PREMIERE - Melbourne's Montana Sharp offers up deliciously villainous single 'Something Wicked' - out February 24th

Melbourne’s art-pop connoisseur, Montana Sharp is on the cusp of releasing a brand new emphatic track in ‘Something Wicked’, which we are premiering ahead of if its February 24th debut.

Montana offers up something delectable in this edgier offering, which follows on from the Melbourne dynamo’s coming-of-age 2022 debut EP, ‘Blood Moon’, but also entirely in keeping with the ever-growing powerhouse status Montana commands.

Putting a modern spin on the symbolism of wickedness and villainy via the accompanying music video for ‘Something Wicked’, this new track is an enticing blend of empowerment and soulful temptations.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Evanescence, Paramore, Halestorm and Dorothy, aka Montana’s “hardcore queens of heavy music”, Something Wicked puts a sensuous and heavier spin on Montana’s perpetually slick releases.

Montana Sharp has previously shown a knack for the theatrical, and ‘Something Wicked’ continues in that trend, fusing the operatic metal of Evanescence, with some of the attitude and quirkiness of Kate Miller-Heidke. There’s something about a trained voice, combined with a rock/metal instrumental, particular with a more feminine voice that is able to soar higher than most 70s metal luminaries. ‘Something Wicked’ puts Montana front and centre, with a sense that she is only hitting a fraction of what she is capable of.

Self-described as “if hardcore punk-rock took a quick shower”, Something Wicked simultaneously showcases Montana’s robust vocals and clever sonic craftsmanship, while also signposting an exciting new chapter for the Melbourne artist.

"Something Wicked plays on the idea that I’m not this sweet “nice girl” as I’ve initially been perceived as,” reveals Montana. “At the time, my writing was somewhat coded and contrived, as if I was afraid to expose my true thoughts and feelings even to myself. My mentor at the time (who also wrote the music to this song) said to me: “for once, I’d like you to stop writing about pretty things and show me something you’re afraid of”, and out I came with a poem inspired by Macbeth: ‘something wicked this way comes’ - a warning that Macbeth is about to become a monster. Something Wicked plays on the fear that we are innately bad in some way, and that if people get a bit too close, we will be exposed for who we truly are. I think we all share that fear to some degree.”

Boasting lyrics by Montana herself, music by Gerald Marko and production, mixing and mastering by Steve Vertigan, Something Wicked also finds Montana teaming up with Zac Harris from Hoodwolf Studios, who has also worked with NERVE, The Boys and GatsbyBoi, to bring to life the vivid and vivacious accompanying music video. “I was really drawn to the symbolism of a cherry as a sexier spin on the poison apple, something that looks enticing but is bad for you,” shares Montana of devising the music video for Something Wicked. “I had a vision of cherries in a bathtub - I’m not sure why! Perhaps I was enticed by the idea of bathing in villainy, embracing the wickedness in myself.”

Making the decision in 2022 to quit her day job and pursue her dream life as a working musician, Montana Sharp has continuously established herself as an eccentric and unapologetic purveyor of art-rock and sublime creative direction. Fusing complex classic chord structures and motifs alongside modern and innovative pop, Montana’s debut 2022 EP Blood Moon firmly showcased the Melbourne singer-songwriter’s classical background, innovative arrangements and mesmerising vocals, while also acting as a snapshot of the near-universal experience of life in your early twenties. Drawing acclaim from the likes of Katie Noonan, Kate Miller-Heidke and Kate Ceberano with her debut outing, as well as many others in and beyond the industry, 2023 is already off to a roaring start for Montana as she continues to wave her magic musical wand into new and exciting waters, including recently being booked to perform in the Middle East, and turning her gaze firmly to even more new tunes.

“New year, new me! It feels wonderful to get back into releasing, and I feel a lot more relaxed this time round,” shares Montana. “Bar the obvious difference in levels of difficulty, I often liken releasing music to raising children - you’re often stricter with the first child because you’re the most scared and don’t know what you’re doing, and then with the rest that follows, you loosen the reins a bit and have more trust and fun with it.”

“It’s been quite a journey these past few months, filled with lots of great opportunities and growth, and lots of dangling carrots and disappointment,” Montana concludes. “One minute you’re getting rejected by Australian Idol and the next you’re getting flown out to the Middle East just to sing two songs. Being a working musician is erratic like that, and I’ve learnt not to get too invested in all the variables and to just enjoy the ride. I’m nowhere near where I want to be in my career, but I am 1000 steps further than being stuck in the wrong one.”

Something Wicked is out on February 24th.