upon an array of influences to inform her unique brand of blues-inspired popular music. Court says, “The making of the EP was a bit of journey in itself – I went in with a really open mind and didn’t want to shut myself off to any ideas. House of Horror explores a lot of darkness that has been a result of past experiences or the experiences of others, whether that be resentment, self doubt, death or depression. It all comes under the one roof.”
To celebrate House of Horror, Mane will be embarking on a national tour in July. Excited to be hitting the road, Court gives audiences a hint of what to expect from her live show, saying “The live shows we have planned on the House of Horror tour are going to be fun! Some shows will be performed more stripped back, similar to how I wrote the tracks on the EP, while others will be with the full band.”
New single Bitter is out June 10
New EP House of Horror is out June 24