Peggy Chats With: Montrell

Your weekly go-to new music guide brought to you by our London music journo, Peggy as she uncovers the latest ‘bands and artists to watch’ in the post-punk, new wave, jazz and indie communities. This week she discusses Stormzy's Tesco order, fighting in a water tank and the beauty of the YAMAHA PS3 with London hailing, indie four-piece, Montrell. 

@peggyfromearth

Having cemented your place as key players amongst London’s teaming indie circuit, how did you come to arrive at your current line up?   

Jonny: So it was myself and a cracking chap called Danny Monk who founded Montrell. He left to pursue audio engineering, but we’re still great friends. I played a show with Danny in Kings Cross at the Water Rats and met his friend Sam Delves (bass) there. Alex Moorse (drums) is a good uni friend of Sam’s, and he joined in 2018. Last year we met Michael Kurtz (guitars) at a Sofar Sounds and asked him to come on tour with us, as we needed lead guitar. He’s stayed with the band ever since… so it’s the four of us now. 

What have been your ‘desert island discs' to see you safely through lockdown? 

Mikey: I’ve become obsessed with Dinosaur Jr especially their album ‘Farm’ which is perfect lockdown listening in my opinion - really angsty and a bit twisted. I’ve also recently discovered Tenci’s debut album which is very understated and beautiful. And they just released the last recording John Prine made before he died called ‘I Remember Everything’ and it’s a pretty moving last word.

Can you give us a ‘through the Montrell lens' insight into the thoughts and songwriting process behind your latest single, ‘Friends’? 

Jonny: It was a song I’d written whilst staying on my friend Laura’s sofa in Hackney three years ago. I was genuinely running out of friends to call for places to sleep. During lockdown, I started humming it again. Alex worked with me on the arrangement, added a lyric and emailed me over drums. Then Sam sent over a sort of dancing bass part and Mikey his warm harmonies. It was a strange yet somehow coherent