Talking Tracks with Stef Montanaro
North London rising star Stef Montanaro is part of the new generation of Neo-Soul and RnB. Her debut single ‘Mesmerising’ was released in 2021; her soulful vocals and jazzy instrumentals mean that every track she releases is unforgettable.
Stef Montanaro was the runner-up in our Lambeth Sounds Emerging Artist competition and she blew us away, so we just had to have her perform at Cross The Tracks 2023. Following this, she also showcased her talents at one of our Ones To Watch events at The Hackney Social. We just can’t get enough of her tbh, we’re obsessed and we’re okay with it.
We spoke to Stef about the Baddest Women in her life, her experience performing at the festival and her dream skills to learn.
Performing on the Terminal stage, Stef recalled “my experience performing at Cross The Track’s 2023 was honestly so heart-warming … I have attended and admired [the festival] for a few years prior – I love what the festival stands for, and the genre of music it hosts speaks to me a lot, so when I was given this opportunity it really felt like a full circle moment!”
“Grateful is the first word that springs to mind when I look back on the day, and I feel blessed to be classed as a ‘Ones To Watch’ artist!”
One of her favourite South London venues is Hootannanny in Brixton, “I love it, I just think it's such a cool venue.” We agree... Hootannany is a vibe! But when it came to narrowing it down to just one dream venue to perform at, that was almost impossible for Stef, who has spent her life dreaming of all the different venues she wants to perform in.
In the next 5 years, the neo-soul artist plans to actualise many of these dream venues. “Lafayette in London, The Jazz Cafe in Camden (wanted to play there since I was a kid) and if we’re getting fancy, the Royal Albert Hall,” she said.
Stef describes her musical sound as “nostalgic soul, with a hint of a modern-day twist. Smooth, comforting, and honest (maybe sometimes with a heartbreak anthem thrown in there)” Her biggest breakthrough moments come from trial and error. “I think part of the fun of being an emerging artist is not necessarily knowing how exactly your art is going to evolve,” she said.
She continued, “I find that my music typically stays rooted in its soul elements- however as I grow as an artist and gain more confidence, I’m allowing myself to explore my vulnerability lyrically- which then in turn makes for a more genuine and true to self sound.”
We wanted to find out more about Stef Montanaro, so we delved in deeper to find out what makes her tick.
As a Cross The Tracks ‘One To Watch’, who are your current ones to watch?
There are so many artists I've been listening to recently that I think everyone should keep their eyes on. Summer Banton is someone I think everyone should get to know, she’s giving early 2000’s RnB and it EATS. Lola Young I’ve almost been addicted to, her new single is THE moment.
Which song would be the highlight in the soundtrack of your life?
Ahhhh! Again so so hard to narrow it down! I think the song I always go running back to no matter what is ‘Really Love’ by’ D’angelo. That song is a masterpiece in my eyes, and from the moment I heard it first I fell in love with it and have ever since. That song can definitely be classed as the highlight, no doubt about it.
If you could get a front-row ticket to any live show, who would you want to see perform, past or present?
Prince is the first person that springs to mind when I hear this question, I honestly think that would have been a spiritual experience witnessing that man perform. However, every time I see the queen Beyonce perform she makes me feel something nobody else can, so she makes the list no question about it. D’angelo would be quite special too, sorry I can't keep to one answer hahahah
Music has been described as the food of love. If you were cooking for someone you loved, what would you make for them?
One thing I’m not gonna do is sit here and pretend I’m a chef, I simply do not cook. So, I’d make reservations, because the love of my life deserves whatever he wants x
Being self-taught in piano, are there any other skills you'd love to be able to teach yourself?
Definitely, I think it's such an amazing thing to learn new skills. I’ve been learning Spanish for a while now - I’d love to learn to cook- but like properly cook, I’ve also always wanted to learn how to properly play the drums, that's just something that's always intrigued me.
In your song ‘Baddest Woman’, you say “I ain’t got shit to say to you. actually, I do fuck you and all your friends too.” Do you find songwriting to be a cathartic release of things you wished you had said?
Oh, one hundred percent. For me, writing music is my biggest release. If there’s people I didn’t get the closure I needed from them- it's safe to assume I found my closure through writing and making music about it. If there’s a situation where I’ve found it difficult to express my true emotions, again, it's safe to assume the same, there’s something so beautiful about taking a negative feeling or situation and creating something sparkly from it! I love that so much.
Do you typically begin writing song lyrics with an abstract concept or a particular personal experience in mind?
I guess it all really depends. It would be a fair statement to say I'm an emotional person, so personally I don't find it difficult to use my own experiences when making my music. As a matter of fact, I use writing music to help me through the things I have experienced, no matter what they are. However, there’s been times I’ve watched other people go through things, or used other references to help me write, which definitely aids me when I have a writing block for sure. I think ultimately it just depends on my mood that day!
Which ‘Baddest Woman’ has had the biggest influence on your life?
Now I know I've been giving multiple answers for each question, but this specific one would be impossible and unfair to just give one answer for. I pretty much owe everything I am to the women in my life today.
My amazing mum, my three sisters are all my rocks and my safe places. My manager gets me through my day to day. My core best friends are all women and I count my blessings for them constantly. My grandmother was probably one of the ‘baddest women’ I've ever known, and taught me everything I knew musically, and on the days the industry gets me down, I think of her positivity and her belief in me, and it helps me dig deep and realign myself with my goals. I can’t choose the ‘baddest woman’ because women are just so unbelievably important, and if I could write a song about why each and every woman I know is incredible I would!
Make sure you check Stef out on Instagram and Spotify and grab tickets for her upcoming show at MAP Studio Cafe as she is definitely not one to miss!