*Photography by Harvey Williams-Fairley*

The ‘Ignorance is Bless’ EP launch was a personal but lively experience. Fans, friends, and the foot traffic of Camden High Street all gathered for a stompy evening at the legendary Camden Open Air Gallery, a cornerstone venue in the independent arts community.

The venue was complete with tons of artworks from collaborators, featuring portraits of Monti from one of London’s finest music photographers, Sam Rockman. It also featured a huge ‘Ignorance is Bless’ graffiti piece done by Cleon & h.cu4r. Fans and friends were encouraged to leave their mark on a dedicated graffiti wall, so I left my mark behind amongst all the tags, scribbles and a drawing of Homer Simpson left by those who attended. Monti was hooked up by ‘Somedays’ clothing and the event was sponsored by ‘Monster Energy’ who provided beverages on entry, a special Monster cocktail and even shut down camden high street on arrival before the event, blasting Monti’s EP from a huge truck earlier in the day from outside COAG as they gave passers-by drinks.

The release of this new material marks a "rebirth", in Monticolombi's identity as an artist. Experiencing a major cardiac event the year before the pandemic, his health became his priority, and thus, he took a step back from playing shows and focusing mostly on session work for other artists. Now, 6 years after this experience and feeling rejuvenated and more confident than ever, Monti is, "...finally at a place where I feel like I can step forward, take up the frontman role and be me again "

"Ignorance is bless" is about the idea that if you're unaware of something you're not troubled by it. Like, there's too many times where we create issues by worrying about things that never happen . Ignorance is blessed is literally about, you know, the world’s fucked, so let me find my own peace. Just relax, don't worry about stuff, float through life, do your thing and be true to yourself, you know, be ignorant sometimes. If I learnt anything from my heart health issues it’s that all the shit I was worried about before really doesn't matter."

Monti’s recent work is a short and sweet but ferocious four-track serving of "...pretty heavy, 140 dub/grime stuff." Referencing Monti’s 10 year experience in UK-bass culture scene. " Ignorance is Bless” features an impressive list of friends and collaborators, who have all lent their talent to the production of the EP. First and foremost, KOEN, a drummer and producer based in Amsterdam (who also works with Monticolombi as a part of Mimi Barks' outfit), has aided a lot in the production of the EP. Dubstep producer Monyu oversaw the production of the track CLEAN and good friend and fellow rapper, GEAR, from Austin, Texas also features on 'Break Your Legs'.

"...it's really funny, ive got a good mate who works in music that I've known for years and years and years; he was like, this is what I've always thought you should have done. This is where you should be, this is the music you should’ve always been making…… those words felt amazing, because I was like, fuck, yeah, I think your right haha.

...you're just doing shit, and you're trying to make stuff that you like, and then when people receive it and they tell you this is what you're MEANT to do, it's like a mad feeling to have finally landed at this point.”

Authenticity and honesty are the leading messages behind this body of work. 'Talking Trout', in particular, is a skull-rattling bass-heavy track with a wicked hook, “Shut your mouth, what you even trying to talk about” calling out those people who constantly utter complete "Trout".

"So many people fuckin' talk trout these days, that's literally it…

... this bravado of, I need to act like the person to be the person is bullshit, people need to start being honest with themselves more…

...This EP has me talking about ratty nights getting on the 189 back to my flat in Kilburn because there aren't any tube stations close by, you know what I mean? It's literally the idea of, we don't need to elevate who we are by talking ‘Trout’, be authentically yourself, don't worry about it, and your energy will transpire in the right way. It'll reach the people that need it."

Having spent a good portion of his 28 years living in London, Kilburn and Camden have helped shape Monticolombi’s artistry.

“I think with London, it can be a bit gross and overwhelming sometimes, but that is what makes it so inspiring for art and being around other artists. One of the lines in “CLEAN” is “you're never going to get that Valencian grease”. You know, the idea that you can't be sitting around in Valencia chilling out in the sun and making this sort of music. It doesn't work that way. It has to come from the place that it comes from, you have to live it for it to be authentic. It has to have that grit, and that grit only comes from London.”

The future is looking bright for Monticolombi, with a string of exciting new singles on the horizon featuring some standout collaborations that are sure to turn heads and a packed schedule of festival appearances lined up for the summer, there's no doubt this rising name is one you'll be hearing a lot more of very soon.