The Breakdown
Chanteuse Montana Sharp released a new single ‘Way of the Whiffler’ in January which will appear on her upcoming EP ‘Blood Moon’ which will be dropping on the 11th February.
Whiffler is an old English term that describes someone who is constantly changing their mind. Sharp has described how, as inspiration for the EP she used a dictionary app each day to learn a new word, which in turn would inspire her to write melodies and lyrics. She decided to use ‘Whiffler’ because she felt that it reflected the confusion and ever-changing opinions that are so typical of youth.
‘Way of the Whiffler’ is a powerful opening track on the EP. It has a retro feel to it and I could not help but think that, despite the fact that lyrically it is quite intimately reveals the confusion that Sharp felt as she navigated her twenties, Sharp’s soaring voice coupled with the swirling melody and orchestration could could easily make ‘Way of the Whiffler’ a James Bond theme song.
The second track on the EP is the previously-released single ‘Power’. This track in which Sharp laments the breakdown of a relationship, showcases her amazing voice as she dismisses her lover, calling him Another golden hero. Sharp has spoken about how this song was written from the perspective of her belief at the time, that if she fell in love with a man, he would somehow solve all her problems and when this inevitably did not happen, she would abruptly end the relationship and as a result, feel empowered.
Sharp’s debut single release ‘Greenhouse’ is the third track on the EP. This song, released in 2020 received rave reviews, with Sharp being compared to Montaigne and Kate Miller-Heidke and some critics saying that the song was perfect for a Eurovision campaign.
Sharp says of the EP:
We start the EP with songs such as ‘Whiffler’ and ‘Power’, written from a protective and unconscious place. We then move into songs ‘Greenhouse’ and ‘Enough‘ which is the very raw soul searching and painfully honest conversations with our egos and fears. We then arrive at the ‘Blood Moon’, which ties together the story of how falling apart is very key to falling together. For me, these succession of songs is really a time capsule of my early 20s – the battle in removing my outer shell, and all the unanswered questions that pop up in that tumultuous time.
Montana Sharp, who has a double degree in Arts/Music from Monash University is an accomplished pianist. On the title track ‘Blood Moon’ her prowess on this instrument is showcased. The song starts with just Sharp’s voice and the piano but slowly builds to a lush climax. ‘Blood Moon’ has an ethereal beauty that is very reminiscent of Kate Bush.
This EP is an honest and raw account of Sharp’s growth as she faced up to and overcame the challenges of her early twenties. She uses her her astounding voice to great effect in delivering lyrics that are deeply personal.
Sharp is a rising star and has spoken about the cinematic elements that characterise her compositions. Don’t be surprised if in a few years time, the latest James Bond movie, starring Emma Corrin as secret agent 007, opens with a song by Montana Sharp. You heard it here first!
Montana Sharp’s EP ‘Blood Moon’ is out on the 11th February 2022 and you can pre-save it here.
Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/53mEK…
Listen on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/au/artist/mon…
Sharp will be launching the EP on 16 February 2022 – detail below.
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