Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Montoya.
Hi Scott, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been recording/writing music/touring for over 15 years. I guess I’m best known for my time with The Growlers but have also been releasing music under the name Soft Palms with my beautiful wife Julia as well. We have a home studio called the Centre Of Mental Arts (COMA) where we record our own and other people’s music. We created a nonprofit called Studios For Schools, which aims to build recording/production studios in high schools to give students some exposure to the process of recording. We also organize a music festival in Long Beach called Happy Sundays. It’s a FREE multi-venue fest that happens annually in the Zaferia District. This year’s event happens August 27 so mark your calendar! We also started a Soft Palms channel on Twitch to show the process of our various projects and a music video channel called TheMouth.tv to promote independent music worldwide.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Challenges always turn into something beneficial. It took about ten years of rough touring, sleeping on floors and uncertainty music started becoming profitable, but that’s just paying your dues and should be expected. We released our first Soft Palms album in July of 2020 which was one of the worst possible times to release a record. The stress of that era caused some health problems that put me out of commission for a while but I’m back on my feet and feeling great!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My approach to work is to get in over my head and learn as much as I can. I wouldn’t call myself a specialist in anything but enjoy being capable of everything. There’s still concepts that I haven’t completely wrapped my head around but I’m constantly learning and reevaluating my approach. I’m not sure if there’s a piece of work that I’m known for but I prefer it that way. What sets me apart from others is the same thing that sets everyone apart from everyone else. We all have different experiences, perspectives and interpretations that influence the way we express ourselves. One concept that I enjoy is the BIG DECISION. I learned this from watching Bob Ross. Every once in a while, he would spend 20 minutes painting a beautiful mountain range than some mist to create the illusion of distance than some happy little trees then a waterline and some nice reflections on the lake and then take a big brush and smear a fat black tree trunk down middle of the whole thing. I love big decisions!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Mom and dad are the best mom and dad in the world and have always supported me no matter what.
Mick Boggis has taught me pretty much everything I know about recording/mixing/mastering/Guinness and continues to educate me on what’s happening in the music world. Great guy and a great friend.
Andy Factor and JP Plunier, owners of Everloving Records, have been a part of my music career since the beginning.
My friend Tom Ambellan for always being there.
Jess GIles for all she does.
My beautiful wife Julia for everything she does as well.
Our cats Shania and Cleo even tho I don’t really know what they do.
Contact Info:
- Website: softpalmsmusic.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/montoyascottmontoya
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Scott-Montoya/pfbid0Rb5htRED5yziqYDmU2ZTkcP9yuyhz48HA7VGhEUkxG4ifFBw1YMFPJN3MXuFr9Yal/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/softpalmsmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@softpalmsmusic
- Other: twitch.tv/softpalmsmusic
Image Credits
Photos by Bart Kuykens, Candace AKA Robyn Banks, and Lauryn Avlarez.
