by mariah estran
photo by haley appell
In 2021, Ricky Montgomery told himself it was time to make an album. He describes standing in the mirror and realizing he needed to take this moment to do so.
After gaining momentum on TikTok — racking up 8 billion views — he knew that while the perfect stage was set, there was the opportunity to unpack his ideas through a new album. By the fall of 2023, his well-devoted listeners received Rick.
Working alongside Dan Wilson, Tommy English, and Jeremy Hatcher, the album dives into those ups and downs life brings while still finding light in it all. It’s a soul-searching project that unveils his vulnerability and continued talent for creating alt-pop gems.
Ricky Montgomery took a moment to tell us about his new album Rick — elaborating on how this project helped his growth, working with Grammy-winning producers, being on TikTok, and what we can expect from the upcoming tour.
You’ve just released your new album, Rick. How does this project represent you as an artist?
Ricky: “Rick is a lot of things for me as an artist: a reply to my first album, a love letter to the sound and style of writing that brought me fans in the first place, and an homage to the factors in my life that led me to a career in art. Most of all, though, it was the best project I could have made under the circumstances that brought it into production (a TikTok moment in 2020). For better or worse, it’s who Ricky Montgomery is today.”
The album was a collaborative effort — from producers to other mentors. How did working with others help you hone in on what you wanted this album to sound and feel like?
Ricky: “Montgomery Ricky, my first album, was a collaboration in that way as well, so it didn’t feel much different making this album. But I had never worked with people as acclaimed or experienced before. It allowed me to really test my own limits as an artist and see how far I could take the concepts I was working with without losing the sonic consistency of the project as a whole or alienating the audience who was so hungry for a sound I had long retired. By the end of production, I learned that I was better off not ‘planning’ anything at all but submitting myself to the process of creation — and trusting that that was the best path to success (both commercial and otherwise).”
It’s been seven years since your previous album. How does this collection of songs showcase your growth?
Ricky: “What’s funny about that detail is that only a few songs on the record are actually old. I did have a few songs I was preparing to put onto an album — ‘Talk To You,’ ‘Sorry For Me,’ etc. — but I needed new material so badly that I needed to release them as singles while I bought myself time to ‘properly work on an album.’ Because of that, most of the songs on the record weren’t actually started until 2021 (and they were finished well before they were released). Essentially, the process of this album could be boiled down to me looking in a mirror in the middle of 2021 and saying, ‘Make an album right now from scratch with some big-time producers’ — and then releasing a 14-track body of work two years later. I had no idea who ‘Ricky Montgomery’ was as a solo artist until the album came out in September. Rick is an album about catching up. Now that I’ve done that, I can’t wait to get back into the studio and make music that feels as realized as Rick has allowed me to feel.”
Rick dives into this vulnerability while incorporating those charming alt-pop sounds. You talk about life, its twists, and turns. One of those moments that stands out is “Black Fins.” Why was now the right time to express these stories?
Ricky: “I got into music because I needed an outlet and an escape from what was happening in my home. To be honest, I didn’t know that people did music until I came back to LA as an adult. I made ‘Black Fins’ when I did because I didn’t know how much longer I would be on a major label or have an audience. If not now, then when? I just didn’t have an interest in doing anything else. It felt fresh and important. Certainly more important than making pop music.”
Of course, we must mention the massive amount of love you get on TikTok. How has it been seeing so many fans respond to your music?
Ricky: “The honor of a lifetime, and a privilege that I take very seriously.”
You have recently announced a North American headlining tour. What can fans expect when they attend an upcoming show?
Ricky: “I’m legitimately trying to develop one of the most exciting and interesting live shows in the music industry right now. We’ll see how close I get with this next run.”