Montana Hirschowitz is a composer, pianist, producer and Head of Marketing and Social Media for record label Enormous Tunes, which she helped re-brand. Originally from South Africa but currently based in Abu Dhabi to be close to her family, music is the vibrating backbone of Montana’s DNA. She is working with her music partner/producer based in London, laying down tracks to create an album for their emergent electronic band Räbbit Whøle. The name alludes to Alice in Wonderland, whose eponymous heroine is taken on a journey by the playful White Rabbit, but it also contains the idea that two halves make a whole. A vocalist has since complemented the duo to make the Rabbit even more whølesome.
Montana’s soundtrack has been carefully curated to resonate with ARgENTUM’s INNOCENT archetype energy and take listeners on a journey. Her choice of electronic tracks ~ some of which are fresh-as-the-daises new releases whilst others are hallmarks of the genre ~ is designed to reflect all the notes of INNOCENT, curious, playful, delicate, soft and gentle, and harmonising with nature. The Rabbit appears on the INNOCENT archetype card and was the cue for ARgENTUM designer Athina Collaro to suggest her multi-talented friend to be the curator for this archetype soundtrack.
The invitation came with an introduction to the world of ARgENTUM, and Montana found an immediate affinity with the brand’s multisensory experience of scent and touch, visual beauty and sound. The fifth sense ~ taste ~ is not out in the cold here, for Montana stressed its close association with smell and how the imagery of fruit is a natural companion to fragrance. So, settle back for this most guided of soundtracks, where the conscious curation ensures a seamless meditative progression, where the grace of melody is attuned to the natural world and in which the innate playfulness is designed to resonate with all music lovers, even those previously unfamiliar with the genre. To those we feel bound to say, be prepared to be surprised and be ready to broaden the sphere of your own playlist.
Belong - Rüfüs Du Sol
This has just been released! Rüfüs Du Sol is one of the biggest artists in live electronic music, and they have their own specific vibe. It’s beautiful and perfect for the opening of a playlist ~ it’s the start of a journey. The gentle but powerful string ensemble is very emotional. Strings and piano are how I start creating music.
Martin - Ben Böhmer
German composer and musician Ben Böhmer creates very, very chilled electronic music and is big in this space. He’s experimental and playful. French event producer Cercle, who produces platforms for extraordinary musicians in beautiful and exotic locations, sent Ben up in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey and live-streamed it. It’s very cool.
Loving You - Lane 8
This is one of the most fantastic songs of all time. Lane 8 is a founding electronic music artist and has been widely inspirational. Brilliant. There’s no other word for this music. It’s a simple song ~ yet so powerful. The female vocals are so fitting and so evocative.
No Gravity - Zedd (feat. Bava)
This is a very recent release ~ from the first album Zedd has released in eight years. There’s a really playful, ethereal sound to the track, and it captures the essence of INNOCENT ~ its freshness. And it’s quite bouncy, like the hopping rabbit. I think it’s a musical masterpiece, and every note of the scent translates into every note of the music. This Rabbit discovers new worlds, new realms, new sounds, new emotions. What I want people to feel listening to this relates to the fragrance.
Time - Carlita
Flowing from No Gravity into Time… I love the lyrics: we all ‘need a little bit of time’. It’s light-hearted, playful, bouncy. There’s quite a bit of groove and quite a bit of meaning. I want people to have a good time ~ to dance ~ but also to feel connection. The journey continues…
Into the Night - Tonic Walter
I really like this song. There’s a bit of Afro rhythm to it, symbolic of nature and natural elements. It’s a bit more relaxed and laid back after the preceding two tracks. Time to rest the mood a bit. Not overpowering ~ like the INNOCENT fragrance. Natural. Relaxing.
Home - Camelphat
A musical duo and another of the big names in the electronic world, who usually hang out in Ibiza. This is from their latest album, Spiritual Milk, and it’s so beautiful. It starts off quite relaxed with the female vocal and rises into a playful, full-emotional electronic track. Dev, my musical partner, and I have just written a song called Home too. Follow the Rabbit, who is intent on taking you back to the place where you belong.
Waiting - Eli & Fur’s Found Version
There are quite a few versions of this song ~ this version is by Eli & Fur, two female vocalists who have delicate, ethereal and transportive voices. I had to include them singing this beautifully written song. It covers the whole spectrum of musical frequencies.
Silence & Secrets - WhoMadeWho
A track reminiscent of the Rüfüs Du Sol, this is a delicate, passionate song, calm and relaxed. There’s so much gentle movement here ~ it captures the unburdened free spirit. The soft beats of this song, for me, correspond with the INNOCENT fragrance.
The last three tracks form a deliberate, cumulative finale. All three are very natural, using organic instruments and feel grounded in nature.
Lakota (Extended Mix) - Passenger 10
Passenger 10 is my No 1 favourite artist of all time, he’s an absolute genius. So much sound design has gone into this, combining organic sounds and electronic music yet it’s easy to listen to, you can put it on in the car or in the gym yet equally it works brilliantly in a club or festival context. Any occasion ~ that’s what I really like about it.
Tribe of Kindness (Extended Mix) - Nora En Pure
This is a beautiful song, the composition is wonderful and it’s full of natural notes and organic sounds. It’s all about togetherness ~ music brings people together as it’s a universal language that transcends race, culture, background. It’s rich and warm ~ it’s like this song is giving you a hug. It is the essence of INNOCENT.
Infinite Memories - Nora En Pure
Organic, rich and beautiful ~ an evocative title inviting you to reflect on all the tracks you have listened to, bringing you to where you are, here and now, where you belong, rooted, the end of the journey.
Listen to the INNOCENT Soundtrack, curated by Montana Hirschowitz:
