The Manila Times

TikTok propels Ricky Montgomery into indie-pop stardom

IF there is an artist whose songs have aged like fine wine, it is Ricky Montgomery.

Anyone who’s on TikTok has probably heard two of the indie-pop star’s songs on repeat — “Mr. Loverman” and “Line Without a Hook.”

The former is a softer, more gentle track that builds up to a rousing singalong chorus, while the latter is a more upbeat narrative on coming of age paired with power-pop riffs.

Both songs were actually released in 2016 as part of Ricky’s album titled “Montgomery Ricky,” but it wasn’t until recently that they became certified hits.

Today’s listeners have clearly found his sound to be equal parts comforting, relatable and timeless. These songs, particularly “Line Without a Hook,” propelled him into TikTok stardom and earned him over one million followers on the platform.

Filipinos were quick to use Ricky’s songs on their videos, even creating their own storylines for them.

One that has been especially popular is using “Line Without a Hook” for POV skits where the school nerd practices for a singing audition or talent show.

Content creator Spencer Serafica joined in on the fun and his creative take on the popular POV skit didn’t go unnoticed. Ricky ended up doing a duet video with his video.

The virality of his songs on the social platform was a turning point for Ricky, who nearly quit being a musician just before his songs’ new-found fame. But with a little assurance of his music’s impact, especially during the pandemic, he decided to continue doing what he loves.

Ricky is currently doing a massive tour across the US, and has recently released an EP titled “It’s 2016 Somewhere.”

Check out this playlist to discover the best songs from Ricky Montgomery.

Public Square

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2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/282243784217609

The Manila Times