The undefinable talent that is Montaigne recently released her new single Because I Love You, an epic relationship postmortem pop gem. It was a tempting starter to her glorious debut album Glorious Heights, which is out on Friday. We asked her about touring, about the new album, and also about her fixation with the ‘Dracula Pirate’ look.
TGW: You performed a cracking opening set at Splendour recently. What was it like performing in the open air at 12.30?
M: It was pretty damn great, my friend.
TGW: Tell us about your Dracula Pirate wardrobe brief for fashion brand Magraw when you appeared at Splendour.
M: Macgraw is a beautiful pair of sisters who make fantastic clothing which I like to think of as a blend between Amish chic and stately caszj. I mean the collections change in their style but at the moment that’s what we’re at. “Strong yet feminine” is an accurate quote from their website, and apparently Lorde is a fan. So am I. So Lorde and I are basically the same person.
‘Macgraw...makes fantastic clothing which I like to think of as a blend between Amish chic and stately caszj. Apparently Lorde is a fan. So am I. So Lorde and I are basically the same person.’
TGW: Since the release of your EP last year, it seems like you’ve been touring constantly. Have you?
M: I don’t think so. I mean, I’ve surely been touring, but there’ve been periods where I’ve gone home and not done shows. Right now for example!
TGW: ‘Because I Love You’ is an autobiographical song. It’s good that you can express yourself through songwriting and singing. If you weren’t a recording artist, how else do you think you’d work through the feels of a relationship that’s ended? Knitting? Sudoku? Perhaps some interpretive dance?
M: Probably still writing, I imagine. I enjoy writing and storytelling as a disparate thing from music too. Though I do enjoy a bit of photography. I reckon I’d be into that. Or dripping my soul all over people on Facebook.
TGW: Your new album Glorious Heights is out on 5 August. You’ve said that it’s heavily influenced by David Byrne, Everything Everything, Bjork, Sigur Ros and Arcade Fire. I can also hear a little bit of Beth Orton’s 1973 in the lead single, with a touch of Gary Numan. I’m loving the slow digital disco sound. What’s the newest track you’ve been listening to on repeat?
M: Newest? Well, this is VERY new, like just started repeating it just now, but Painter In Your Pocket by Destroyer.
TGW: Have you mastered your own robot dance? When does it come out?
M: I’m kind of confused, but I’m gonna say no, and hence, never?
TGW: What are some of your favourite closet hits?
M: Of mine? Or others? I’m gonna assume others. I don’t really have secret faves? Like I’m pretty open with the fact that I was obsessed with the Jo Bros for a time and grew up on radio pop. So I guess the most typically shameful material would be like SOS by the Jonas Brothers or Slave 4 U by Britney Spears.
TGW: Some people find storytelling easy in their songwriting, imagining scenarios and the writing flows. Do you always write based on your experiences?
M: Pretty much. Like, I’ll imagine characters to an extent, but they’ll always resemble people in my life, or myself. I hyperbolise or change one thing for dramatisation. But that’s it.
[When songwriting] ‘I’ll imagine characters to an extent, but they’ll always resemble people in my life, or myself. I hyperbolise or change one thing for dramatisation.’
TGW: What is your latest style obsession?
M: Dracula Pirate.
TGW: Do you have particular look or style that you are drawn to, or is it more unpredictable than that?
M: I think I do. It’s just whatever balances feminine and masculine well. I like the neutral.
TGW: Do you support other women in the music business? Is it more competitive or nurturing, in general?
M: Totally nurturing. But different for everyone. Nurturing for me. I love supporting talent. If I like something I wanna see it grow, not die. It’s a strange quality in humans to want to see potential die.
TGW: Your obsession with the game Kingdom Hearts influenced your video for Clip My Wings – are there any new favourite video games that influence your daily life?
M: Nah. I mean I play new things but Kingdom Hearts is my lover, my life, my shawty, my wife.
‘Kingdom Hearts is my lover, my life, my shawty, my wife.’
TGW: You’re touring the new album through Sept-Oct 2016, what are you most looking forward to performing? Will there be pyrotechnics?
No pyro. But there’ll be other stuff. I’m excited to see if I can actually sing I’m Behind You well, live. Lonely will be good with a group of people who know the song too.
Montaigne is hitting the road in September and October to tour her first album for her fans.
Pre-order: GLORIOUS HEIGHTS Stream: BECAUSE I LOVE YOU Buy: BECAUSE I LOVE YOU
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 avail www.brisbanefestival.com.au
- FRI 16 SEP | CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS, TOOWOOMBA QLD (ALL AGES) Tickets avail www.tcof.com.au
- FRI 23 SEP | FAT CONTROLLER, ADELAIDE SA Tickets avail www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
- SAT 24 SEP | JACK RABBIT SLIMS, PERTH WA Tickets avail www.ticketbooth.com.au
- SAT 01 OCT | BEYOND FESTIVAL, CANBERRA ACT (ALL AGES) Tickets avail www.beyondfestival.com.au
- SUN 02 OCT | WILDWOOD FESTIVAL, PORT MACQUARIE NSW (ALL AGES) Tickets avail www.wildwoodmusic.com.au
- MON 03 OCT | CALOUNDRA MUSIC FESTIVAL, CALOUNDRA QLD (ALL AGES) Tickets avail www.caloundramusicfestival.com
- FRI 07 OCT | UNI BAR, WOLLONGONG NSW Tickets avail www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
- SAT 08 OCT | OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY NSW Tickets avail www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
- SUN 09 OCT | LIZOTTES, NEWCASTLE NSW (ALL AGES) Tickets avail www.lizottes.com.au | 02 4956 2066
- FRI 14 OCT | WORKERS CLUB, GEELONG VIC Tickets avail www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
- SAT 15 OCT | CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE VIC Tickets avail www.cornerhotel.com | 1300 724 867
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