Mont Rose is a brand new project from Melbourne-based artist and producer Craig Kemp, who’s hit the modern music scene with a sound that’s innovative and emotionally-charged. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Bonobo, Sampha and Bon Iver, Mont Rose is an endeavour that refuses to be boxed into any one genre or style, instead blending elements of soul, electronica and cinematic soundscapes into a cohesive and deeply affecting sonic identity.
Craig Kempās vision for Mont Rose is to create music that flows across genre boundaries and offers listeners a transformative experience, where lush textures and gentle vocals invite them on a journey into his world of musical expression. Since unveiling Mont Rose in April, he’s been steadily building momentum, first with his debut single “Same View,” a collaboration with Rick Berry and now with his latest release, “See You Around.”
This sophomore single, featuring the vocals of longtime collaborator Kenny Berthelot, revolves around the all-too-familiar modern struggle of phone addiction, capturing the relentless urge to scroll and check notifications that many of us grapple with daily. “See You Around” is wrapped in understated yet powerful production to serve up a chilled indie electronic sound cut with subtle hints of R&B that perfectly captures the digital haze we often find ourselves lost in.
Brought in by lush instrumental swells and pitched vocalisations, the alternating aesthetics merge with the mellow punch of the beat. With smooth lead vocals spinning alternative R&B-inspired lines above the shimmering tones of synth and intricate snaps of percussion, instantly memorable melodies carried by alluring delivery float above to form a truly enthralling sound.
Developing with crunching percussive elements and fluttering synth rhythms, the beat raises the energy while the arrangement still retains a stripped back quality that allows each sonic piece to shine. With stunning vocal layers and soft lead synth flourishes, the finale offers a gripping moment as the track surges before concluding with a playful instrumental outro.
Once again showcasing his collaborative spirit via another spectacular single, with “See You Around,” Mont Rose opens another window to his incredible sonic vision. Having gone from strength to strength with his first two releases, 2024 is set to be a breakout year for this thrilling new artist and we can’t wait to see what he’s got lined up next.
We caught up with Mont Rose to find out more about his musical story so far, his new single “See You Around” with Kenny Berthelot and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Mont Rose below.
Hey Mont Rose, howās things?
Hey! Things are goodāthe weatherās improving, more sun’s coming out, and everything’s feeling pretty great.
Is there a story behind the name?
Ah, the name. Mont Rose is a bit of a homage to my dad. He introduced me to music, shared all the classics, and got excited about the music I showed him. Montrose is his middle name, so this is my little tip of the hat to him.
Whatās your earliest memory of making music?
My earliest memory of making music would be after a guitar lesson when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I remember playing every chord I knew in order and thinking, “Yeah, I wrote this. This is my song.”
Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?
Iām always falling down rabbit holes of different artists, but a few I always come back to are Sampha, Radiohead, Bonobo, and Tame Impala. My sound is probably some concoction of all these influences.
How else do you find inspiration for your music?
By making mistakes… I often come up with my favourite things by purposely doing something wrong, slipping on a note, or even messing up with my mouse while programming a part.
Whatās been your highlight of the year so far?
Musically, probably just starting this project. Releasing music solo again has been a long time coming.
What do you love about the Melbourne music scene?
I love that there are nichesālittle bubbles of different genresābut they all seem to mingle, creating a melting pot of music.
What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?
It really depends on the track, but for my most recent release, “See You Around,” I’d say the perfect setting is vibing with headphones on a train.
How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?
This project is quite new, but if we go back years, I used to play guitar in a soul band. Iāve definitely incorporated some of that knowledge into my sound, but the overall palette has drastically changed.
Has your production process changed over the years too?
Definitely. I love routine, structure, and the “right” way of doing things, so Iām constantly updating my workflow to make it more efficient or sometimes just more creative.
Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?
Iād absolutely love to collaborate with Sampha. When I first heard his album Process, I had it on repeat for at least three years.
How did you find making your new single āSee You Aroundā?
It was really quite fun. For all the Ableton nerds out there, I was experimenting with automating as many different elements as possible to create an evolving soundscape, which led to the chorus section. Once I had that, I knew the vibe I wanted for the verses, and I had to get my mate Kenny in on it.
What message did you want to get across with this release?
Lyrically, this song is about portraying phone addiction as a bad relationship. I found myself finishing days having spent too much time scrolling Reddit and Instagram without getting any real work done. I used this song as a way to combat that.
How was it collaborating with Kenny Berthelot on the track?
Itās always a blast working with Kenny. We spend a lot of time just laughing during the recording processācracking jokes and making subtle digs at each other.
What artist have you been listening to most recently?
Lately, Iāve been really into an Aussie band called RAAVE TAPES. Their new album is fantasticādefinitely check them out!
Whatās the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?
Anything, really. If they like the sound, thatās great. If they vibe with it and have a dance, even better. If something in the lyrics connects with them, thatās also good. Iād just love for people to enjoy it in their own way.
Whatās been your favourite live performance so far?
This project is still really new for me, so I havenāt gigged it yet. But if I had to pick from my past experiences, I used to play in a band called Kingston Crown – this is like 8 years ago, but our EP launch when we sold out Cherry Bar would be up there.
Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?
Sampha, Radiohead, and Bon Iver. Iām a bit of a homebody, so itād just be super smallāin my backyard.
Do you have any advice for new artists wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Look, I havenāt achieved too much yet, so Iām not overly sure… Maybe just practice your stuff!
Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2024?
Itās shaping up to be a busy year! Iāve got a few more releases coming up, with the next one already set for September 19thāso keep an eye out!
Listen to See You Around below
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