QUEEN CREEK — A teenage music producer has released a new project on Spotify in which he collaborated with a major recording artist.
“For You” was released on Spotify on Wednesday, March 15. Ariel “Alex” Montano, 17, a junior at Heritage Academy Gateway in Queen Creek, is the song producer and one of the writers.
Providing vocals for the song are DD Presents, Shaun Sears and hip-hop recording artist Swifty McVay, who sang the second verse of the song.
Montano wanted a well-known name on the song. McVay is one of his musical inspirations, so he reached out, asking him to provide a verse for the song.
“I sent an email and was surprised when he emailed back, agreeing to do his own verse in the song,” Montano said.
A rapper and actor from Detroit, McVay has performed with hip hop group D12 and rap group Da Rabeez. He has six solo albums and has been featured in dozens of songs with other artists. He’s performed with theatrical groups and also had roles in three movies, among them, “The Longest Yard” with Adam Sandler.
In “For You,” McVay has his own verse.
“I wanted to do a song with a rapper that I admired. I grew up listening to Eminem and others like him,” Montano said. “I was so happy that McVay agreed to work with us.”
Montano produces music under the name “It’s Just Al” and has several songs to his credit.
Music, he said, has been a comfort to him for much of his life.
When he 12, his mother became ill with vasculitis. She died in 2018.
Montano said for the next four years of his life, he dealt with his grief in silence. But when he heard his first rap song — “Mockingbird” by Eminem — things changed.
He said he “fell in love with the emotional side of music, wanting for everyone to feel happy inside.”
His music is inspired by various artists including Eminem, Kanye West, Call Me Karizma, D12, Proof, Alexander Jean, Seth Bishop, G-Eazy and Yelawolf.
Listening to the artists he admired, he created his own style, which he describes as “pop infused with rap that has a message and a story to it.”
Montano wrote “For You” with Darren Davis, Ondre Moore and Shaun Sears. It is performed by It’s Just Al with Swifty McVay and DD Present.
“Since it was released, it’s doing OK,” Montano said.
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