Montaigne (aka Jessica Cerro) has released “Ready,” the second single off her forthcoming Complex LP due out later this year via Sony Music Australia. Listen to the track now below.
Montaigne is ready to go worldwide and if you haven’t heard of her stateside, we promise it won’t be long until you stan. At only 23 years old, the latin Australian singer-songwriter has already dominated the charts on her home turf with each single on her debut album Glorious Heights hitting #1 most played on triple j while single “Because I Love You” at #25 on triple j’s ‘Hottest 100’ charts. It’s no surprise Montaigne has surpassed 9 million streams on her most popular track on Spotify – the songstress won the ‘Best Breakthrough Artist’ ARIA Award (equivalent to the US Grammy), was also nominated for Cosmopolitan‘s ‘Fearless Woman Of The Year’ Award, and commended by Sia personally following her triple j ‘Like A Version’ cover of “Chandelier.”
“Ready” is undoubtedly Montaigne’s most anthemic single to date, a heartfelt call to arms, and a soundtrack for activism. There’s an undeniable element of pop to this song as Montaigne’s soaring vocals elevate the chorus, and the irresistible hook “I think Im ready to go, I think Im ready,” cycles like a mantra around shifting drumbeats. However, like all of Montaigne’s music, there is a deeper element, a considered purpose for this song. She explains, “To me the song is about this political moment, where humanity is starting to realize how actually cooked this planet is, that it never had to be like this, and that we have the power now to overthrow those whove forced us into this corner. It’s music that I’m proud of representing, because I think that it reflects the feelings swirling around the current political shitfest my generation is facing, and it attempts to transform the anxiety amongst those feelings into angry power. It’s like a fuel source.”
Complex is certainly an accurate name for the articulate popstress’ sophomore album. Themes will range from loneliness, isolation, distorted love narratives, confused sense of self, the desire to escape, self-image issues and self-realization. On the new collection, Montaigne worked with a wide range of producers including long-time collaborator Tony Buchen (Courtney Barnett, The Preatures), Wynne Bennett (Twin Shadow, Janelle Monae), Kyle Shearer (Dua Lipa, Broods, K. Flay), Mozella (Madonna, Miley Cyrus, One Direction), Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Foals), Mario Späte (Tkay Maidza, Urthboy, Allday) and Eric J Dubowsky (Flume, St. Vincent, Dua Lipa).
Montaigne has established herself as one of Australia’s most distinctive new lyricists, with a vocabulary that instantly sets her apart from the pack. Now taking her powerful, inspiring music global, Montaigne’s set to prove that she’s an undeniably exciting one to watch this year on the global front.