MUSIC MOVES: Lil Nas X - Montero

MUSIC MOVES

Lil Nas X - Montero

“Old Town Road” was a meteor, a smash hit just vague and anthemic enough to touch millions. Following it up was an unenviable task, and it took Lil Nas X a little time to work out the kinks in his sound. 2019’s 7 EP served a few bangers but also a few big misses.

With this year’s “Montero (Call Me by Your Name),” the 22-year-old pop star seemed to find his sea legs. The message is uplifting; the delivery, provocative. It baits a certain type of crank into misunderstanding it while nourishing listeners who related to the queer pride it radiates.

Montero, Lil Nas’s debut album, is, by turns, deeply personal and carefree and funny. It swings wildly from songs that almost seem sourced by depression journals to chilled-out, carefree radio fare, but there’s a logic to its jarring pivots.

In order to acquire the world-beating arrogance of “Industry Baby,” you must pass through the self-doubt of “Sun Goes Down” and the self-actualisation of “Scoop.” The 17-track album features guest appearances from Jack Harlow on “Industry Baby”. Doja Cat on “Scoop,” Elton John on “One Of Me,” Megan Thee Stallion on “Dolla Sign Slime” and Miley Cyrus on “Am I Dreaming,” while the likes of Take a Daytrip, Kanye West, Roy Lenzo and Omer Fedi contributed to the production side.

Speaking to Zane Lowe on Apple Music, the “Old Town Road” artist shared, “I feel like I’m still on a constant journey of [evolution]. And I really going to need people to bear with me. Because even a lot of things I like to say and feel now, I may not feel the same way in two years. Yeah. I still don’t want that.”

He continued, “And that’s another reason I want people to look at me more of as someone who’s saying, do what you want to do, be yourself, but try to respect other people. But don’t look at me as this perfect hero who’s not going to make mistakes and should be the voice for everybody or something like. You’re the voice for you.” Stream Lil Nas X’s MONTERO on Spotify and Apple Music