Kelsey Montanez – High Speed Lover (2026)
With a flip of her hair, a glint of impish mischief in her smile, and a riling scorch of her guitar, singer-songwriter Kelsey Montanez wins your heart with big attitude and cheeky flair. Unafraid to celebrate life with a zealous brush of music, the US-based artist wriggles into your ears with a blend of live performance passion and radio-friendly studio sophistication. She ended 2025 with the well-received single ‘River of Light’, and continues a 2026 roll-out of original material standing as part of her upcoming second-album project. Join us as we delve into the new track, ‘High Speed Lover’.
The second collaboration with producer Noam Wallenberg, ‘High Speed Lover’ is a pivotal turn to a darker, heavier, almost grunge girl-esque tone for Montanez. The clip from her distinctive indie-pop/pop tone slid into a more pop-rock vibe in ‘River of Light’ – the first track with Wallenberg. In fact, ‘High Speed Lover’ brings a stronger alternative rock groove to our ears with a flicker of pop-rock keeping the melody light.
As with many of her singles, listening to Montanez is more of a soulful experience than just a song wriggling through your speakers – the presence of live performances taking control. The new single is like stepping into a sonic pool, facing a glittering surface while underneath lies a trepid darkness. The ripples over your toes give you a quick taste of what’s to come; despite it being a little chilly, a surge of excitement wriggles up your legs, quickly climbing to your fingers, chest and head. Each drum beat lures you toward the water, and every guitar riff punctuates your heart with a scorching rhythm.
With the vibrant imagery, the flush of alt-rock inclination, and a full crescendo to a classic rock crash, the water washes over you, toppling into the water; however, it’s quite exhilarating, and you don’t feel too lost – an odd sense of comfort rushing through your veins. Moreover, Montanez’s rich vocals dance along, holding you close, tumbling about while being an anchor.
Overall, what are my thoughts on ‘High Speed Lover’? A smashing hit of confident rock music perfectly executed with precision, intricacy, and style.
For more from Kelsey Montanez, check out her Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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