Representing the rugged independence of the American West, country-rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist Tim Montana has built a reputation for unapologetically loud, high-octane music fueled by blistering guitar riffs, gritty, raw vocals, and a rebellious blue-collar spirit.
Rooted in themes of hard work, freedom, and living life on his own terms, his songs capture the untamed energy and resilience that have become his signature.
With the release of his new album, Entire State of Tim Montana, Montana reflects on his deep love for his home state, the vision behind the record, and the music that inspired his journey as an artist.
For many musicians, there is an impetus moment; a record, artist, or collection of songs that sparks something within them and inspires them to create. For Montana, one of those defining moments came through a Guns N' Roses cassette tape, which he has previously described as one of his oldest and most cherished musical memories.
Reflecting on those formative influences, Montana confirms, “The GNR tape was definitely ground zero for banging on pans and yelling into a spoon, but there’s several other artists that helped me develop that into guitar playing and songwriting. Nirvana was another big one. When I found Nevermind, I learned every song. ZZ Top, CCR, Alice In Chains, and oddly enough, The Blues Brothers movie inspired a lot.”
Now a veteran songwriter, Montana has spent years refining his craft and developing his approach to music.
Reflecting on how his songwriting process has evolved over time, he shares, “I lived in Nashville for 18 years, and that’s where I feel I really developed my songwriting chops, working with some of the greats. While I think Nashville has lost some of its magic and turned into a bit of a redneck Disney World these days, the songwriters still thrive there. In my opinion, they’re the greatest in the world.”
Throughout his career, Montana has never been confined to a single genre, seamlessly blending elements of Southern rock, hard rock, and country into his signature sound. However, with Entire State of Tim Montana, he makes it clear that this album represents the most authentic version of himself as an artist to date: “I feel like this is the rock record I’ve always wanted to make. I’m sorry I made country-rock albums in the past, and hopefully this finally clears up some of the genre pigeonholing. This is the most honest representation of who I am musically and the album I’ve been trying to make the entire state of my career.”
Diving deeper into the album’s creation, Montana reveals that the title Entire State of Tim Montana was inspired by actor Charlie Sheen. He shares the story behind the name and the meaning it holds for the record: “Charlie and I have become great friends over the years. I’d even credit him for getting me my record deal after he directed “Mostly Stoned” for me. He thanked me in his book as “Entire State of Tim Montana,” and I thought it was SHEENIUS! It also captures the record and my different states: fun Tim, introspective Tim, dark Tim, and all the states of Tim. Also, with the amount of people who give me grief about my last name, this is a bit of a ‘fuck you’ to them.”
The album also features the collaborative track “Brown Sugar,” which serves as a full-circle moment given Montana’s longtime admiration for artists like Guns N' Roses and ZZ Top. Reflecting on the experience, Montana shares, “I don’t have words to describe hearing this for the first time or even the last time I listened to it. The intro with Billy was never intended to make the album. It was simply a roadmap to show me how to play it and sing it. The second I heard it, I thought, “That is staying. Replacing it would be a rock and roll travesty.” Hearing Slash’s part brought me to tears, and hearing it all come together is everything I could have hoped for. I’m incredibly honored to walk among these giants.”
When it comes to choosing a favorite track from the album, Montana admits the decision is nearly impossible, as each song holds its own personal significance. He shares, “They’re all my children, and I love them all. They all hit me in different parts of my soul. “Long Year” is a sleeper I feel like is gonna get people, and of course, the last song, “Everything I’m Not.” “Watch Me Drown” is likely my favorite, as working with Native performers was a lifelong goal.”
Beyond the music itself, Montana has also used his platform to advocate for mental health awareness in rural communities, where suicide rates remain high, and therapy is often stigmatized.
Reflecting on how his own experiences have shaped his mission, he shares: “As a kid who went through a rough start in life, I’ve lived through depression, struggled as a teenager, and watched far too many friends leave this earth too soon because of it. I hope several of the songs on this record make that clear. Montana has one of the highest teen suicide rates in the country, and helping a teenage neighbor during one fateful night was where the crossroads of mental health and rural emergency care became very real to me. My hope is to help kids in my home state and everywhere else find healthy outlets like music that can be therapeutic, healing, and life-changing. At the same time, I’ve been fortunate to work with friends at the Capitol, in Helena, to help push for meaningful improvements to emergency services in rural Montana. There’s still work to do, but we’ve made important progress, and I’m proud to be part of that effort.”
When asked what he hopes listeners take away from Entire State of Tim Montana, he hopes his own journey can serve as a source of inspiration: “I don’t wanna be the crybaby, but I’ve seen some shit in my 41 years. I’m glad I get to be the dad I never had. 'Devil You Know' positively affected so many people, so I dug a little deeper on 'Everything I’m Not.' That’s actually my daughter singing the backgrounds, as it was such a hard song to bring to life. She made me feel at home telling that story.”
Closing out the conversation, it felt only fitting to return to the place that has become such a defining part of Montana’s identity and music: the state of Montana itself.
We asked him how he enjoys spending his time in the place that has shaped him: “I owe the state of Montana everything. This land forged more of the man in me than anything. Being able to escape a scary trailer house and get lost in the mountains is everything to me. I prefer to eat what you hunt and fish. Get you an elk steak and enjoy some trout dip! See you in the mountains!”
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