Today we’d like to introduce you to Star Montanah.
Star, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Music was the first thing I felt on Earth and I remember hearing it and thinking that’s who I am that’s what I want to do. I was three years old then and that was one of my first thoughts and it has shaped my life ever since. I started off writing productions for my little sisters, I’d have them star alongside me in musicals and perform them for our parents or whoever would watch. I wasn’t much of a prodigy the musicals were usually void of any solid plot or conclusion but growing up we didn’t have money for toys or vacations or activities so these at home productions were our life. As I began school, I got heavily involved in chorus and like most singers, that’s where I gained my first experience with music. Outside of chorus school was a frustrating experience for me growing up poor resulted in constant moves for me and my sisters.
By the time I reached 12th grade, I’d been to 12 schools. I was always the new girl and could never really predict how things would pan out. When I started a new school sometimes, kids would bully me and sometimes I’d make lots of new friends. What I did learn is to think big and think outside of my environment and don’t get so caught up in what people at school thought of me. Instead of focusing on learning how to sing and write songs. Around 10th grade, my sisters were getting sassy and tired of doing home productions so I had to get a new band. I knew a couple of girls, Temell and Andesia who liked to sing and convinced them to form a girls group. We called the group LifeCappella because we had no backing tracks and would go around school singing our original songs a cappella through the hallways. Our classmates loved it and the chorus teacher even let us perform during the chorus concert.
However, this was short lived as over the summer I would transfer to another school and we disbanded. This was bittersweet because at my new school there was a great chorus program. I got involved in Advanced women’s choir, honors chorus and jazz choir. This training would be the basis for my professional singing career. Unsure of what to do next I gave college a try figuring I could meet other artist and get something started. It was there at Valdosta State I’d meet Mark G who would become my first producer I didn’t have a lot of recording experience but Mark worked with me and gave me the chance to take some of those original a cappella songs and put them to music. Ready to take music to the big stage, I dropped out of college and moved back to Atlanta. It was there that I began performing out on Edgewood and the East Atlanta Village. Out on the scene I heard about a program Usher has for the youth called Ushers New Look. This program brings artist together with community leaders to help motivate youth to follow their dreams and be a positive impact in Atlanta.
At Ushers New Look, I met T’Challa, a fashion designer and A&R. He was at Ushers New Look teaching about shoe design. He had a great style of teaching and interacting with people and ended up becoming my manager. Since then, I’ve released three music videos Misfit, All My Xxxs and MoneyTanah. Misfit is a song dedicated to Mark G, my first producer who passed away of a heart attack. The lyrics “you take my mind to a sweet and beautiful place that I never knew existed” is about how good friendship can help you transcend the reality of life’s problems and escape to a place full of laughter and joy, even if just for a few minutes. Produced by Eddie J. Cooper All My Xxxs and mixed by Micheal Scheck my fans favorite song.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been a plethoras of challenges or opportunities for growth as I like to call it but I’m going to talk about the most impactful obstacle I’ve had to overcome and still battle with daily. Losing a friend. When I was first beginning my journey in the music industry, I had no connections or idea where to start. So I just began by showing up to any music event I could get my hands on. One day I saw a flier casting for a music video I went to the audition and that’s where I would meet my first producer Mark Grant. We instantly hit it off and started being in the studio everyday it was at this point I’d get my first experience recording. Mark and I became best friends anytime you’d see Mark you’d see me as his lil sidekick. Around this time, I was also attending college at Valdosta State University ready to expand my music career. I did what anyone does when they’re ready to make a big change in there life: I moved to Atlanta. It was great moving back home and seeing my brothers and sisters more often but Mark was still my best friend and we talked daily.
One evening, I logged onto Facebook after not hearing from Mark and I saw a pile of messages and posts all saying Mark had a heart attack. He was dead. My world shattered, along with other people because Mark was a great man who supported his family, church and music community in ways that can never be replaced. After that, I began to throw my life away because I felt like God must hate me because “he let” the one person on Earth whose love for me wasn’t conditional on who I was or what I could accomplish die. However, life keeps moving on forward even when you don’t and eventually I came to realize it wasn’t fair to Marks legacy if I disregarded all the time and energy he put into me and destroying my life wasn’t going to bring him back. It’s been two years now and even though it always feels like something is missing, I’m coping and working with other producers now.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Star Montanah is known for her unique use of blending styles together. She lived a nomadic lifestyle coming up, so this is something that comes naturally. Star is most proud of her dope music videos which her fans have come to know As her trademark thing when it comes to releasing music.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I always understood I was an artist. I’d spend most of my time designing dresses on graph paper that I planned to wear to the Grammys. Or writing poetry that’d I’d turn into music my sisters Shani, Kristin, and Chloë were my best friends.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/starmontanah?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1rvikhjc0gy7
- Other: https://youtu.be/arWyF0gj0GM
Image Credit:
Shakeria L. Hicks, AP Visualz
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
