Ben Montague

Ben Montague

Ben Montague is a British pop singer-songwriter from the United Kingdom, with a career built around radio-friendly songs, live performance and self-released early work before securing label support. He grows up mostly in Kent, discovers music through his father, who takes him to see The Rolling Stones, and receives his first guitar at 14. The first song he learns is Sailing by Rod Stewart. He says he can sing from the age of ten, and he begins writing songs soon after getting a guitar.

Early years and development

Montague spends time in school choirs and playing sport, and he is asked to leave more schools than he remembers. He later studies at university, where he spends more time with his rock band than with his courses. The band receives a development deal, but he decides he wants to work as a solo singer-songwriter instead. A producer he meets at a party helps him make demos, which bring him to the attention of songwriter Jamie Hartman. They begin writing together, including the song Haunted.

Before his recording career settles, Montague plays hundreds of gigs in venues that will take him, including pubs and small clubs. He also works in a club in Shoreditch, teaches tennis to mothers, teaches children guitar and does session singing to pay the rent. He performs acoustic sets in World Duty Free at airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick, and he writes for other artists after trips to Sweden and Nashville. One of his songs becomes a hit for the winner of Singapore Idol.

Breakthrough and recordings

Montague’s debut single, Haunted, receives national and commercial radio play in 2010 and is performed at major promotional events such as Children in Need. He also appears on stage in London with JLS and KT Tunstall. At that stage, he has no label, no publishing deal and no money to release music himself, and he begins to self-release material. When radio support grows, stations ask for an album, so he records older songs at a friend’s house in Kent, using a spare room with makeshift soundproofing.

Later, while performing at an unsigned artists showcase in London, he is noticed by a producer from Radio 2. He also supports former Starsailor singer James Walsh, which leads to attention from agent and promoter John Giddings. Giddings arranges support slots for Stereophonics in Milan and at the Isle of Wight Festival. Montague then writes with Walsh and Jim Duguid of Paolo Nutini, is signed by Feeder’s management company, and secures a joint venture record deal with Nusic Sounds and EMI.

Tales Of Flying And Falling

Montague records his debut album Tales Of Flying And Falling at Rockfield with producer Dave Eringa, whose credits include Manic Street Preachers, Idlewild and Kylie. The album is described as a set of songs about a relationship that goes wrong and then recovers, and it includes a new version of Haunted. Its songs include Love Like Stars, Pull The Trigger, Another Hard Fall and Liberty Road. Liberty Road features guest vocals from Lucie Silvas.

Montague says he wants to make an album with one producer in one studio, and he works at Rockfield over three sessions. He begins one year with his first arena tour, supporting The Wanted. Throughout, his music is described as pop with soulful vocals and a rock edge, and his work combines piano-led songs, strings and widescreen pop-rock arrangements.