Fueled by an innate love of songwriting, up and coming country artist Montana Modderman is looking carve a path to the industry’s upper-echelon. Blending both country and pop influences, Montana uses incisive, emotional songwriting and her incredibly clear tone to tell stories in a way that few others do.
We had the pleasure of catching up with Montana to chat about everything from her early musical influences to her latest single “Birthdays and New Years”.
Worlds Of Country: What made you want to get into the country music industry? How old were you when you first dreamt of being a musician?
Montana: I fell in love with music at a young age, country music specifically. I grew up listening to Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw. I think songwriting, when I started writing songs that is really when the moment I knew that this is what I want to do with my life and try to make a career out of it.
Worlds Of Country: So country music is something you were raised with not something you found later on?
Montana: That is absolutely correct. I was super young. I knew all the lyrics to Tim McGraw’s greatest hits album and Shania Twain’s “Come On Over”.
Worlds Of Country: Who would you say are your biggest influences?
Montana: Obviously it’s the country artists I grew up listening to. Like Shania, and Faith. Taylor Swift is a big one because of the song writing aspect. Sheryl Crowe is another one that I would throw in there. I just love the whole sing-songwriter thing she has going, she’s incredible.
Worlds Of Country: What was the inspiration behind your latest song, “Birthdays and New Years”?
Montana: I wrote that one in quarantine, I think along with a text I got on my birthday. I was going on a walk and I got this text and I was like I have to write a song about this and I don’t know how it’s going to play out. I just, like messed with the idea for a little bit, sat down and I was like, okay, I’m just going to write it. That’s kind of just what poured out mainly. I ended going back and rewriting a little bit of the second verse and then I wrote the bridge later and once had that done, I was like I think I’m gonna put this out.
Worlds Of Country: Did you write it by yourself or was it co-written?
Montana: That one I wrote by myself. It was on my list of ideas to bring into co-writes but I just wanted to write it so badly. I was in quarantine and had nothing else to do so I just sat down and wrote it.
Worlds Of Country: Do prefer co-writes or solo writes or co-writes?
Montana: I appreciate both. I think both are really great. I think for me, co-writing here in Nashville has been an amazing part of my journey, it’s so wonderful to collaborate with your friends and make music that you love, so that part of it is so special to me; but I started writing songs alone and I think I’m always gonna try to exercise that in any way, shape, or form just because it’s how I started.
Worlds Of Country: What you say has been the biggest obstacle you’ve faced in your career to date?
Montana: This year has been interesting. Not being able to play shows and not being able to go to co-writes in person, having to do a lot of things over zoom. A lot of festivals got cancelled and that was disappointing. So, I would say this year has been kind of a huge obstacle but also a huge growth year for me as a writer and artist it helped find my sound and who I am as an artist. There are pros and cons to everything but this year has been an interesting one, we’ll just say that.
Worlds Of Country: Do You find zoom writing to be as successful as in person?
Montana: I prefer writing in person, the energy in the room is different. I think you can make zoom writes work and get great songs out of it. You see the great songs coming out now that people have made virtually, it’s incredible. For me, personally I prefer in person, I like to be in the room and feed off the energy, it’s just a little different on a computer screen.
Worlds Of Country: Is “Birthdays and New Years” going to be part of a bigger project or is it a stand alone?
Montana: We shall see. I have songs that I’m itching to put out. I could see it as part of a bigger project, I’m not sure how that would all play out yet. We’re really all just taking it one day at a time right now. So right now it’s just “Birthdays and New Years Alone” but we’ll see.
Worlds Of Country: “Birthdays and New Years” has a bit of a pop infusion who do you consider your biggest pop influences?
Montana: I really love Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber. I love Taylor Swift’s pop stuff, Ed Sheeran, he’s insane. I feel like those are the pop artists that I love and appreciate. Sasha Sloane is another one, she does more indie pop and she’s great.
You can stream Montana’s new single “Birthdays and New Years” wherever you listen to music including on our New Music Friday playlist on Spotify. We look forward to seeing what she has up her sleeve!
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