Biography
Who is Montaigne?
Early life and beginnings
Born in Sydney on August 14, 1995, Jessica Alyssa Cerro grew up in the Hills District. Her father, Gustavo Carlos Cerro, was a professional football player who participated in the Australian National Soccer League. The future musician first earned significant public attention as a finalist in Triple J Unearthed High in 2012 with the track Anyone But Me.
She made a conscious decision to complete her secondary education before focusing entirely on her music career. During this period, she signed a publishing deal with Albert Music. Under the guidance of producer Michael Szumowski, she refined her songwriting abilities for two years. In 2013, she adopted her stage name, inspired by the 16th-century essayist Michel de Montaigne. After finishing school, she began recording her debut EP with producer Tony Buchen.
Career highlights and breakthrough
In 2014, she released her first single, I Am Not an End, which received high rotation on the radio station Triple J. That same year, she signed with Wonderlick Entertainment and released the Life of Montaigne EP. Her live performance of the song Chandelier during a radio segment helped grow her profile among listeners. She served as a support act for national tours by artists such as San Cisco and Megan Washington.
Her debut studio album, Glorious Heights, arrived in August 2016. It reached number four on the ARIA Albums Chart. Tracks like Clip My Wings and In the Dark helped build its momentum. The album earned her the Breakthrough Artist award at the 2016 ARIA Music Awards. She also featured on the song 1955 by Hilltop Hoods, which achieved a number two ranking on the national singles chart.
Eurovision and recent projects
In 2019, she released her second album, Complex, which debuted at number 19 on the ARIA charts. The single Ready from this album later appeared in the film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande. Montaigne was selected to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song Don't Break Me, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She returned to represent the country in 2021 with the song Technicolour. Because of international travel restrictions, she competed remotely from Australia. Currently, Montaigne is the only artist to have competed in Eurovision without being present in the host city. Her third studio album, Making It!, was released in September 2022. It included the single Always Be You, a collaboration with David Byrne.
Artistic style and recognition
Beyond her music, she has explored other creative fields. In 2022, she acted in the musical comedy Time to Buy, produced by the Special Broadcasting Service. She also wrote and performed the theme song for the podcast My Brother, My Brother and Me titled My Life Is Better with You.
Her work has received critical attention, including a portrait of her by Julia Gutman that won the Archibald Prize in 2023. The artist noted that their creative practices share a focus on forming unique approaches to tradition. Her vocal style, described as a mercurial soprano, remains a key feature of her contribution to the Australian music scene. Her songs often defy traditional genre boundaries, as seen in her work with art pop and other experimental styles.
Birthday and age
Montaigne was born on August 14, 1995, which makes Montaigne 31 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Montaigne shares the date with 52 other famous people.
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