Watch the visual below!
Image: Montaigne - Jess Gleeson. David Byrne - Shervin Lainez.
Australian pop artist Montaigne has teamed up with Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, on her new single Always Be You. When we spoke to the singer at After Pay Australian Fashion Week last year, she told MILKY if she could strut down the runway to any song, it would be Talking Heads’ Once In A Lifetime... so we think this collaboration is a match made in heaven!
The enigmatic pop track is built upon shimmering glitchy production, with Montaigne distinct vocals bringing infectious melodies to life, with Byrne bringing his signature charismatic performance. The song arrives alongside an official visual, starring Montaigne and partner Pat, directed by Nick Ward and Jacinthe Lau.
“It’s a dream come true to be able to work with David Byrne (if only remotely)! Everything he’s done from the Talking Heads to solo work & one-off collaborations has been so influential to me. It’s absolutely buck wild to me that he has assented to singing lyrics and melodies I’ve written, as well as contributing his own fabulous sense of humour & writing voice. Such a treat." Montaigne says of the collaboration.
Byrne adds, “Jess (Montaigne) approached me about singing on a song, or a possible collaboration and to be honest I had not heard of her. After my current show was safely up and running I checked out her new and old songs and quickly responded, yes! How could I have not been aware of this person? Someone I imagine might occasionally get labelled ‘quirky’ - as I often am."
Having made her debut in 2016 with the album GLORIOUS HEIGHTS, produced by Tony Buchen, Montaigne took home the 2016 ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, with the album debuting at #4 on the ARIA charts. Her 2019 sophomore album COMPLEX was heralded by a national album tour, before the singer was selected as Australia’s representative for Eurovision 2020/21 with Don’t Break Me and Technicolour. Montaigne will return to the Eurovision Australia Decides stage tomorrow night to perform Always Be You live for the very first time.
Always Be You is out now!