You can’t put a price on fun, but you can sure as hell personify it in a band. Enter Montë Mar. Street to epic jam sessions, a childhood home, and band name for twenty-something year old members Brian, Bill, Crane and Dylan. Their debut EP Different Places mixes a quirky vibe of upbeat guitar riffs and poetic lyrics that go far beyond the wisdom of any Silverlake hipsterites with, “And I want someone to walk with/not ahead of/or a little behind/leave a mark of inspiration that lingers on beyond my time”. Pure poetry. Currently weaving their craft into the hands and hearts of tastemakers in Los Angeles, Montë Mar is doing all things right as they embark on their month-long East coast tour as opener for American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox. The boys are pumping out fantastic alternative pop for hip fans alike, offering an energetically cool sound that will ignite a dance party at any moment.
Watch out for these guys.
The East coast tour is aound the corner, what have you been doing to prepare/get pumped for it?
We are super pumped for this tour. It couldn’t be at a better time. We actually just played a nice warm up show at Virgil and are doing a couple rehearsals to tighten stuff up.
Your exposure spans an array of local publications and appearances such as Buzzbands, Good Day LA and SYFFAL – what are some expectations for press relations after this tour?
We are hoping that playing in cities we haven’t played in yet will open more doors for press on a national level. We are happy to have a lot of support locally and hope places like Toledo, Ohio will like us, too.
You guys say the layered melodies & explosive drums make your live performances a workout for attendees. What tracks would you say elicit some of the best dance parties?
I would say “Wine and Camouflage” because the verse groove is really a slower version of a drum and bass groove I wrote. The chorus is like a house groove. Our full length will definitely have even more danceable tracks on it.
Who are the artists you feel had the most influence on your musical style/sound?
There are so many artists that go in and out of rotation for us but recently some of our favorites are Tame Impala, Michael Jackson and The Strokes. I’ve always been a big fan of great guitar players so people like Johnny Marr and Daniel Lanois influence me a lot as well with the colors and depth they create.
Group of four guys – what’s the nature of your songwriting? Is it more collaborative or solo projects that are fused together?
Usually one of us brings in a song that’s pretty close to being done in terms of basic structure, chords, melody and lyrics. Once we all agree to work on it, the song becomes something completely original to the band where everybody can shape it with their voices. Our songs seem to evolve a lot from inception to the recording.
Do you have any favorite venues in LA? How much does the vibe of the venue matter for each show you play?
Some of our favorite shows have been at the Satellite, the Echoplex and Central. The atmosphere of a club matters but even more important is the sound. When you can hear everything clearly, it’s way easier to connect with what you are doing and relax.
What was the first record you bought for yourself?
The first record I (Brian) ever bought was Aerosmith’s Big Ones. Still a classic.
Interview & Editorial by Allie Krummel
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