Dive deep into the world of this breakout alt-pop sensation Ricky Montgomery as he proudly presents his much-anticipated major label debut album, “Rick,” via Warner Records. The album is a soul-searching journey through life’s trials and triumphs, woven together by Montgomery’s eloquent songwriting skills, sometimes whimsical narratives and always emotive storytelling. In this exclusive interview, we delve into the musical journey and FAULTs of Ricky Montgomery.
First question…Is it okay that I laughed at “I’m Just Joking In This Interlude”?
Not only is it okay but, if you didn’t, then I would’ve been horribly disappointed
Your musical journey hasn’t been a straight path, was there any specific moment that you would say helped you find the strength and motivation to come back to pursuing music?
The fans just never left. When I stopped making music, my listenership actually went up (and kept growing). If not for that, I can’t imagine that I would have kept going.
“Rick” is a maturing from your earlier work. Can you tell us more about the evolution of your sound and how you approached this new artistic direction?
The lyrics on Rick are more direct. I didn’t want people to need to do any detective work to figure out what the songs were about (with the small exception of Black Fins). I also wanted to chill out my vocals. I’ve had many musical evolutions over the last 7 years, but figuring out what kind of singer I am has become the most consistent one.
Your song “Black Fins” is a deeply personal and raw reflection of a personal time in your life. How would you say the song impacted your healing process?
It was the scariest thing I could write a song about. And so it naturally became the only thing I wanted to make. Now that I’ve done that, I feel like I can write about anything.
Eraser explores fame and everything that comes with it, as your acclaim continues to climb, do you feel added pressure to match and exceed the accolades of previous releases?
That’s the biz, baby! I wish I didn’t feel that way – and I believe that I feel it less than other artists – but the impossible pursuit of endless growth is a part of American life that I can’t yet separate from. One day!
Your music often delves into themes of vulnerability and self-discovery – do you ever feel emotionally fatigued by how much you pour into your craft?
Oh yeah. I am post-fatigue. Whatever the feeling is after exhaustion: that’s me, baby. But I do it again and again. Because I don’t know how to do anything else (and don’t want to).
Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Ricky Montgomery in the future?
More music, more quickly, and maybe a side project or 2 in the pipeline (maybe a familiar one, too).
When you look back on your musical journey, what’s been the most challenging hurdle you’ve overcome?
Not being born rich. What was I thinking?
What is your FAULT?
A: My grandpa says I’m too smart for my own good. And he’s right. I want to lose a few IQ points by this time next year