Montaigne Clip My Wings Interview

Montaigne Clip My Wings Interview

A few weeks out from kicking off her extensive national tour, Sydney avant-pop heroine, Montaigne has delivered a fittingly spectacular video for new single, Clip My Wings.

Directed by Guy Franklin and John Gavin, the video was filmed by Edward Goldner and produced by Haley Polacik and Saskia Vaneveld at Pixel Melbourne, the team responsible for Montaigne's Fantastic Wreck clip and works for Kimbra amongst others.

Perfectly complementing the song's grandeur and sure to set tongues wagging for all the right reasons, the video is set in an expansive desert and shows the striking pop starlet being dramatically thrust about by unseen energies. There is falling and flying and an astoundingly commanding performance from Montaigne, not to mention a magnificent finish.

'I didn't come up with the plotline, but I did drive the inspiration behind it visually as I had the very distinct idea of falling and flying in my head, not because of the -wings' metaphor, but because I am obsessed with this video game called Kingdom Hearts - a game which formed much of my creative style," explains Montaigne. "I referenced very particular moments in the introductory sequences from the games and Guy, John, Haley and their team turned it in to the narrative that you see. Kingdom Hearts explores dreaming, memory and connections to others in a fantastical and surreal way with which I've always been enamoured."

Co-written, produced and mixed by Tony Buchen (The Preatures, Andy Bull) and recorded at Albert Studios, Clip My Wings is about the value of autonomy and standing up for what you believe in. Already receiving substantial radio support from Triple j and community radio across the country, it boasts a bigger sound for Montaigne and an even more opulent and dramatic melody than what we've heard from this vocally gifted songstress.

'Clip My Wings is about attempting to push back against your oppressors," explains Montaigne. 'I am resilient and have become more self-confident, I am less afraid to stand up for myself and my self-belief and I am expressing that through this song."

Montaigne will tour Clip My Wings next month, taking her full band on the road: Neil Anderson (keys), Gus Gardener (bass) and Miles Thomas (drums). Kicking off at Jimmy's Den in Perth on October 3, moving through to Mandurah, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Toowoomba and Mullumbimby before finishing up at the Gorgeous Festival in McLarenvale on November 28. She'll then be jumping back on the road through January/February to support Boy & Bear on their national Limit of Love tour.

View the clip: Clip my Wings
Listen: Clip My Wings   

Buy: Clip My Wings   

Montaigne Clip My Wings National Tour Dates

 

Sat 03 Oct | Jimmy's Den, Perth WA Tickets available from www.ticketbooth.com.au

Sun 04 Oct | Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah WA (All Ages) * Tickets available from www.manpac.com.au | 08 9550 3900 | MANPAC Box Office

Sat 17 Oct | Lake Kawana Community Centre, Sunshine Coast QLD (All Ages) * Tickets available from www.scvenuesandevents.com.au

Sun 18 Oct | Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton QLD (All Ages) * Tickets available from www.seeitlive.com.au | 07 4927 4111 | Pilbeam Theatre Box Office

Fri 06 Nov | Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC Tickets available from www.northcotesocialclub.com | 1300 724 867

Sat 07 Nov | Goodgod Small Club, Sydney NSW Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets

Thu 19 Nov | Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane QLD Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

Fri 20 Nov | TheGRID, Toowoomba QLD (All Ages) Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

Sat 21 Nov | Mullum Music Festival, Mullumbimby NSW (All Ages) Tickets available from www.mullummusicfestival.com

Sat 28 Nov | Gorgeous Festival, McLaren Vale SA (All Ages) Tickets available from www.gorgeousfestival.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

*Brought to you by The Set List and assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

Interview with Montaigne

Question: How would you describe Clip My Wings?

Montaigne: I will describe it visually; click here.


Question: How does it feel to have Triple J's most played song last week?

Montaigne: Pretty spectacular. I feel very grateful to have such support.


Question: Can you tell us about filming the video clip for Clip My Wings?

Montaigne: Yes, I can. It was quite intense on a physical level due to a combination of uncomfortable temperature, tight clothing, white dust and a lack of core strength. Emotionally, I was perfectly neutral, mentally, determined. The crew were anxious oftentimes due to schedule delays but were nonetheless encouraging and supportive. They did a tremendous job of keeping everything together despite setbacks. Chloe who styled me and Nat who did my makeup were wonderfully hospitable, running over and back on the dust to clothe me and warm me in between takes. 'Twas a perfect ratio of good character to difficult conditions and parameters which meant no complacency and no disaster.


Question: What should we expect from the upcoming tour?

Montaigne: Live performance, mostly.


Question: How did it feel to hear your song played all over the airwaves?

Montaigne: Pretty awesome. It always feels awesome.


Question: Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?

Montaigne: Only that it is difficult to make a name in. And that happens to be true.


Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?

Montaigne: Yes, I do. My inspiration is my life, things that happen to me, things I feel, things I believe, things I value, things I ponder upon, things I have strong emotional and chemical reactions to, people I know and love and have troubles with.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Montaigne: Oh man, everything. Right now I'm deep into 80s pop and rock, like Queen, Talking Heads, Fleetwood Mac etc. but its a phase which is a part of a thousand phases I experience every year and which change every week. I'm listening to triple j right now and I just discovered this awesome song called Silver Car Crash by Majical Cloudz. My all-time faves though, would be Björk, Coldplay, Sigur Rós, Snow Patrol, Arcade Fire, The National, Owen Pallett, St. Vincent, Queen now too, Everything Everything, Feist, Bat For Lashes, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Joy Formidable, and Phoenix.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Montaigne: There's the Clip My Wings single tour which begins this week, an album is in the works yes, and there will be a single that goes with it. I'm also touring with Boy & Bear in January. I think that will be fun.


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Montaigne: Nope.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Montaigne: Both give me a great sense of accomplishment, but I suppose live performance gives me a more concentrated rush.


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Montaigne: I didn't really have one, I kind of lodged myself in a tiny corner of the music industry's consciousness entirely by accident and I just rolled with it, walked through the maze a little bit and found myself in this open space where things started to look familiar. I think a large part of my success is owed to the fact that I've had no expectations for anything, that I've worked for the most part from an intrinsic motivation, that I have in past mostly avoided reading music news and understanding anything, and subsequently I have this baseline for working that is constant and consistent. Only when I am told certainly that something is not worth working for in this industry will I not work for it.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Montaigne: My personal finances. I have to survive day to day while doing all this, pay rent and for food and necessities and what have you. Trying to juggle Montaigne work with personal work is not necessarily difficult in terms of skill, but it is weathering, and frustrating.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Montaigne: Well, when there is a lull in all things Montaigne, I wake up in the morning, eat breakfast and read, work if I have a shift, go for a run or ride my bike for varying amounts of time, answer Q&As or update my socials, practise guitar, make dinner, shower, floss and brush my teeth, and go to bed, probably looking at plant-based food recipes before I sleep. I'll listen to music or to a podcast while doing all of this. That's a typical day. Some days I go into the Albert Studios and do a session, a co-write, or just fuck around by myself. Some days, like today, I'll do prep stuff for things in the future like visit label showrooms so I can find things to wear on stage. There isn't a typical day often, things change day to day and constantly.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Montaigne: Making friends with the people I'm friends with now and continuing to develop those connections, the fact of being given opportunities exclusive to myself and few others which is evidence of our talent and hard work, having half my work be attending gigs, and writing and performing music for a living.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Montaigne: Björk. I would love to do a duet with her, whether it be on a track or live. I'd also like to co-write with the SAFIA boys at some point because Ben has a wonderful voice, and perhaps David Byrne and/or Annie Clark.


Interview by Brooke Hunter