Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Montrael Kirk. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Montrael, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?
I’ve been through a lot of hardship in my life starting with a confusing family dynamic, and a physically and verbally abusive stepfather. It led to me being independent and mature at a really young age, but also very observant and alone. I spend most of my impressionable years keeping to myself, and just getting by till the big shift in my life. For years I was told my stepfather was my father and I thought I wasn’t wanted. I discovered he wasn’t my father and my mind shifted because my life was being controlled by someone who had no business being in it. I considered all the miss opportunities, me not expressing myself more, trying new experiences, and just loving myself.
After all that happened, I started exploring and decided not to let any more of my time be wasted. I’ve always been into music and theatre, but didn’t consider theatre till after high school, but music has always been my passion. I was always in orchestra playing the violin, and being a tenor 1 in choir in school, while also singing on my own. My lone wolf nature always had me in a practice room during lunch instead of socializing with kids my age. There I taught myself piano and discovered I have a real gift for songwriting.
Those skills have been refining over the years while adding more skills into my repertoire. I am now a dancer as well as an actor, and a model. I could always draw, and the only thing I haven’t done is photography, yet. I debuted m y songwriting/singing career my junior year of high school when I performed my original song, “Turning Faces”. Given I had stage fright, I couldn’t move, but I did sing. That is when I received my first, “Tail” (Can go into detail if needed or interested). I had others tell me the song is depressing, or I should make it more uplifting, but I had to put my foot down, because I did not make it for them. I made it for me, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
And not including the years of heart break and what not, I turned everything I’ve been through, and turned it into something to be able to help others that I care about with. I give advice to so many people from my experience, and me being observant and open minded. But it led me to know that the world isn’t as nice as we would like to think it is, and thinking things like the golden rule,” treat others the way you want to be treated.” And” Give the love you want to receive.”
I have learned to look out for myself because there’s no guarantee that there always will be someone who’ll have your back. I didn’t always take care of myself health wise. I ate whenever, wasn’t that active outside of basketball and lacrosse. I had to have an internal conversation with myself about what we want, because hearing what others want or don’t want from you was the latter. I have been called a “”waste of space.”” useless” unwanted” and a whole list of names all by people who didn’t truly know anything about me besides my name, if they even knew that.
I can say honestly that I have never been or had suicidal thoughts. I’ve just always thought it through and realized it didn’t benefit anyone, not even myself to do so, so I don’t. But there was this one weekend where I pretty much got told that I shouldn’t even exist and I’m not worth anything, and it just made me want to run away. Leave my whole life behind. But I took it as motivation. I now grind at the gym almost 7 days a week, as long as home and work allow me time to do so. In doing so, I’ve lost so much weight and even have muscle definition coming in. I’ve been called a Greek god amongst other names, mainly including the name “Maui”. Youd understand from looking at me. I have this new drive, this passion to better myself mentally, and physically to prove I can, and to be proud of myself, and love myself more. But it’s a bonus to see those who ignored me, unable to look away. But my self-discipline comes from my ability to be brought to a low point, a breaking point to a lot of other people, but I will never break seeing as I have not done much living yet for myself, and I do not plan to stop. All the pieces are falling into place, and my time to shine is coming. and when My body and mind match the same level. I will be unstoppable and take the world by storm. I am a body builder. A musician. I am a model, and a dancer. And I’m not done yet…
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a singer/songwriter first. My genre is R&B, and some POP. I want to be able to create a whole album, and music video creatively by myself. I write my own lyrics, producing is something I am still getting the hang of. I create my own art, and tattoos in terms of design, and I dance, can choreograph to my own music. Videography and Photography are next on the list to which I am not a pro, but I have an ability to get the general idea of something, then use my creative, and inventive mind to expand and take off. In this next step in my journey, having my own space to do all of my crafts, and expand, and to work with other artist is one of the main reasons that I am ready for this change. And pretty soon everyone will get the chance to hear my music and where I come from and hopefully relate and or connect, one thing to really pay attention to as I come out of my shell more is always going to be my lyrics. If my music has a catchy beat and a nice rhythm, but the soul is in the lyrics. My lyrics always have a message or a story to tell. It tells my life, and my emotions and what I’m going through in the moment, and it’s me choosing to share a part of myself with others to let others know, and hopefully There are people out there who relate, or my music helps them feel better or understood. More importantly, being heard. Everyone has a story. Some want to share it, and some want to lock it up and throw away the key. But I hope to share that my life has in no way been easy, and that it’s okay to struggle, and your not alone, and hope they find comfort in knowing someone shared their story, and they relate and feel that someone knows how they fell. To connect with people on a diffrent level, like through my music would be the greatest goal of all.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would tell them to take advantage of every opportunity, especially while they are still in school. If interested in pursuing theatre, take advantage of the theatre program at the school you attend, outside, it cost a lot of many. if interested in singing, consider the music programs in the school. And if you want to learn an instrument, that’s the time.
Same with dance, photography and any other skill. It takes a lot of time, work, and money to pursue outside of graduating. You don’t always need a teacher, or someone to teach you. But if you want to consider, there are ways online, but there are visual, video learners, and there are hands on, in person learners. I am a in person, hands on learner so id prefer a teacher, but it is not impossible.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would love to connect with other artist and build together. To network and help each other out. When I do a performance that I added a dance to, I’d want to consider a dancer or two that I know and I work well with. If I am working on a song that will have an important message to get across, I’d want to consult with other singer/ songwriters who’d be in this message having the message have a stronger presence, and hopefully a stronger voice. I’d want to help other artist come up hoping they’d do the same for me and others. Theres always more to learn.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bio.site/MonteKirk
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montraelkirk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montrael.kirkwalker.7/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/montrael-kirk-8980bb1b5/
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/montrael-kirk-walker?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
