Montell2099 on his new music and playing at R&A this NYE
Ahead of his time in every sense, Montell2099 has been pushing electronic music forward with his genre-bending sound design since emerging on Soundcloud in 2015. The visionary producer powerhouse based in Tāmaki Makaurau quickly transformed from a shy, small-town Māori boy to signing with prestigious LA electronic producer RL Grime’s renowned record label Sable Valley and commanding stages worldwide.
In 2022, Montell2099 made history becoming the first ever New Zealand act to play Belgium’s Tomorrowland Festival, before embarking on 30+ North American show bookings with headline and festival sets.
HM: Hey Montell! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat to us about your new music! First of all, we'd love to know about your musical journey from when you first started making and producing your own music?
Montell: Ayy! Thank you guys for having me. I first started making and producing music around about 13 years old. My grandad is a producer himself (he’s old-school and uses Pro Tools haha) and one day he introduced me to the program I use to make my music, FL Studio. I still use FL to this day!
HM: So awesome! And who were your main musical and creative influences growing up?
Montell: When I first started producing super early on, I used to listen to a lot of Drake, so his producers were early influences for me - Noah (40), Boi-1da and T-Minus. As I got older I started listening to a lot electronic music. Flume, RL Grime, Baauer, Mr. Carmack and Sam Gellaitry inspired me a lot.
HM: Some great names there. We wanted to let you know we’re frothing your latest single "Body Heat" with MEMBA & EVAN GIIA! How did this collaboration come about?
Montell: Thank you! It was super spontaneous actually. I was visiting New York late last year. I went a week early before a show just to spend some time sightseeing and doing touristy stuff. Amongst doing all that, I was super inspired from being in the city and actually wrote a bunch of cool ideas. A few days into being there, MEMBA had replied to one of my IG stories and told me to pull up to their studio. I showed up and played them the og idea for “Body Heat” and we pretty much made the full instrumental in like 2 hours. Evan put her amazing vocals down a few weeks later and the rest is history haha.
HM: Incredible! "SKYLINE**" is another absolute banger ft. What So Not & Lucy Lucy! What were your main highlights working on this track?
Montell: I think just being in the room with What So Not. We've made a lot of music over the years and our sessions are always super fun. We love experimenting with new sounds and ideas and always try breaking boundaries and rules when it comes to electronic production. We have so many songs that will probably never come out, just off the simple fact that they’re so different to what we normally make. But I think that speaks to our ethos when it comes to collaborating, it’s just unhinged creativity and we both love it haha. Think you can get the gist of that from “SKYLINE**” as well - it’s a really unique record.
HM: We love it! And you've had the opportunity to collaborate with some outstanding artists over your career including RL Grime and Netsky! Are you able to share some lessons or pieces of advice that you've learnt from them?
Montell: I think just embracing who you are, not just musically but as a person to. That uniqueness is what makes you stand out from other people, so embrace that! I noticed that when it came time to collaborate on something, the beauty was in the differences of taste, musicality, sound, what you/they like or don’t like etc. It all attributed to the bigger picture which was the music/song. So embrace your uniqueness!.
HM: Beautiful! You're going to be performing at the iconic Rhythm & Alps festival! What are you looking forward to most about that performance?
Montell: Honestly just being there haha. That scenery in and around R&A always puts me in awe. It’s such a beautiful part of our country and to play there on NYE when the vibes are high is super humbling. I cant wait!
HM: Who are some of your favourite NZ artists/DJ's right now and are there any songs in particular that you especially love?
Montell: Rova based out of Wellington is making some super cool stuff, I love his sound. Also my friend Fredrick aka QUIX is making some of the most forward thinking DnB, every song I hear from him is so sick. 33 Below I’m also a big fan of! Paige Julia is amazing! EMWA I’ve been a fan of for a minute to! So many to name but those are the ones off the top of my head haha.
HM: So good! Lastly, if you could say one thing to every person in the world, what would it be?
Montell: Be kind to yourself and others! <3
Thanks so much Montell2099! Make sure to keep up with him on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Spotify & Apple Music.
