An Interview With MONTE

BuzzSlayers
13 hours ago
7 min read

MONTE recently dropped a track that seriously showcases how the whole band really dives straight into whatever they're doing, especially in terms of giving this crazy energy along with inventive and outside-the-box riffs for the genre, and coming up with fresh approaches to classic styles that show a little bit of honesty and character along the way.

This track opens up with such a crazy ref that I had to rewind it and listen to it a couple more times in a row just to catch it all. The riff in the intro of this track has a sort of metal vibe to it. It's not actually metal, it's more punk rock because the song itself embodies the punk and pop punk style approach. They throw in these fast-paced and intense sort of riffs that just grab your attention, which is why they're right at the beginning of the song.

The song also thrashes out in classic punk Style while combining those great riffs in there as well, and it makes you think of bands like The Offspring, for example. You definitely have some great influences coming from the 1990s heavy rock and punk era.

The drumming across this track is intense, sits right in the pocket, but gives off some of the energy that the rest of the band seems to feed off of.

This is a huge part of why the song has such a punch. It feels almost like they recorded it live on the floor, and everyone involved is just feeding off of each other's energies the entire time.

Of course, I wasn't there for the recording, so I'm not sure exactly how they did it, but listening to the track makes you want to go see them perform it live simply because if they can capture this kind of aesthetic and energy on record this well, then seeing them live must be awesome.

It's rare that you listen to a track on record and you know the band's going to be great and a live setting, but this is a perfect exception.

Take me to the punk rock show!

The vocals are brilliantly done with layers of harmonies most of the time, a great and sort of robust approach, and more hooks, and a lot of that personality shines through the entire time.

There's a message behind this song, and you have to listen to it to really pick it up, but the vocals really do an amazing job of giving that gusto. They come in with that energy level the rest of the band has, and so it fits perfectly with the Trashy guitars, the slamming drums, and everything else.

It's very catchy. It's got a heavy-handed pop-overcoat to it all, and you end up getting certain parts of it stuck in your head for hours or even days after the song has ended. The only way to satiate that is to go and listen to the track again.

You might chalk that up to smart songwriting, but it feels like this is just how they write.

The video is really well put together and you can tell it was semi-scripted out, storyboarded, and fits the song nearly perfectly as you do see the band rocking out in an outdoor setting in someone's large backyard by a pool, but you also see shots of the band hanging out on a set of bleachers at a baseball field skateboarding on the streets, and cruising around in cars.

One of the things I really enjoyed about the video is that it was as colorful as the song was.

All of this is very youthful. It's got a teenage aesthetic, and for me, it hit perfectly.

It was a blend of pop, skate, and street punk that really came together like puzzle pieces. Inventive guitar work and drumming that felt alive gave it all a really thriving sound, vocals that told the story from their perspective, and did so with colorful and hooky melodies through and through.

This is a band that has a real knack for songwriting and blending an amazing element of color and edginess together to give something that hits hard but also has a lot of melodic force and character attached to the entire thing.

For some people, it's that character that you will end up loving the most.

You'll have to listen to it to find out.

After listening to this track and watching the video, I absolutely had to talk to MONTE to find out what the song is actually about and where it came from, what their influences are, and plenty more.

So, while you listen to this track, which is what you should be doing right now, have a read through of our interview with the band below.

Remember where you heard it first.

Buzz Slayers: Let's talk about Popular Too! This is a killer pop-punk style track with catchy and colorful vocals but that raw energy and edginess as well! Where did this track come from?

I usually write from personal experiences or about individuals that I've encountered in my life, and "Popular Too" is no different. I definitely experienced some bullying and teasing in middle school, and high school. I never quite fit in, always dressing different or listening to different music. I was always, somehow against the status quo, and that kind of stuck with me throughout my adult life. I started writing this song a few years ago when I was dating someone who was that popular girl. She had a lot of friends from high school and college, was a star athlete, beautiful, and an all around good time. When we became more serious and I started hanging out with her friends and family, I felt like I was finally fitting in. It felt nice being invited out and included in her world. After we broke up I really started to find my people and began surrounding myself with cool, like minded friends who I really felt good being around. This song started out as a sappy love song but I think it evolved into a song about friendship and love.

Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing a few different approaches to this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

I have many musical influences and listen to lots of music, but for this one, I wanted to write a catchy pop song in a major key for once, which has been a challenge for me in the past, I tend to write thrashier, bratty songs like "I Hate Me More" or "Grrrl Fight". I also skateboard and snowboard, so I definitely gravitated towards more hardcore and skate punk. MONTE is a really beautiful combination of all of those genres I listened to on the slopes or to and from school. Bands like NOFX, The Decendants, The Lunachicks, Babes In Toyland, Metallica, Anthrax, Iron Maiden were always on a rotation.

Buzz Slayers: Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?

A little mix of both. Our drummer Ismael Baiz is a very talented audio engineer and drum tech, so we record all of the drums with him in his small studio space. Then we went to a studio and recorded bass, guitars and vocals with Barb Morrison and Jeremy Kinney in Queens, NY.

Buzz Slayers: Do you guys write songs together, or are there a few main songwriters that bring ideas back to the rest?

I, Caitlin Montclare, singer and guitarist, write all the songs as well as the compositions, song structures, and harmonies. I usually record a demo where I play all of the instruments (guitars, bass, drums) like a professional recording, then I send it to Meghan Rose (Bass) and Ismael Baiz (Drums) as a kind of blueprint. Then we all work on it during a rehearsal. I like to play the songs live and in public before laying everything down for a final recording.

Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as a band?

I had been in another band where we had a lot of personal issues and drama, so I left and decided to take my songs and start something else. I didn't have a band at the time so I started a project under my nickname, MONTE, which is a derivative of my last name, Montclare. I reached out to a friend of mine from college named Amanda Ruzza who played bass with me from 2018 - 2019. She introduced me to our current drummer Ismael Baiz and who fit in perfectly! We got along really well and listened to the same music, so it just clicked! Amanda started getting really busy, she was doing a few Broadway and off Broadway shows and couldn't dedicate the time. My friend Sean Q. Hanley introduced me to Meghan Rose at a show they were playing together, she was in another band at the time called The Loud Soft Loud playing guitar. We had some drinks and got along as well, so I asked if she wanted to join the band playing bass and singing harmonies and she said yes. We've been a solid 3 piece since 2019 with the same lineup.

Buzz Slayers: Are you performing live right now?

Yes! We play all the time. The last show we played was at Our Wicked Lady a few weeks before they closed. It was a true staple and hub for the Brooklyn Punk and Alternative scene.We've done local shows around New York, DC, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, Los Angeles, and we've been on a few festivals including Lady Bug Festival In Wilmington Delaware, Punk Island, and Desert Fest. Our next show will be at the Meow Mix Reunion at Parkside Lounge, which we are so excited about. Meow Mix was a lesbian bar in the 90's that has a huge following. It was a really big deal for the LGBTQ community in NYC. We'll also be playing a few out of state shows and a holiday show at Main Drag in Brooklyn December 6

Buzz Slayers: Now that this is out, what's next for you as a band?

We are definitely trying to play more festivals and open for bigger bands in 2026. We'll also be releasing more music in the next few months as well, then spring 2026 We're planning on printing a full length Album on Vinyl

Buzz Slayers: Who's in all your headphones right now?

Caitlin: Lunachicks, Pears, Turnstile, Judas Priest

Meghan: Bjork, Hole, Damsel Trash (check them out)

Ismael Baiz: Pennywise, Blondie, Haircut 100

Buzz Slayers: What would you tell people they can expect on this release?

A good time! be prepared for some sappy Pop Punk! People have told us it's like their highschool anthem from the early 2000's!

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music?

Have fun once in a while, it's okay to dance! The current state of the world and the political climate especially in the US is horrific, and people all over are angry and scared. Stay vigilant, always unabashedly be yourself, and thank you so much for love and support over the years! We love that PMA! Protect the dolls!