LIKE FATHER, LIK: SON Weaned on Dad's Teachings, Montaner Strikes Ut on His Own

BY LEILA COBO LIKE FATHER, LIK: SON Weaned On Dad's Teachings, Montaner Strikes ut On His Own

Héctor Montaner bears an ncanny physical sical route. He is now Hector's manager, but and sonic resemblance to is father, noted also continues writing and penned several process go smoothly. "While on the record is "Back in This gle is pretty rare." songwriter /balladeer Ricar o Montaner. songs with his brother, including the first Jason's out touring and sup- Cigarette," a painful tale While he notes that "Hick - But his sophomore albu , " Apariencias," single, "Apariencias." porting the first album, about trying to rekindle the town" has been Aldean's due June 5 on Venemusic, b ars his own dis- The track's contemporary sound and lyrics Michael's back here in Nash- love in a relationship ( "It's like biggest hit for the station, tinct brand of music. appeal to the 18 -34 female demographic, ville looking for songs for the trying to put smoke back in Thomas says "Johnny Cash" "It's a natural quest -tryi g to mark a dif- says Felix Bonnet, programming VP for new record," Howell says. this cigarette "). "It's just a is "turning out to be very ference at a musical and ly ical level," says Spanish Broadcasting System in Puerto "The two of them work ex- kind of swampy, broken- strong for us. Jason seems to Montaner, who has a close lationship with Rico. In Puerto Rico, it is being initially pro- tremely well together." hearted song," Aldean says. know who he is and who his his famous dad. "lf I sing a classic ballad, it grammed on the more youth- driven WIOA Big & Rich's John Rich, "It's unlike anything that I've audience is. He's a country is too Ricardo Montaner. I ad to find a way ( Cadena Estereotempo), where, Bonnet says, who co -wrote "Why," "Hick - done before." boy who's not afraid to really to present my ballads in a di ferent manner." Montaner will be discovered as an up -and- town" and "Amarillo Sky" on KMPS Seattle air personal- rock out, and listeners clearly As such, "Apariencias," roduced by gui- coming artist. Aldean's first record, con- ity/music director Tony Thomas love him for it." tarist Andrés Castro (who as worked with "He is focused toward a new generation tributed two songs to the says once the station added When Aldean played the Carlos Vives, among others , is an acoustic - that perhaps wasn't exposed to his dad, new set including the first "Hicktown" to its playlist, "we area with Rascal Flatts earlier minded album with pared -d wn production, but who are accepting him the way he is," single, the head- over -heels- knew right away that listen- this year, "he got a tremen- plenty of guitars and percu sion, and a dis- Bonnet says. in -love tale "Johnny Cash," ers had embraced Jason's en- dous response," Thomas says. tinctly earthy singer /song riter sound. It's If the track is successful on Estereotempo, which is No.15 on Billboard's ergy and attitude. For a new "That was one rockin' set, and a different approach co ared with the Bonnet says, he'll also add it to WCMA (Ro- Hot Country Songs chart. artist to make that listener the crowd was with him all more classic feel of Mont er's first disc, mance), which is geared to an older female But Aldean's favorite song connection with their first sin- the way." "Amor del Bueno," release in 2004. listener. "There they will inevitably associ- "We wanted something d fferent from his ate him with his father, and perhaps it will first album and also to try a d find his iden- help," Bonnet says. "But he shines through tity as an artist," Venemus' VP Jorge Pino on his own merits." says. "Maintain his songwri er side, but also At a recent showcase in Miami, Montaner develop a commercial soun was impressive, dominating the stage that he's To that effect, Montaner s ned with Vene- called home since he was a little kid who often music's publishing arm, Ve evision Interna- performed with his dad. Heather Nova. "I loved her ATB has sold 406,000 al- NELLY IN THE HOUSE: No tional Publishing Latin, an via its director, "I am not ashamed of that," voice but wasn't happy with bums in the United States one does summer sounds quite José Antonio Beltrán, paire up with a va- Montaner says of his fam- what we wrote [for his 2000 since his 1999 debut, plus like Kaskade. He's the latest riety of songwriters includi g stalwarts ily ties, noting that he will album "Two Worlds "]," he 131,000 commercial singles producer to join Nelly Fur - Donato and Jose Luis Chacin Most pf the likely tour with his dad says. "It wasn't strong and more than 200,000 song tado's "Loose" all -star remix new songs were written or c -written by this summer. "The little enough. That's why I wanted downloads, according to team, taking a stab at new sin- Montaner, and the lyrics hav a colloquial I've done in my career to work with her again." Nielsen SoundScan. gle "All Good Things," with typ- feel compared with the mo e romantic so far, if I've done it The second time was defi- Dance veteran Ultra ically moist, pulsing results. "Amor del Bueno." well, it is :hanks to my nitely a charm. "Renegade" Nate, whose fifth full - "I always try and put to- At that point, Montaner, th n 23 years old, father's advice." hums with the energy of length, "Grime Silk & Thun- gether well- rounded packages was very much his father's pr tégé. The album ATB's clubbier compositions, der" (Tommy Boy), was that appeal to more than just not only counted Ricardo as e cutive producer, but also boasts U2 guitar released last week, is simi- one genre or style while still but also as the author of thre tracks. sounds, Nova's distinctive larly unconcerned with radio maintaining the integrity of Today, the relationship be- Joni Mitchell -esque quiver, a or other standard measures the original," says Universal's tween father and son conti

memorable lyric ( "Baby, I'm of success. Juan Martinez, who A &R'd ues to be airtight, and Hecto a renegade with you /Baby, I'm "Being able to sustain a liv- the mixes for every single, presented his dad with the searchin' too /Been around the ing off of your art is already including "Promiscuous" Spirit of Hope Award at the world /Now I'm running back successful, you don't need a (Axwell, Morel, Ralphie Billboard Latin Music to you") and a poppy hook and megahit," she says. "It only Rosario, Richard Vission), Awards in April. bridge. The result is a gor- takes a small corner of the uni- "Maneater" (David Garcia & But the artist and his geous summer love song. verse to sustain a career. Being Morgan Page, Sugardip, the label want to make it clear "Lots of DJs are really into successful is making the kind Discount Rhinos & Gor- that -despite the kin- hard electronic stuff. But I of records I want, growing my geous George, Richard Vis- ship -this is a differen miss melodies and feelings," label arrangement, getting sion) and "Say It Right" act with a different po- the Savannah, Ga. -bred DJ more control over my masters (Dummies. Menage Music, tential audience. says between Tampa, Fla., and making my fan base Peter Rauhofer, Friscia & Montaner is the third and New York stops of an happy as time goes on." Lamboy). The last of which, child of Ricardo Mon - eight -city bus tour. "When The adventurous artist, who he says, "has gotten the taner, and the second you get emotion in electronic covers the Pointer Sisters' strongest reaction. Nelly and progeny in the close - music, people notice. It's not "Automatic" on the new Timbaland approve the knit family to embark on just sounds out of a computer album, recently added Dying mixes. They've really only a musical career. His -there's a human being who to her performance portfolio given feedback once. She older brother, Alejandro, is creating it. People realize ( "all soulful, underground wanted a mix to be a little released one album on z that electronic music can be house ") and sometimes blends more house -y." Now that's Sony Discos in 2002, then ó á from the heart." singing and spinning live. what we like to hear. settled on a different mu-