Conversation 014: Hollis Brown front-man and co-founder Mike Montali

Mike Montali grew up in the melting pot that is the borough of Queens. Immersed within the vast array of multi cultural neighborhoods, Mike’s ear picked up sounds from hip-hop, funk, rock-n-roll, and singer song writers of all sorts. All of which seeded his love of music, eventually leading him to co-found his current project Hollis Brown in 2009.

Given that the name “Hollis Brown” is a nod to the great Bob Dylan, deriving from the 1964 track “The ballad of Hollis Brown”, Mike and his bandmates hold a deep respect for the history of rock n roll. However, when compared to musical legends of the past Mike swiftly waves such comments away, preferring to state that Hollis’s mission is to create a sound that is their own, in which he hopes adds a unique layer to already deeply defined genre.

I conversed with Mike in late April, when the world seemed completely turned upside down. With a few technical interruptions, as are accustomed these days, we discussed Queens, craft, collaborations with legends, and much more.

Please enjoy.
Rob Lundberg (artist and photographer)

Видео Conversation 014: Hollis Brown front-man and co-founder Mike Montali канала Uncontaminated_Sound