Monte Booker Defines His Own ‘Noise’

Monte Booker’s new album, noise (meaning) is many things, but actual “noise” — an abrasive, unpleasant sound — isn’t one of them. At least, literally speaking. Still, the Chicago musician has his own take on the concept. “Noise could be good, noise could be bad,” he tells Okayplayer on a chilly November afternoon. “Noise can be anything.” For his latest project, it’s mostly serene. 

Checking in at 32 minutes, Monte’s new effort is as smooth as it is colorful, with features from frequent collaborator Smino as well as Mereba coating his meditative soundscapes in fleeting thoughts and neonic hymnals. For “Lights,” Monte frames Smino’s jittery flows in twitchy lasers, solemn piano keys, and subtly chaotic 808s. Swirled with delicate croons, it sounds more like an entrance to nirvana than noise complaint.

“B 2 B” trades kinetic energy for tranquility. Floating over Barney synths, Mereba colors Monte’s drifting percussion in Crayola melody and existential defiance. “These days, I just have to laugh at the script/They built the world on sand, castles collapse and they sit/Keep it serene 'till you come with the racket and shit/Now I'm Serena, the pacifist s**it is past and it's tense.” The hook could come straight from Arthur, but the attitude is heavy. 

Monte’s own increasingly well-rounded talents come to the forefront once again on “Cleanse,” a track where you can hear his vocals more prominently than ever. While he’s proud of picking and placing various vocalists and instrumentalists for noise, this particular track saw him take all of the responsibilities for himself. “I did backgrounds and I played every instrument on it,” he shares, proudly. 

Such tracks are just the latest result in an all-around evolution for Monte,. Since stepping into the spotlight a decade ago, he’s leveled up from meticulous beatmaker to all-around composer. He's a young OG who found that learning how to play the guitar was particularly enlightening. “It showed me a whole different language,” he shares. “I was already trying to translate electronic to a more live approach. When you pick up an acoustic guitars, it's nothing you can hide behind. It's more raw.” It’s also more Monte, which is a good way to describe this particular phase of his career. 

Indeed, noise (meaning) is Monte’s first project as a solo artist. It’s a transitional move that should make his voice more prominent than ever. Ironically, operating as his own formal artist should make it easier to discover what his voice is in the first place. “I worked so much behind the scenes with different artists, it was kind of difficult for me to find what to say,” explains the 30-year-old,. He originally sent sketches to artists he respected with his own vocals serving as placeholders. But after they told him his own vocals were legit, he became more comfortable wielding his own voice as a tool. 

Ever abstract, Monte says this particular project is just an introduction to an entire universe he’s been putting together. One that uses his own self-discovery as the fulcrum. “I think through this process, [I’ve learned] the importance of taking your time and just staying raw, and staying true to yourself.” With the album out into the world, Monte’s fielded compliments from folks across the industry. Even more importantly, from fans. “I get a lot of DMs every day just telling me how much the album is just a healing for them,” he says. “It's like their release.”

They discovered that release valve soon after Monte found his. “Once the words came and once the story came, it was a no-brainer,” he says of his project. “And it’s just like, that’s noise. That’s the album.” Keep up the racket.