Do You Believe In the 'Jersey Devil'? Take a Journey Through the Pine Barrens with Monte Maybe in her Debut Album

Monte Maybe is fronted by Sophia Montalbano, singer-songwriter from Red Bank, New Jersey. Performing and making music since she was 15 years old, she has graced the stage of famous venues including the Wonder Bar, The Asbury Hotel, The Stone Pony, The Saint, and John and Peter’s in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Jersey Devil, released on July 31st, is Monte Maybe’s Debut Album, fusing together pop and electronic beats with elements of folk and country storytelling. Using the folklore of the famous Jersey Devil to tell modern stories, Monte Maybe explores themes such as the struggles of being a woman, being part of the LGBTQ+ community, and more.

Photo Credit: Waterberry Works

Monte Maybe’s Jersey Devil is a play on the famous Jersey Devil of the Pine Barrens, which she uses as a metaphor to tell stories of her life. Starting off with guitar and vocals, the first track, "Catalyst," immediately draws your attention at 0:16 with an electro beat and ethereal vocals. "Catalyst" uses lyrics such as "narrator," "story arc," and "devil's advocate," setting the folklore of the Jersey Devil for the rest of the album. "Catalyst" is about how she is scared of growing up and having to do things like taxes, living alone, and being an adult. "Catalyst" foreshadows her fifth track, "The Protagonist," with the line "cause I’m an over analyst / I’m a masochist / think I’m the protagonist / but I’m the spark in your story arc."

Track two, "I’ve Met The Devil," comes in with piano, atmospheric vocals, followed by lyrics "met the devil a few times / he was never from new jersey / and he looked just like a normal guy" alluding to the fact that the devil is not a myth, he is in those we see all around, and she herself met him. She hits you at 1:08 with hardcore lyrics, "I've met the devil a few times / he might have been from New Jersey / he hides in my father's mind / and my mother's heart," knowing that the devil is in each and every one of us, our thoughts, feelings, temptations, and actions. The devil is even in herself; "I could have sworn I saw him / in the mirror back at me." Following "I’ve Met The Devil," track three, "23," adds onto the fear of growing up, introduced to us on "Catalyst," with relatable lyrics such as "I'm still living with my parents / I’m stuck in the basement."

"This album has been three years in the making and has seen two producers and countless musicians. The way we went about recording and producing this album was very unique and quite fun! I always start all my songs with lyrics. I have some topic I want to write about or a few lines of a song ready to go and try to find melodies and chords to match on my guitar or piano. Then I send my producer (Deanna Fielding) a quick demo with some vocals and maybe another instrument, guitar or piano. My producer then goes in and creates the bare bones of the song for me to re-record my vocals, and finally, she finishes the production for the song and sends me a mix, and we go back and forth with mixes. The majority of this album has been done virtually. My producer lives in upstate NY, and I'm based in Asbury Park, NJ. So we were able to do this essentially from my bedroom in my parents' house, which is still so insane to me. I'm very proud of the results of this album, and Dean has been such an amazing person to work with! She has such an amazing circle of musicians and friends ready to give their all to any project, which feels so, so special. This album is a body of work I'd never imagined I'd accomplish, and I'm so so proud of the way it turned out."

Starting with an acoustic guitar and vocals, "The Protagonist" is about her partner only caring about themselves and thinking that they are the most important. With heart wrenching lines, most prominent "but I'll sit oh I'll sit here / and mourn you / but your not dead / you’re just / no longer / the protagonist" Monte Maybe pulls at your heart stings, knowing that you may love someone, and they may love you, but their love may not be the love you deserve, and you deserve to be the protagonist of your own story. 

Album Art: Waterberry Works

Following "The Protagonist," the sixth track "Sucker" starts with guitar and vocals, keeping the theme of her narcissistic partner with lines, "you loved to play pretend / like you and I were perfect," and my favorite, "you were never my friend or my lover / guess second changes were for suckers / you bleed me dry / took advantage of my kindness / made it seem like it was my fault / you made me a monster / you wanted to act like you had changed / but your still the same scared boy I met at 18." 

We can all relate to being taken advantage of by someone, and feeling like they drained us of our happiness and spark, but we know we have to break free of the cycle of forgiveness if they keep bleeding us dry like an emotional vampire.

LONG STORY SHORT: Throughout Jersey Devil, Monte Maybe keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting for more with instrumental changes, harmonies, heart-wrenching lyrics, and creative storytelling. It immerses us in a world of folklore and the life experiences of Sophia Montalbano. Sometimes we try not to believe something, even though it's true, with songs like "I’ve Met The Devil" and "Sucker," but it hurts us to avoid the truth. Monte Maybe’s Jersey Devil lets us know it's okay to love someone, leave them when they are hurting us, grow as a person, and live the life we want to. Join Monte Maybe in her journey through the Pine Barrens.

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Stream Jersey Devil below! 

Linktree | Website | Spotify | YouTube 

Credits:

Monte Maybe Members

Music, Lyrics, and Vocals: Sophia Montalbano

Lead Guitar: Alec Pagano

Bass: Ken Rapsas 

Drums: Bryan Carroll and JM Cooks

Production, Mix Master: Deanna Fielding