Rokit Meets | Channeling Self-Expression Through Vintage With Monty Keates

21-year-old independent artist Montykeates from Slough is a force on social media to be reckoned with. Not only is he a musician to watch out for, but his growing following on TikTok is increasing rapidly, as users fall in love with his charisma and relatability. 

In our exclusive interview, we chat about Monty's love for secondhand and vintage fashion, his style secrets and advice for newbies in the sustainable fashion world. 

Hey Monty, thanks for chatting with us! Firstly, can you tell us about your creative background? 

Ever since I was a kid I've been so fascinated by creative expression, I think because I suck at normal expressions. I wanted to do everything and be good at everything… I tried to dance (two left feet) art (not quite Picasso) and even tried my best in drama. None of it felt right and above all, I just wanted to sing and make music, my sister and I used to put on shows, we’d make our parents sit through endless renditions of whatever music we were obsessed with at the time and somehow they didn’t lock us in another room… Music has always been a source of joy for me and my family, despite not all of us being creative

How did you get started in the music field? 

It all started online, I used to post singing videos on Vine, that was like my little secret… then some guy in my class found it in secondary school and even my own ICT teacher mocked it… peak! Then TikTok became TikTok, I was on it straight away, I think the day it rebranded, and I was posting all my singing videos there, amongst some other content which was also doing quite well. I started to grow on the platform and that’s been what I've done since I was 17. 

I lost touch with music at a certain point, when I left home to live with some friends. At the beginning of 2022, I moved in with my brother who had a grand piano. With all the free time I had it was like the fire had caught again, I played for hours, recorded it, posted songs, wrote melodies and created whatever I could. I found it all again and it felt so incredible. Fast forward almost over a year ahead to today, and here we are.

What have been your favourite moments in your career so far?

Supporting South Arcade on tour, was genuinely the scariest thing I have ever done. But I've never learnt so much from an experience in my life. I learnt to trust myself, trust my capabilities and be super confident in who I am and what I am doing! I am so grateful for that opportunity, and above all, it was SO fun. 

I also got to go into Meta to chat with them about my music, I was recognised as one of their “Next Generation Artists” which is crazy to me?! The office was so cool, and again, I was super nervous. I think all the best moments have been those moments where I've been nervous because I've only ever grown from them. I think nerves are just excitement for the unknown, the unexpectedness is the only difference.

How do you incorporate sustainability, second-hand and vintage clothing into your creative work and/or personal style?

Secondhand clothing is like a pick and mix. The best, most unique bits I own are all secondhand. For me especially, I love vintage Ed Hardy or Harley Davidson stuff, it just fits my vibe nicely I think, plus I dream of being one of those old guys with a sick motorcycle when I'm older… My creative work is my style too, and the more I leaned into my creative side, the more my style developed too.

Can you share an example of how you've used vintage pieces to tell a unique story or create a specific aesthetic in your work?

I get a lot of my rockier kinds of clothes from secondhand/vintage stores. I wear this same vintage jacket every single day, and I've even worn it in press shots and other things haha, it lives on me. I think as an artist it's important for me to show my aesthetic as accurately as I can, I never wanna force or feign individuality but wearing the clothes I like to wear helps me to show myself in a way that feels natural and authentic to me.

Do you believe vintage/secondhand clothing contributes to creative expression? If so, how?

Absolutely! Modern fashion trends move too fast, there’s no time for people to explore them if they change so quickly! With vintage shopping, I feel like I know what I'm looking for but also I have NO idea what I will find, so it is so exciting, it's like vibe shopping 

What advice do you have for individuals who are new to vintage shopping or are hesitant to explore this sustainable fashion option? 

GO ALONE! Or maybe I'm just an introvert… but I think it's way easier to explore when it's a little solo date, if you don’t fancy going alone I guess a friend or two is good haha!

What's next for Monty? 

New music, live shows, pushing the boat out further. I am new to this, it’s still fresh for me which is super exciting, and I'm learning so much. I can’t wait for all the hidden gems waiting for me in 2024, and for what I know is coming… I cannot wait to share it with everyone.

Interview by Izabel Rose

Visuals by Lucien Pinchon