Check out Ice Montgomery’s full interview below and let us know what you think on our Instagram.
Where are you from?
I am from Charlotte. 1st generation out of my family actually born there. But I was raised in Decatur, GA.
What was life like growing up?
Since my parents split custody with me during my growing years, I got to experience the best of Atlanta, which was my dadās hometown, and Buffalo, NY, which was my motherās hometown. You could only imagine the positive influence of style, food and culture impacting me.
How did you get into the music scene?
Running around Atlanta with dance groups sparked my interest in music. Once I saw you could make real money from dancing I got interested in making the songs that people would dance to.
What was the first song, event or experience that really boosted your career?
The first event that boosted my career was performing with the Show Stoppas at Columbia High School. The overwhelming response validated my status amongst peers that I had latent star power.
How did you get your stage name?
Well I was born Ian Cedric, and my dadās name is Cedric so to honor my dad I merged it into Ice! Fun fact, Tammi Terrell (sang Aināt No Mountain High Enough w/Marvin Gaye) her last name is Montgomery and Berry Gordy, who she was signed with at the time did not feel āMontgomeryā was marketable so he dropped it from her name. In addition to honoring my late cousin, I wanted to prove Motown wrong and establish my brand using the family name.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
Johnny Cupcakes is my biggest inspiration right now. 2 Chainz is a close second. What I love most about Johnny Cupcakes, similarly to 2 Chainz is his devotion to his fans and staying true to his branding and namesake. They really pay attention to the small details.
Most expensive jewelry piece?
My most expensive piece of jewelry is for sure my diamond grill. While they are pull outs, they are made of 14k white gold with a honeycomb diamond setting and I have the 20 piece set. Shoutout to my jeweler.
What has been the most difficult part of being an artist?Ā
Most difficult part of being an artist is actually getting started. You have to trust the feedback you get and accept constructive criticism so your career can be fruitful. When you are moving, people donāt mind hoping on the bandwagon later, you just have to get traction going.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I see myself producing animated movies, crossing over my brand with unorthodox brand partners and starting a family.
If you could collaborateĀ or open up for one major artist, who would it be and why?
If I could collaborate with one major artist, it would be DaBaby. That connect would mean so much for the city of Charlotte because it will validate that I have arrived in my region and Iām here to stay.
What advice would you give to someone looking to become an artist?
If you are an independent artist reading this, I encourage you to invest in your craft. That means buy that course instead of that weed. Spend your last $100 on ads instead of that hot date. When content runs dry, book a photoshoot. Snippets are better than nothing. Thatās it, that the advice.
