Earlier than taking the stage for his Saturday night time set at North Coast Music Festival final weekend, Seven Lions (aka Jeff Montalvo) sat down with us for an unique interview. Over the previous decade, Montalvo has carved out a singular area in digital music, mixing genres with ease and cultivating one of the vital devoted fan bases in dance tradition. With a number of acclaimed releases on his Ophelia imprint and past, immersive themed excursions, and a status for pushing artistic boundaries, he’s develop into a defining voice within the scene.
In our interview, he displays on his journey up to now and presents a glimpse at what lies forward. Test it out under!
Properly to begin with, it’s nice to lastly meet you in particular person and I’m very a lot wanting ahead to your set tonight. Let’s soar proper in. Apart from North Coast after all… what’s your favourite pageant you’ve performed up to now? Or is there one you haven’t completed but that’s excessive in your bucket checklist?
Shambhala is excessive on my bucket checklist. Simply because it’s type of like Burning Man and that was one of many festivals that impressed me rather a lot. However this yr, Badlands in Calgary was insane, it was tremendous enjoyable. I suppose that’s lots of Canada proper there.
So you could see extra of Canada is what you’re saying?
Yeah, Canada goes off mainly.
Properly I’d like to see you play at Shambhala! Your debut album, Past the Veil, marked a turning level in your profession. Wanting again, what does that period imply to you now, and the way has your artistic mindset developed since then?
That [album] was born out of the pandemic, so it was slightly extra experimental, I suppose, and I really feel like my music these days hasn’t been. That was extra chill. And I really feel like I’m not as chill as I used to be again then.
As a substitute of chill, what sort of route do you suppose you’re getting into?
Not essentially like important stage pageant vibes, however just a bit extra energetic and concise. That album felt slightly meandering and simply type of lengthy, you already know? However I believe these days I’ve simply been attempting to tighten issues up.
Do you ever really feel strain to outdo your self creatively, and if that’s the case, how do you handle that?
Not likely. Actually, no. As a result of I really feel like I’m by no means happy with something ever. I simply don’t give it some thought that means, really.
So it’s like a no strain, you’re simply doing “you” type of factor?
I imply there’s at all times strain, however it’s not like I ever look again at one factor that I did, and suppose ‘I hope I might be that artistic once more.’ It’s extra like, ‘I’m going to make stuff, and I hope individuals prefer it, like they used to.’
Once you say ‘outdo’ myself, it looks like a technical factor, however I similar to making music, so I’m simply going to maintain doing it. I’m not likely competing for myself.
What’s one thing about your journey individuals won’t see from the skin?
There’s lots of issues in my private life that encourage my music deeply, however no person will ever know that stuff for positive. There’s a ton however I don’t even know the way to enter how a lot that’s.
That’s honest, it seems like it will probably get fairly private.
Typically it’s private however generally it’s actually like only a band that I uncover that I actually, actually like, that I do know my followers would by no means fucking take pleasure in in anyway. However I translate that to my music in a means that’s private to me. But when I used to be to even present that this track was impressed by this track, I believe lots of people can be like, ‘what the fuck are you speaking about?’
Ophelia Information has been a defining outlet on your music since 2018. How does managing the label affect the way you strategy your individual productions and collaborations immediately?
I wish to work with the individuals on Ophelia, so it’s primarily like an enormous good friend group at this level, so I believe that influences who I work with rather a lot, simply because we discuss virtually daily. I believe we additionally actually encourage one another to only be your self and make music that’s true to your self and to not chase the tendencies. So I believe that additionally helps. I’ve an excellent group of friends that hold me grounded. And if I used to be doing a little bullshit, they’d name me out.
These are good mates to have.
Undoubtedly.
Ophelia just lately launched a brand new webstore and dropped some restricted items that bought out virtually immediately. Can followers anticipate extra unique, art-inspired merch drops like this sooner or later?
Yeah, undoubtedly. That was an enormous factor. I used to be on social media and attempting to determine why I hate it a lot. Like what am I doing right here? So I simply began considering, how can I take advantage of it as a device? Okay—discover artwork that you simply like. It’s simply a good way to search out tattoo artists, to search out visible artists.
I commissioned a bunch of artwork, after which thought ‘okay so what can we do with this artwork? We make cool merch out of it.’ I nonetheless actually like doing that, so yeah we’re going to proceed to do this. We’re not going to rebrand Ophelia or something into like this darker steel factor, simply because that’s what I like. However there shall be my little nook of it. Extra of what I type of like.
You’ll get to have some enjoyable with it.
Precisely.
You’ve gotten two headline exhibits scheduled this yr below your “Prelude: Gathering Twilight” banner – one in NY and one in AZ. What was the artistic concept behind limiting the exhibits, and what can followers anticipate from the themes or visuals of those performances?
It feels type of like coming into a brand new period, slightly bit, after the Journey III, as a result of capping it off at III made sense. So that is type of like a brand new path we’re taking place, visually and with lots of new music.
With all the pieces taking place round Gathering Twilight and Ophelia, ought to followers be protecting a watch out for one thing even greater coming quickly?
Yeah, undoubtedly.
Are you able to give any hints about that or is it tight lips?
Yeah, we’ll simply must see…
Alright, what’s one of the best piece of recommendation you’ve ever acquired?
Hmm I don’t know, that’s an attention-grabbing one. Perhaps we are able to circle again to that one. I want to consider it.
Okay then let’s get into just a few speedy hearth questions:
What’s your go-to consolation meals on tour?
Most likely similar to a burger, truthfully.
Dream collab outdoors of EDM?
I believe it’d be cool to work with Ghost. It’s tremendous random, however I believe that may be actually enjoyable.
What’s your favourite non-music interest?
Most likely snowboarding just lately. Was once mountain climbing. However snowboarding now.
How lengthy have you ever been snowboarding?
I used to be a snowboarder for a very long time after which I switched to snowboarding like 4 years in the past. I actually prefer it. I’m simply getting older and I really feel like I acquired to the purpose with snowboarding the place I can both like hit the park or go actually, actually quick and I’m like ‘I ought to be taught one thing new.’
Pre-show ritual?
Just a few drinks. That’s type of it!
Do you continue to get nervous earlier than a present?
Sure, for positive.
Each time?
Some lower than others. However truthfully, some can be surprisingly greater than others. It relies upon.
What’s the observe from one other Ophelia artist you’re obsessive about proper now?
Each the final two MitiS tracks have been actually actually good. ‘Symptoms’ and ‘Sky is Falling,’ is the newest one.
Okay final query. What’s subsequent for Seven Lions? What’s subsequent in your checklist of targets?
I’m at all times attempting to re-calibrate and determine what’s subsequent. I by no means thought I’d be this far within the first place. So for me, at this level, it’s about neighborhood constructing and attempting to construct a platform for the Ophelia artists. I really feel just like the scene is altering and now greater than ever, it’s time to essentially deal with neighborhood. Giving individuals one thing to attach with for a very long time. The web, TikTok, tendencies and all the pieces, it’s all so quick, and I believe lots of people really feel disconnected. So I believe that’s type of the principle focus of the file label and Seven Lions.
Okay circling again – did you consider a bit of recommendation?
I keep in mind my dad stated one thing early on about when you’re managing individuals, you need them to need to give you the results you want. You’ll be able to’t simply anticipate individuals to love you—you could be good, and type, and never a dick.
And I by no means deliberate on being someone who would run a file label or do something like that. So yeah, you don’t need to be a jerk I suppose, simply be good.
So you are feeling like your heeding his recommendation then?
Yeah, I strive. I believe so. The individuals on my staff typically stick round for a very long time. I believe it’s tremendous essential to have individuals that you simply belief and work with them.
Tickets for Seven Lions’ upcoming ‘Prelude: Gathering Twilight’ exhibits can be found here, together with the newest information, merch drops, and extra.
