By: Staff
Kelsey Montanez releases explosive new single "Kick the Habit" with electrifying vocals and a rock-infused edge
Kelsey Montanez drops "Kick the Habit" and with that old-fashioned country style meeting contemporary rock, we get a smooth, soaring delivery that hooks you right from the start. Kelsey’s tone and cadence are so chill, it sets the mood perfectly, and you almost feel like picking up a guitar and jumping in with the band. But just when you think you’ve got the vibe figured out, the chorus smashes through with an explosion of rock 'n' roll! When Kelsey belts out "I kicked the habit," the bass and electric guitars rip through your eardrums in the most exhilarating way possible. It’s unpredictable, powerful, and exactly what you didn’t know you needed.
The way the song drops down after that punchy chorus is reminiscent of the iconic Pat Benatar, bringing a style we haven’t heard in ages. Kelsey’s vocals rise like a tsunami, wiping out everything in its path with pure power. Then, just when you think it can’t get better, she drops out again, leaving you craving more. The build-up to the final chorus is absolutely electric, and when that Godlike voice crashes back in, you can’t help but get lost in the experience. By the time the song ends, with a kickass electric guitar solo rattling the airwaves one last time, you’re left stunned in the best way possible.
Kelsey Montanez is bringing something fresh and electrifying to the rock scene with her latest single, "Kick the Habit." This track is more than just a song—it’s a journey. The dream-like verses set a nostalgic, old-timey country western vibe, with lush harmonies and a haunting slide guitar pulling you in. But the real magic happens when the hard-hitting chorus drops, completely shifting gears into a guitar-driven explosion that feels like a punch to the gut, in the best way possible.
As the eighth track from her upcoming album, this song sets the stage for what promises to be a standout release. If you’re looking for music that hits hard but still has all the style, Kelsey Montanez’s "Kick the Habit" is a must-listen.
You can find this release on any major platform, see below for links to take you straight to some of the profiles. Make sure to playlist, stream, and share "Kick the Habit" by Kelsey Montanez.
Powerful Quote We Found about this song:"Kick the Habit captures the essence of a genre-blending artist who fuses the old with the new, creating something both nostalgic and fresh." - Happy Mag
Wait… there's more!
We had the chance to catch up with this exciting artist for an exclusive interview in "The Cage" Music Blog, where we discussed their music and got to know them better.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
Hello Kelsey Montanez, so glad to have you for this interview. We learned so much reading about and listening to your music, but we want to know even more about you.
How long have you been making music?
For as long as I can remember! I still have notebooks of songs or lyrics I was writing from when I was still learning to read and spell. They are pretty hilarious to read.
Was there always a desire to create music, or did you have an event in your life that made you realize this is what you want to do as a profession?
I’ve been obsessed with music for as long as I can remember. My dad was in a band growing up so I guess it started when I would listen to his band practices or go to his shows. And then when I got a little older, he would have me sing on his demos and we would write songs together. My parents were divorced so we would come up with songs over the weekend when I would visit him and then he would tell me to finish them throughout the week after school so we could record them when he picked me up the following weekend, so I think writing and recording music in a routine wat has been instilled in me from an early age. And school and childhood in general was not always the easiest or happiest time for me so I think I really clung to music and writing as a coping mechanism and now it’s just a steady part of my life and is still an anchor for me in the world to this day.
What emotion do you feel inspires your writing process the most, ie sadness, worry, happiness etc.?
I think throughout this album you’ll find a lot of themes of sadness, longing, searching for something that feels out of reach. But it's sort of wrapped in this tough, rock n roll exterior with big guitar solos and confident vocals. But I think under the surface I was working out a lot of hurt through this album and rebuilding myself after some tough periods. But I find myself writing from a much more tender and vulnerable place these days and I think the follow up album will reflect that. The more I work on myself and heal, the more I want to write with intention and explore universal themes rather than writing songs like it’s a diary entry. I think about The Beatles and what makes those songs so extraordinary is they are so grand and universal and the wisdom imbued in them can apply to people from all walks of life.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process and where the inspiration comes from for this latest project?
I will usually start with an acoustic guitar. But the process really starts way before I ever pick up the guitar and strum a chord. For me, it starts with getting myself in tune with the world around me. Throughout my day, I’m always listening to the sounds around me, the words, concepts, phrases that jump out at me. If I'm at the grocery store, I’m listening to what song is playing on the speakers and the conversations I’m hearing around me. Sometimes a chord progression jumps out at me and I try to lock it into my mind so I can replicate it when I get home. Or if I hear someone say something interesting in passing or read a strange word on an advertisement, I’ll type it into my notes app on my phone. I have this huge ongoing list of words, song titles, fragments of lyrics that I pull up when I’m writing. When I get home, I start working out chord progressions. Sometimes lyrics just start coming to me. Other times, I search through my notes to find a word or phrase that might jumpstart a concept. I intentionally look for strange combinations. Like if the chord progression or melody feels sad or ominous, I’ll look for words or phrases that feel happy, hopeful or sweet. I think the dissonance creates memorable hooks and adds a nice texture to the emotion of the song. Once I find a good melody or hook, the song usually writes itself from there.
Can you describe to us the theme for your artwork and what was the inspiration and intention for the observer to absorb from it?
The artwork is created by an artist in Mexico City by the name of Ann Ahoy. I stumbled across her work somehow on Instagram and I instantly fell in love with it. I sent her a message asking if she ever worked with musicians or bands on album art and she said it's an area she's always wanted to explore being such a huge music lover herself. We set up a zoom call and talked about music and art and our ideas for this project and she just seemed really cool and down to earth and I liked all the ideas she brought to the table. We decided each song will have a cartoon-like image or character specific to the lyrics or meaning of the song. Since I’m releasing all the songs one at a time as I go, I’ll send her the song a little before it's finished so she can start drawing up an image. I intentionally don’t say much about the song because I like seeing where her mind goes without influencing her. It’s really cool to see what she comes up with and she always nails the mood or the vibe of the song.
What instrument do you not play, but wish you could conquer?
Drums! I wish I could play drums so bad!
What was the most challenging part of bringing this project to life, from the initial idea
to the final recording?
The most challenging part was finding the time to make it happen.The team of people that came together to make this album happen are all wildly talented, successful and very busy. Each instrument in each song is a session of its own. The most we will track in one session is 2-3 songs at a time. So first I go in and record a rough demo with just acoustic guitar and vocals. Then I send it out to the band and we schedule a time with each musician to add their parts which takes several hours. We usually start with drums or bass, then electric guitar, then keys, then I do the final vocals, then we have to edit them so I can come in another day and add the harmonies and background vocals. Then we spend weeks mixing it, then it has to go to mastering. Then it goes to the artist and she comes up with an original piece of art for the cover. So there are a lot of people involved and a lot of steps to take and aligning everyone's schedules can be complicated. So this album has taken a long time to make but it’s totally worth it because I have learned so much and grown so much working with such a talented and hardworking group of people.
Is any part of your music's message or your personal purpose you feel fans should know more about? If so, what is that element, and why is it so important to you?
I think a big part of my music and my journey as an artist is about authenticity, creativity and kindness. I believe music and art is sacred and it is healing, and it is for everyone. If I could send one message to other musicians, creatives or really anyone with a creative calling, it would be to just keep creating. Keep sharing. Make the thing. Collaborate with others. Keep trying to discover the shape of whatever you’re inspired to create no matter how long it takes. Keep doing what makes you happy and fulfilled because we need more happy, fulfilled, inspired people in the world healing through music and art rather than repressed, passionless and resentful people who are too afraid of criticism or failure to put themselves out there. Creative people get a lot of shit thrown their way by people too afraid to pursue their own passions, but if you continue to create and stay true to your vision and center compassion and authenticity in your life, it may inspire others to do the same. And that will all around make the world a more pleasant and kind place to live in.
What has been the most motivating force in creating your music?
I have no idea why I am so compelled to make music to the extent that I do or why it has such a strong hold over me. It’s like this relentless itch that I need to scratch and all the songs and melodies in my head won't leave me alone until I sit down and figure them out. I think about music in one way or another pretty much all day, every day. I can’t explain it other than it’s some sort of calling, or there is something I’m meant to create in this lifetime and if I stray too far from working on it daily, it feel like I’m drifting from the target. Maybe it’s just the thing in my life that is the most challenging, rewarding, terrifying, comforting, frustrating, inspiring and healing all at the same time and it’s hard to beat that.
What part of the music-making process is the most stressful, ie the creation, the actual release date, etc?
For me, the most stressful part about the process is figuring out what to do after a song is written, recorded, mixed released. They say that’s when you are supposed to shift your mindset into marketing to figure out how to build an audience for the work you just spent literally months making. But I’m usually just eager to get back to the writing and recording part. For me, the thrill lies in the process of creating a song from scratch and slowly watching it come to life in the studio through lots of experimentation and trial and error and adding and subtracting different sounds. Once it’s finished, I have to fight the impulse to completely forget about it and move on the next creation.
If there was one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?
I would change a lot of things in the music industry. Ageism, sexism, the capitalist urge to view music as a competition rather than the expression of sacred creativity. The lack of paying artists fairly on streaming services. The list goes on. Ageism in music makes me really sad because imagine all the incredible music we have missed out on from wise, experienced, seasoned songwriters with many years of life lessons to pour into their music simply because the entertainment industry prefers the “look” of younger people. Sexism in the music industry is really upsetting because I’ve seen so many talented, creative women turn away from sharing their music with the world because the conditions can be so tough and even dangerous for women in entertainment. And the whole competition aspect is sad because creative expression always gives rise to more creative expression and should be seen as an ongoing and never ending collaboration. I’m all about giving credit where credit is due but so much of the music that is celebrated and validated with awards and accolades was inspired by a canon of brilliant artists that may never be awarded or acknowledged by the masses for their contributions to music.
Where do you see your sound and artistry heading in the future? Are there any exciting new directions you're exploring?
I’ve recently switched to writing more songs on keys. I’m not an amazing piano player or anything but switching to keys has opened up a whole new world of chords, chord structures and melodies and I write in a completely different way then I do on guitar. Even the subject matters I tend to write about are different when I write on keys. For example, I notice I write more love songs when I’m playing the keys and I write more angsty rock songs when I write on guitar. I’m just starting to dive into keys more seriously but I think it's going to be more of a central element of my future albums.
Where do you currently reside and what is the live music venue scene like there? Currently, I live in Evanston which is right outside of Chicago so I’m pretty involved in the Chicago music scene and surrounding areas. I think it's a pretty amazing place to make music. We may not have as developed of an industry as the west or east coast but the talent pool here is absolutely insane. I am continuously blown away by the music and art Chicago is producing and I think it’s only going to keep growing and evolving.
Tell us about the last time you performed. Where was the show, and what was your experience like?
I recently played at the Nascar Races in Chicago and that was a wild show because it got completely rained out. The rain was pouring down hard right as I was supposed to take the stage and everyone was running for the gates as fast as they could. But a small handful of people (including my amazing gf) stuck it out and danced in the rain in garbage bags and ponchos while I performed. I was so touched by the experience that I wrote a song the next morning called “Dancing in the Rain” and I think it might make it on my next album.
Was there ever a time when you emotionally felt, “I can’t do this anymore”? Can you tell us why this happened and how you found the strength to continue?
Absolutely. I think a lot of people in creative fields have moments where they feel it’s just way too challenging of a road to go down and have to step away for a while for their own mental health. I started experiencing small amounts of success and visibility in the music industry around the age of 19 and it opened up a whole can of predatory and abusive behavior from people in the industry and strangers online. I really loved making music and of course I wanted to be successful, but the initial flood of toxicity and negativity I experienced upon entering the music world at such a young age turned me off from pursuing it professionally for a long time and led to years of depression where I wasn’t creating. But now that I’m older and I have more experience, my skin is thicker and I know how to assert boundaries better and can advocate for myself in ways I didn't know how to before. I also realized that life is short, and if you're lucky enough to find the thing that inspires you and fills your life with purpose and meaning, you can’t let the negativity in the world stop you from living the life you dream of.
What advice would you give your younger self?
There’s so much I wish I could tell my younger self. I would tell myself to trust my instincts about people. I would also tell myself to stay persistent in my goals and that success consists of tiny little baby steps forward takenconsystently over time. I would also tell myself to stay away from booze and mindless partying and fill your days and nights with creative highs rather than synthetic highs.
What is your favorite quote?
I don’t know about my all time favorite quote because I read a lot and there are far too many to choose from. But I heard one yesterday that I really liked. I believe it was from The Upanishads and it goes “Those who see all creatures in themselves and themselves in all creatures know no fear.” I find this to be a beautiful quote about the reflective nature of life. Whatever you send out into the world is mirrored back to you. If you recognize what is good and beautiful in others, others will recognize what is good and beautiful in you. It’s a good reminder to show compassion to those who are struggling because if you can recognize the humanity in their mistakes or misfortunes, it’s harder to judge them because you can't say for certain you would choose differently if you were standing in their exact position. Life can be hard and often confusing and painful so remembering compassion, kindness and patience will get you through much more gracefully than fear, judgment and resentment.
How do you feel about social media?
I kinda hate it and love it at the same time. I think it can be a really useful tool to share information and bring people together if used correctly, but it can be very dangerous if used in the wrong way. In the grand scheme of things, social media is still a relatively new cultural phenomenon and I think we're still navigating how it can be utilized to the best of its abilities without it adversely affecting the world or mental health.
What is your favorite method of connecting with fans?
I really love connecting with people in person because it makes it more real. Of course I absolutely love connecting with supporters online from all over the country and the world. It’s really cool to see my music reaching parts of the globe I’ve never even been to, but there's a special magic that happens when you connect in real life and see the real person behind the screen.
When you reach the stage where you have the admiration and respect of other world-known artists, what band or artist would you love to call and say, “Let’s go on tour together”?
I’ve always thought it would be cool to tour with Alabama Shakes or Black Keys or Lana Del Rey. And if No Doubt ever did a reunion tour, I would probably lose my mind if I could open for them!
We have experienced that many people perform acts of selflessness each day. Once your artistry has reached far and wide, how will you use that more powerful voice to have a bigger positive impact on our world?
It would be such an honor and a gift to use my voice to enact positive change in the world! It’s not that I think artists are obligated to give back to the world through humanitarian efforts once you've amassed a certain level of wealth and success, but what a gift and a privilege it is to be in the position to give back through your art.Why not use your platform to do something positive? In my opinion, it is the mark of true mastery when artists or bands have found a way to give back to the world through their craft. If i ever get to the point where I am no longer struggling myself to make it in the arts, I’d love to help bring music, art and opportunity to underprivileged communities struggling with poverty or lack of resources. I’d also love to deepen my work in supporting and promoting the LGBTQ community and amplifying talented voices who may have been historically overlooked in the industry.
End Interview
We’re thrilled to have shared this artist’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Kelsey Montanez on Spotify & YouTube.
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