We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mike Montrey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

From the moment I first learned enough to play guitar, I was writing songs. Creating was the first thing that I wanted to do. It wasn’t a conscious choice so much as just the way it was. Writing was, and still is my favorite of all the aspects of music.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Currently, Mike Montrey Band performs regularly, both regionally (NJ based) and nationally. Mike Montrey Music also provides music instruction, and music therapy for the NJ DDD (Division of Developmental Disabilities).

My primary focus has always been songwriting, but long before I honed that skill, my mother serendipitously gifted me a guitar at age 16. At the time, I had no skill, but over the next five years of my life, it became my sole focus, and by age 25, I had studied theory and jazz, and formed my first band, …water…, with an album of songs I wrote. After that the career took flight. I spent several years touring with Colorado Rock legends, The Samples, and formed my own band, Mike Montrey Band, for which I have recorded 6 albums with. Throughout that process, I built my teaching business, and began work as a music therapist. I believe what is unique about my story is how the different ways of creating and bringing music to people all come together. I feel that influences the creative output greatly.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Creativity and capitalism do not exactly hold hands harmoniously. Often times, creatives have to have other sources of income to support their creative endeavors. I think that there are measures in place to fund creativity, but those measures in and of themselves are compromised by commerce. Ultimately, I think individuals need to realize that their contribution to art and creativity is significant, and shouldn’t be taken for granted, because if it becomes unsustainable in this society, there will be less and less of it to have. People turn to artistic output to make sense of this mystery of a life, especially in times of trauma and doubt, but also in celebration. If that output becomes entirely, or even largely driven by economic profit, it can become disingenuous.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey has always been about genuine expression. As I get older, I realize the positive impact that the music I create, teach and/or facilitate has on people, and I just want to keep giving that to the world. It sounds a bit sappy, but it genuinely makes the world a better place.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mikemontrey.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mikemontreyband
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mikemontrey
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/in/mike-montrey-2b30b99
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikemontreyband
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/mikemontrey
• Other: www.mikemontreyband.com www.facebook.com/mikemontreyband

Image Credits
PhotoBomb Productions, LLC Phil Silverberg