Musical since the age of seven, Jeff Montalvo actually grew up playing the drums and making punk music. He played with many bands but eventual frustration with band members and delays in the music making process caused him to strike out on his own and experiment with electronic music. As he began to take his craft more seriously and release music, Montalvo chose the name Seven Lions, which was taken from the children’s book “Latro in the Mist”.
Seven Lions really began making waves in 2011 when he started releasing remixes of artists such as Delirium, Above & Beyond and Paul Van Dyk. One remix of “You Got to Go” by Above & Beyond went to number two on the Beatport Dubstep Chart. This track won the DJ a lot of attention and he was soon signed to Skrillex’s OWSLA label to release his first EP.
This EP was “Days to Come” and it quickly shot to the number two spot on the iTunes Dance Chart, went to number one on Beatport and was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Dance Chart. After Seven Lions’ work received radio airtime from DJs such as Britain’s Zane Lowe, the DJ’s profile elevated substantially.
In 2014, Seven Lions’ star continued to rise when the DJ released his third EP, “Worlds Apart”. The record went to number two on the US Billboard Dance Chart and the single of the same name hit the 141 spot on the UK singles chart. The “Worlds Apart” EP featured singers Ellie Goulding and Kerli, with the tracks focussing more on the content of the song rather than the beat itself.
Seven Lions claims to be influenced by Viking metal; it is a style that he listens to frequently and that inspires him. A regular performer at festivals, Seven Lions has made DJ appearances at SXSW, Electric Daisy Carnival, Electric Zoo and Ultra Music Festival, amongst others.
I have watched Seven Lions grow from an incredible opener for the likes of Porter Robinson, Krewella, and Excision in 2013 to a must-see headliner for his very own Worlds Apart Tour in 2014 that is taking the electronic music world by storm.
Every time I see his name on a lineup, I know I am going to hear something amazing, moving, and majestic. Seven Lions makes mind-opening music, taking elements that are worlds apart and fusing them into tracks that are as effortless as they are unique.
Hauntingly beautiful, the deep bass and minor tones of his music keep you on edge while enchanting vocals and ethereal progressions leave the world behind. His shows consume the audience with a captivating blend of trance and bass that prove he is one of most skilled and creative producers in the industry.
Like a fantasy novel, the rich detail of Seven Lions’ sound creates an alternate universe for the audience to marvel at and explore. From his unforgettable track “Days to Come” to his eerie and stirring remix of Tritonal’s “Still with Me,”
Seven Lions has always added a powerful texture to his music, one of longing but also one of inspiration. Becoming ever more popular, he has not lost this touch; tracks off his most recent Worlds Apart EP such as “Nepenthe” continue to combine chilling melodies with intense beats.