While so many complain about the ever-increasing homogeneity in music, with a seemingly endless stream of singles being thrust upon the public, without any discernible difference between them, a new generation of artists has begun to emerge to buck the trend.

At the forefront of the Australian flank in this particular cultural battle is Montaigne, a former Triple J Unearthed High finalist who first cocked ears back in 2012. You may have noticed her as one of the entires in our countdown of the 17 Aussie Ladies Who Are Making Pop Music Cool Again.

With an arsenal of baroque pop gems like her single ‘I’m a Fantastic Wreck’ and a thrilling voice that saw her garner wide acclaim for her Like a Version cover of Sia’s inescapable 2014 hit ‘Chandelier’, Montaigne looks poised to turn the tide of this war.

We caught up with the young Sydney singer-songwriter ahead of her upcoming sold-out national tour, which kicks off at The Milk Factory, Brisbane on Thursday, 23rd April (check below for details), to find out more about everyone new favourite indie pop queen.

The Need To Write

I’ve been writing as a ‘hobby’ (read: physiological human need) since I was 12 or thereabouts. Not just music, but stories, poems, amorphous descriptions of moments or experiences and so on. It wasn’t until I was 15 or 16 that I started doing it seriously – seriousness prompted by triple j’s Unearthed High competition which I became a finalist in.

After that I started writing more regularly (and confidently). It’s never stopped being a need, though. Even if it is now integral to a career, that’s not how I approach it. I have a lot of feelings, okay. I need to make them into art.

Let’s Talk Influences

The longest-standing for me are Coldplay, Feist, and Regina Spektor. But they’re no longer my biggest influences – they’re still around and strong for me.

My tastes now swing more towards The National, Bjork, Florence + the Machine, Arcade Fire, Owen Pallett, Marina and the Diamonds, Sigur Ros & Jonsi, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bat For Lashes, old-school Shiny Toy Guns, Olafur Arnalds, so many things, now.

Getting Instrumental

I played the trumpet in primary school and I play a little bit of piano, enough to write songs with. I’m not highly proficient with any instrument — you can see that in the ‘Chandelier’ cover — and especially not while I’m singing simultaneously.

My voice is my main instrument and I like writing best with it. Other instruments are aids for me. I think one day, when I have the time, I’ll buckle down and learn the piano properly and work on my guitar a little more.

Live, I play the guitar, though ideally I wouldn’t. One day I might get someone else to play it, and then perhaps play it myself tokenistically during a song or two.

Getting Collaborative

The Hayden James collaboration was really cool actually, Hayden produces some really good beats and is very kind and patient and good-humoured and he liked a lot of the melodies I was spontaneously inventing.

Additionally, he’s really easy to negotiate with. I felt entirely at ease working with him. We’re getting back in the studio after he comes back from the US. I’ve also been working with these excellent pop producers named Shea & Oscar with whom I share a lot of interests.

After we finished work, we ended up listening to EDM and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and all of this A-Pop and #thuglyf vids and it was quite amazing. I actually just got the songs we worked on emailed to me today, fully produced, and they sound fantastic. Very Jonsi-esque, which is what we were going for.

Sooner or later I’ll be writing with the beautiful-magnificent Dave from Gang of Youths, possibly Urthboy, and this week with the producer of Life of Montaigne, Tony Buchen! I’m very excited.

Fantasy Collabs

Florence Welch or Bjork, or Win Butler, or Jonsi, or Natasha Khan. I’d work on a really, really long, elaborate and detailed song with any of them. I choose them because they’re all incredible vocalists and incredible songwriters, who share my predilection for the grandiosely emotional and sonically epic.

Tour Essentials

1. My phone (obviously). 2. My red lipstick. 3. Breakfast (I love breakfast so much that it’s probably developing into an unhealthy obsession).

Peer Pressure

I’ve been spinning Gang of Youths so hard. Also, I really love my good friend Japanese Wallpaper’s stuff, and #1 Dads get me constantly emotional (as do Big Scary). Oh, and Tkay Maidza of course, her and Elk know how to produce the bangerz.

The Road Ahead

LP in the works. Writing, writing, writing. Shows, festivals, snapchatting pictures of granola – the usual.

Montaigne National Tour Dates

Thursday, 23rd April 2015 – SOLD OUT
The Milk Factory, Brisbane (18+)

Friday, 24th April 2015 – SOLD OUT
Brighton Up Bar, Sydney (18+)

Saturday, 25th April 2015 – SOLD OUT
Wesley Anne, Melbourne (18+)

Sunday, 26th April 2015 – SOLD OUT
The Aviary, Perth (18+)

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