"AMEN TO THAT..."
Julie Montan is a poet, songwriter, composer, performer, producer and message-based artist. Julie initiates community events that lift-up marginalised populations.
Throughout musical projects: Your Animal, Lovers of the Blackbird, WUV, Soft Rubbish, and now Princess Liar, she has produced a fearless and impassioned catalogue that has attracted a cult following and expert critique. Julie's versatile collaborations cover several studio albums, EP's, remixes, and a vault of unreleased music. She has performed with Syl Johnson, Betty Harris, Joe Lally (Fugazi), Kamahl, Kutcha Edwards, Alan Brough, Rocket Science, The Tivoli Lovelies and a long list of Melbourne's cognoscenti. A risk-taker and multi-instrumentalist, Julie's Gen X influences reflect the eras. Her poetic themes confront life's failures while affirmations of hope and love remain constant. Music Historian Andy Zax expressed admiration for Julie's fiery 'Warren Ellis: tenor electric' aesthetic in Soft Rubbish. Her singular glockenspiel compositions inspired the reissue of Lovers of the Black Bird’s 'Ocean of No Time’ by record label Trauma Extinction. Celebrated British writer Robert Macfarlane praised Julie for her production on 'The Rings', a song written for Bob Brown in homage to his defence of the old growth ‘Giants’ of Tasmania. DJ & Fan Richie 1250 of PBS FM, with enduring support of Julie, holds the archive of all her unreleased music. Julie's music retrospective broadcast on radio 3CR by Paul Elliott founder of 'Polyester Books & Music' was the most streamed show in the programme's history. Having left home before her 17th birthday, Julie's artistic risks and creativity reflect a life lived without immediate support at hand. Her current practice is inspired by the question: "What world are we leaving our children?". A single parent, Julie sees how music forms a huge part of a teenager's developing identity and responding to their entertainment needs substantively is more prescient than ever. 
Julie recording 'Ocean Of No Time' at Phaedra
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Julie at Phaedra in July Photo by: Trafforazzi
Your Animal at The Tote Photo by: Lindy Winnell
Julie performing with Plazza
at St Paul's Cathedral MMW 2017
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CURRENT WORK...
Sing-a-long Movie Directed & Edited by Keziah Warren, Shot by Toby Stanley, Art Direction by Julie Montan Starring Julie & Dude
Princess Liar Debut EP: original line up L-R Hilary Hutchinson, Siahn Davis, Julie Montan, Mia Schoen Cover Photo by: Raven
Tell Me The Truth Do You Love Me Or Not Full Album releases on OCTOBER 31, by Getfucked Records Oz only on Bandcamp and Youtube. Normally would release as a physical product; cassette, vinyl but due to circumstances beyond control, digital only this time with accompanying lyric movie edited by brilliant transgender performer and video artist Keziah Warren (based in Gimuy/Cairns). Conflicted about digital streaming platforms such as Spotify because of their ties to the present war in the Middle East, hence why releasing on Bandcamp who stand out as a platform offering the artist most agency; both in revenue and non-conflicting ethics (as far as we know but that could change). This analogue album recorded in 2022, in a day, onto tape and mixed on solid state is a raucously refreshing riot grrrl purge of everything that's F!@#$% about people and the world. With a notorious line up of Melbourne's own devotee's to the craft: VOX/GUITAR - Julie Montan (Soft Rubbish, Lovers of the Black Bird, Your Animal), DRUMS - Mia Schoen (Powerful Owl, New Estate, Sleepy Township), BASS - Siahn Davis (RVG, Crash Material, Jazz), GUITAR - Hilary Hutchinson (Davo), Feat: DOUBLE BASS - Jules Pascoe (On Diamond, Jazz Party, Jaala), BV’S - Helena Plazza and Tom of Coburg. RECORDING ENGINEER - Nick Treweek (Augie March, Jess Rebiero), MASTERING ENGINEER - Joe Talia.
Long Form Interview Julie Montan talks to Jason Heller Cyclic Defrost, Nov 26, 2025
Julie talks to Noah in Tempo, Nov 9, 2025
Premiere in Post Punk Online by Alice Teeple, Nov, 7, 2025
Julie presents "And This One's Introduced By... " on 3CR Community Radio, Oct 29, 2025
Princess Liar have morphed from 4-on-the-floor post-punk outfit to a post-pop-ballad sextet. Have just finished recording their first full Length LP engineered by Tim Harvey: "This Wonderful World".
Princess Liar Sextet L-R Helena Plazza, Alex Roper, Jules Pascoe, Julie Montan, Tom Of Coburg, Oscar France, Photo by: Trafforazzi
VIDEOS
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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Julie learned to play piano at age 10. By 16 had given up but Montan's musical brain continued to fire and for the years that followed she produced an enormous catalogue of music, exploring songwriting and storytelling to their extremes using the library of instruments at her disposal. Much of her music to date remains unreleased, however is held in an archive by Richie 1250; respected DJ, cultural commentator and radio figure of PBS FM. Julie treats each song as a manuscript; each album bearing the hallmarks of a songs 'essence'; such as the illuminated offerings of artist and poet William Blake. Her compositions are dynamic and evocative; the listener can never predict where the song will take them, but without fail the emotional centre of the song will be the destination. Julie learned this from her songwriting teacher, acclaimed songwriter and singer Laura Jean. In 2018 Julie, a distinction student, graduated from Melbourne Polytechnic with a BA in songwriting and Music Production under the tutelage of Laura as well as Jess Ribeiro and Caroline Kennedy. The attentive listener mapping Julie's output through the eras will have heard her craft evolve fluidly over time; never resting on laurels, shying away from risk or changing narratives. Some of her earlier compositions were 6 minute journey's which ambled into experimental and instrumentalism, taking a leaf from the playbook of John Cage and Yoko Ono respectively. She then dove into hard-hitting garage-punk with fire-power and unpretentious conviction. Finally to the present moment, when Julie has come full-circle, back to the piano, back to the theatre where she is now practicing the art of libretto and post-pop-ballads. Julie says "this new music is the sound of re-imagined comfort, of lionhearted safety, of broken relationships repaired and the music the world needs right now".
MULTI DISCIPLINARY
Photo by: Darren Sylvester
Julie with Albert Mansfield Hudson from Documentary "Bulletproof"
Julie Montan and Siahn Davis Photo by: Trafforazzi
Alan Brough with Soft Rubbish
Brunswick Barber Vittorio Garfi shaving Albert Mansfield Hudson on the set of "Bulletproof"
Lovers of the Black Bird at the Upstairs Tote Photo by: Aunty Sue Thompson
Photo by: Darren Sylvester
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Princess Liar Photo by: Trafforazzi
Soft Rubbish Photo by: Phoebe Powell
WUV Photo by: Unknown
Midnight Bosom Photo By: Pierre Baroni
Cast of Someday We'll Find It with Kamahl Photo by: Tim Chmielewski
Princess dress re-purposed from 'Fortune Tellers' curtains at Last Greatest Show On Earth Photo by: Ben Lynch
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Princess Liar Photo By: Raven
Lovers of the Black Bird Photo by: Jonathan Griggs
Your Animal Photo by: Fred Kroh
Elvis Angels Photo By: Quincy Mclean
Julie in 'The Gown Of Shadows': Dress by Alexi Freeman and Tessa Blazey
Midnight Bosom on set of 'Your Lips Taste Like Sugar' Film collab with Alexi Freeman and Tessa Blazey Photo by: Douglas 'Vishal' Brook
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Julie with Engineer Nick Treweek at Second World Studios, 2022
With Engineer Tim Harvey at Sydney Rd Studios, 2025
CREATING A SAFE SPACE FOR ARTISTS IS THE SECRET TO SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION. GOOD LEADERSHIP REQUIRES NO HIERARCHY JUST EVERYONE BRINGING THEIR BEST TO THE PROJECT - THE PROJECT IS BOSS!
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Lovers with Engineer John Lee at Phaedra, 2015
Photo by: Toby Stanley
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Fab 4, Soft Rubbish Photo by: Sam Orchard
Kamahl and Fozzy at 'Someday We'll Find It', Thornbury Theatre 2012
Recording legacy & Show Time!
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Over 7 studio albums Julie has worked with renowned engineers including Mikey Young, Simon Grounds, John Lee, Paul Maybury, Nick Treweek, Casey Rice, Tim Harvey, Phil Gionfriddo, Joe Talia, Robin Waters and Richie 1250. Her albums include: 'Peacock Dove Eagle' (Your Animal), 'Killing It Softly' (Your Animal). 'Lovers of the Black Bird' (Self-Titled),'Ocean Of No Time' (Lovers of The Black Bird). 'Sweet & Sour'(Soft Rubbish), 'Millennial Pink' (Soft Rubbish). 'Tell Me The Truth Do You Love Me Or Not' (Princess Liar), 'This Wonderful World'(Princess Liar).
                                    
Cover art for 'The Rings' donated by Ash Keating.
Julie with Millennial Pink.
A rotating round of volunteers from the community watched over the door at Carport Concert To End All Carport Concerts.
Your Animal with the first drop of their Live Album 'Peacock, Dove, Eagle' recorded at The Toff In Town.
Mia Schoen wearing her Carport Concert memorial T-Shirt.
First edition of Ocean Of No Time hand-dubbed cassettes.
Julie holding the back side of Ocean Of No Time vinyl re-issue by Trauma Extinction.
Julie and Raven at Daptone Records HQ, Brooklyn, New York.
Hand-puppet making workshop with Thornbury Primary School kids for Someday We'll Find It.
Cast and crew of '1999' wrap after a fun shoot with Alan Brough of Spicks and Specks.
Julie Montan and Marcus Rechsteiner donated the proceeds from 'Last Greatest. Show On Earth' to John Cade Psychiatric Ward, Royal Melbourne Hospital to fund an in-house music therapy program and acquire musical instruments.
Princess Liar original septet made their world debut at Carport Concert To End All Concerts.
Laura Jean, Tom Lyngcoln, Quinn Delaney, Amanda Roff, Erica Dunn and baby Raven trying on costumes for The Last Greatest Show On Earth.
Jazz Karaoke participants at Julie's 50th Birthday.
All ages under the giant fig tree, loving Carport Concert to End All Carport Concerts.
Lovers of the Black Bird with James Rushford and Absent Outfit at MIUC, Bar Open.
Midnight Bosom and Super Wild Horses backstage at Dane Certificate's Magic Theatre.
On set '1999' music video.
Tracksuit, Sarah Mary Chadwick Band, Soft Rubbish, Sparkly Bear in the carport, Carport Concert #1.
Backstage at The Toff with Stella Angelico.
Julie Montan and Helen Marcou at Last Greatest Show On Earth afterparty, Cafe Romantica.
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The Rotting Corpse of Elvis (Richie 1250) marrying lovebirds Geoff O'Connor and Jessica Says at The Last Greatest Show On Earth.
Enter Tivoli Lovelies!
The Shellettes at The Last Greatest Show On Earth
Clem Bastow as Cher in The Last Greatest Show On Earth
Harmony as 'The Screaming Queens' in The Last Greatest Show On Earth with house band the Sitar All-Stars
Simone Page Jones and Glen Walton as 'Siegfried & Roy' in The Last Greatest Show On Earth
Hula hoopist Anna Lumb
Witnesses of Geoff and Jesica's wedding singing Viva Las Vegas
MC Andrew McClelland auctioning 'Australia's Worst Artist' Ben Butcher's painting, with the most Vegassy backstage manager Shoshanna Orenstein taking bids. All monies donated to the creation of a Music Therapy program for John Cade Psych Ward, RMH.
The Croupier, Ben Coy.
Cougar Flashy at 'Donkey Gold', Cobra Bar
"Inside This Donkey Is A Raging Sea Of Molten Gold..." Julie wrote special songs for one-off shows. These would require the whole cast to coordinate/rehearse before the show and hope they pulled it off. They always did.
Jess Cornelius at 'Donkey Gold', Cobra Bar
They wore Burgundy Velvet, Julie Montan and Joe Foley at Cobra Bar
Whole cast of Blackfella + Whitefella Roy's singing "In Dreams". Not a dry eye in the house. Fundraiser for Close The Gap/OXFAM. Deadly Funny Shiralee Hood voiced the 'Little O', a puppet-spirit of Roy Orbison made and operated by Heath McIvor.
BJ Morriszonkle and 'Claypot' the robotic cat that meowed when certain frequencies triggered it. On stage in the Winter Wonderland, at 'You Never Hurt The One You Love', Your Anmal's residency at The Tote.
Quincy Mclean of Blue Ruin fame had stopped playing live but dusted himself off for Julie's special show at the Tote.
Tom Lyngcoln of the Nation Blue, Harmony, Metho, et.al bleeding kryptonite at Carport Concert To End All Carport Concerts.
Pictured are Ben and Ruby Sheppard blowing bubbles above the all-star band 'Startime' founded by ex-Dirtbombs drummer Pat Pantano at Carport Concert To End All Carport Concerts.
The spotlight loves Cong Josie and The Crimes at Carport Concert To End All Carport Concerts.
Living legends Amanda Roff and Simon Grounds, performing a spoken word odyssey at Carport Concert To End All Carport Concerts.
Michael Beach in the concrete and bricks at Carport Concert To End All Carport Concerts.
Stunning Lisa Salvo and Genevieve Fry creating air and light at Carport Concert To End All Carport Concerts.
Sarah Mary Chadwick band at Carport Concert #1. Stunning.
Elvis Angels were a band dreamt up by Danielle Brustman and Josee Vesley-Manning for the launch of Amelia Shaw Bar, Brunswick. The band were a hit and kept getting booked for weddings, parties, anything thereafter.
A Montan-made backdrop of the Milky Way Galaxy for a season of Magic and Midnight Bosom at Longplay.
Princess Liar slaying at The Old Bar.
Princess Liar at Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, supporting Dan Kelly.
Fireball drummer Monika Fikerle, the pounding force behind Julie Montan at Northcote Social Club.
Julie performing with Richie 1250 & The Brides Of Christ doing her signature splits while playing glitter maracas.
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CULT FOLLOWING
The rumours are true.....................YOUTUBE...www.youtube.com/@softrubbish2636..................."AND THIS ONE'S INTRODUCED BY..."JULIE MONTAN/3CR...bit.ly/3JI36bi...................TONIGHT WE SAY GOODBYE REMIX...https://soundcloud.com/julie-montan.....................CYCLIC DEFROST PREMIERE OCEAN OF NO TIME...bit.ly/4mrVk42......................PREMIERE/REVIEW...louderthanwar.com/soft-rubbish-not-in-the-game-world-premiere-of-new-video-and-track-review/................................REVIEW...........louderthanwar.com/soft-rubbish-millennial-pink-album-review/..... ................PREMIERE...troublejuice.co/2020/04/24/video-premiere-soft-rubbish-hsibbur-tfos/.....................BANDCAMP...softrubbish.bandcamp.com/album/millennial-pink..................BANDCAMP...loversoftheblackbird.bandcamp.com/album/ocean-of-no-time..................BANDCAMP...princessliar.bandcamp.com/album/tell-me-the-truth-do-you-love-me-or-not...............STREAM LIVE @ MAKE IT UP CLUB...bit.ly/45LUyaV..............YOUR LIPS GOWN OF SHADOWS...https://bit.ly/45pWuaa...................
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KAMAHL!
Live Music: like nothing Melbourne had ever seen! Julie's theatrically themed shows vaulted the limits of normal rock offerings by dialling up the props, the colour and warm feeling of collaboration by an eclectic Melbourne Arts community. Through joyful effort and old school showbiz adventurism, her unforgettable events were the talk of the town. They attracted excited reviews from critics as well as bands lining up to play them. One such event was 'Someday We'll Find It' a Melbourne-made Muppet Show with a cast of primary school kids, every type of performing artist you could imagine and a very special appearance by celebrity guest star 'Kamahl'. This show was to celebrate the life's work of Jim Henson; produced by Julie along with co-producers Hannah Fox and Tom Supple (Supple Fox). As the legend goes, when Kamahl was getting into his kaftan he accidentally knocked over the 7 storey, heavily-iced cake, precariously placed on a table in his dressing room. Due to space restrictions, Kamahl and the cake had to share. Everyone else, in the green room heard a loud "crash". Then silence. Poor Kamahl was in shock. He told his assistant "we had stupidly left a cake in his dressing room"; the subtext was "FUCK I'VE FUCKED UP BUT I'M KAMAHL AND I MUST REMAIN KAMAHL".Without further ado, the cake-custodian was located on set, who swiftly put the parts back together (bar the 7th storey), but no one was the wiser when the cake came out on stage for the grand finale!
The 'storied' cake from Someday We'll Find It.
The one and ONLY KAMAHL.
The UV Race as 'Mah nah Mah nah'.
Jess Maguire from RRR as 'Statler', Clem Bastow, as 'Cher' (always) and Rich Stanley from Ooga Boogas as 'George the Janitor'.
Whole cast finale was a joyful rendition of 'The Rainbow Connection'.
'Dancing Chickens' Michelle Boyde, Kathryn Jamieson and Jeevie with Kamahl.
Simone Page Jones as 'Miss Piggy'.
Little Lucy, Julie Montan, Brigitte Hart and Jade Blair as 'Lydia The Tattooed Lady'.
Richie 1250 as 'Sam Eagle'.
"It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights..." with Dancing Chickens and primary school kids singing with their hand puppets. Eagle and The Worm big band played the Muppet Theme Song, our lighting guy; Duckpond's son Quincy played keyboard and Gus Franklin as Gonzo played trombone.
Kamahl and Miss Piggy played by Simone Page Jones.
Fozzy B. Bear, made by Tom Supple.
Mikey Young with hand puppet made by student at Thornbury Primary School.
Puppet maker Lana Schwarz, an intern at Children's Television Workshop, Queens, NY, (now Sesame Workshop) made us Kermit's cane toad cousin 'Vermit' for Someday We'll Find It.
Richie 1250 with hand puppet made by student at Thornbury Primary School.
DEAN MARTIN !
LIBERACE !
SHAGS !
DANI BRUSTMAN !
The extraordinary Danielle Brustman, set designer on many of Julie's productions.
Shags and Kermit.
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Panorama of 'Scarlet #1' in the carpark behind Cicciolina, St Kilda. Advertised by word of mouth only. Huge turn out. This show put Julie on the map as a risk taking playwright and producer, confronting the taboos at the core of the cultural fringe.
Lovers of the Black Bird in the 'Deville Room', double page feature in 'The Bakehouse Project', 2015
In 2019 Soft Rubbish made a splash, made waves, then the ocean fell silent (covid). Like many bands releasing music at the time it was financially injurious to Julie, who according to critics, was going to make her mark with the album 'Millennial Pink'. Photo by: Phoebe Powell
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