Once in a lifetime artists take the music mould, shake it until it breaks, then put it back together in a way that delicately reminds you of the depths of personal perspectives on beauty and artistry.
If you're fortunate, you can find them in the deeper corners of the internet, slipped beneath fast-food pop and its copious budgets. If you're extremely fortunate, you may find one such artist in your own backyard.From the beginning, Montaigne was unconventional. Smashing cymbal sounds and bashed piano contortions permeated first offering 'I'm A Fantastic Wreck', alongside a voice commanding and intriguing enough to be believed when declaring the title line.
The dichotomy of brave and yet so unsure resonated with the audience, as Montaigne signed to a major label, represented Australia at Eurovision, and was nominated for a Grammy.
The music continued to be a unique reflection of a unique experience, functional in purpose. "I was in touch with that relationship with music from a very young age," offers Montaigne candidly.
"Songwriting and singing helped me form a sense of identity that kept me anchored to my own sense of agency and that my feelings were important. A big aspect of my childhood was being made to feel that my feelings weren't important, that they were, at any given moment, incorrect and punishable.
"Music helped give weight and credence to the way I felt. I've always felt as if music was a lifesaver, a tool for revelation. Having grown up the way I did, I struggle to know exactly what I'm feeling, especially when the feeling is tense or difficult.
"My partner knows this well, and he'll unspool it and help me through. I'll realise I am upset, but it took five business days for me to get that. My music has served a similar purpose. Whenever I write a song, I won't know the depth of the feeling I'm trying to convey until it's arrived in the song.
"My biggest example is 'I'm A Fantastic Wreck', which I wrote at 16. At the time, I thought I was writing a whimsical song, but listening in retrospect, there's so much anguish in wanting things to be better and feeling like I suck. There's anger and desperation. I didn't get it until I'd performed it 100 times and reflected on it."
Montaigne's newest offering, full-length album 'It's Hard To Be A Fish', was birthed through a tumultuous period of change, and proved an essential foundation for processing complexities and finding empathy and peace.
"With music, especially this album, I'm better at understanding what drives me. A lot of these songs were made streaming them in front of people, so I was trying not to make the subject matter too personal or crazy. Then reflecting as they came to fruition, I thought I was muting myself, but I wasn't.
"I've been saying to myself that this is my 'Carrie & Lowell' by Sufjan Stevens. I don't think it's as vulnerable as 'Carrie & Lowell', though it is vulnerable. To me, this album represents the core of myself, how I see myself aesthetically.
"It represents my struggle with my parents and it's an expression of specific images and sounds and concepts that I relate to and help me feel embodied in my own experience. It's about the trauma that I have endured, and being resilient in order to live a healthy, satisfying life.
"This album is an effort to capture my ability to find beauty in the struggle, because sometimes it is really dark and depressing. I need to make sense of things through music and this album is my way of making sense of my relationship with my mum."
'It's Hard To Be A Fish' features Montaigne's signature sound design: elaborate, mystifyingly beautiful and multi-faceted. 'Keep Going!' is expansive. 'Talking Sh.t' brutally reflects on someone who probably needs to hear it. While 'It's All About The Money' explores capitalistic narcissism.
However, it's 'Get Older' that slices right to the heart, divulging parental circumstances with devastating lyrics such as 'I tend your wound / It means nothing'.
Montaigne chose to self-produce the album entirely, unlocking creative freedom and fruitfulness. "I made 'Keep Going!' and I was like, 'maybe I can produce professional music, maybe that's possible'.
"I was about to make big changes in my life, leaving my management and my label, so I told myself 'I'm doing all of it' and set that challenge for myself. Over time, I kept throwing spaghetti at the wall and being creative. The things happening in my life started to shape the album's themes and atmosphere. It was very organic.
"I enjoyed working with other producers in the past, because they have their own set of skills and gear and a sound palette they like to use. It's interesting because they're not things I would necessarily choose myself, but they complemented my own ideas.
"I've always craved being in the driver's seat and choosing every little thing that happens. I can work to my own schedule and that creates freedom to try ideas quickly, which can be really fruitful. I enjoy that spontaneous effort of creativity. I'm not a regimented person at all."
Despite leaving a major label and losing perks such as music video budgets, Montaigne has already released four videos for the album, donning fishlike prosthetics and make-up in an array of scenes.
'Swim Back' delivers a gut punch, lyrically and visually. "I had to get the makeup on every morning for two hours," Montaigne laughs. "It was fun. It was a chill way to do a music video.
"Usually I'm deeply involved and entangled in some insane shot, so it was nice to have a slightly easier job despite only seeing 50 per cent of the world out of the contact lenses. Everyone worked hard together to make everything, and I really appreciated the camaraderie and the effort."
Transitioning from a label to being wholly independent has been an enjoyable process for Montaigne, an artist so reverentially personal, it fits well to have them steering all aspects of art and business.
"I have the benefit of being an established artist that is pretty well known throughout the industry, so it's easier than if I'd had a bad time with label management and not gotten very far and then decided to go independent.
"I had a lot of people to lean on. Milly Petriella OAM suggested staying self-managed for a while to get an understanding of the business. That was such smart advice and I'm glad I listened. Ultimately, it was fun.
"Another easier aspect is that I'm an online artist who is very chatty with their fans. I'm on Discord and I stream every week. I like to respond to people's comments. I feel like I have a bit more of an appreciation of the people who support my music now.
"With labels, they gave me money, but now it's my fans who are giving me money. When I get messages that my music means so much to someone, it's more impactful for me now.
"Labels prioritise wealth and fame, and I think that comes at the expense of actual connection with fans. They become a sea of blurry faces. When you're keeping everything small scale, you see the same names popping up.
"It's really nice that these people really care and support the music. That feels very special; and a lot of people were really willing to help make the album. It's been nice because you lean more on community rather than the corporate machine of the label. It's good."
'It's Hard To Be A Fish' is available to stream and buy online.
Montaigne 2025 Tour Dates
Thu 31 Jul - The Brightside (Brisbane)Fri 1 Aug - Howler (Melbourne)
Sat 9 Aug - Mary's Underground (Sydney)
