Interview

Work Hard. Play Hard. Drive Inspired.

Happiness? You can force it. Through hard work, for example. Says Montez. The twenty-nine-year-old is not only one of the most successful songwriters in Germany at the moment, he’s also an entrepreneur passionately realizing new ideas.

Or you can just get in a car and go for a drive. Says Montez as well. We met him for an exclusive interview in Berlin – and brought along a BMW i4 M50, an iX M60 and an i5 M60.

Interview
Michael Köckritz
Fotos
Julian Essink, David Breun

For those of our readers who aren’t familiar with the name Montez, who are you? And who is the person behind your stage name?

My full name is Luca Manuel Montesinos Gargallo. I’m twenty-nine years old, I’m from Bielefeld and I’m mostly a musician.

Why do you say “mostly”?

About five years ago, I discovered the entrepreneur in me. I realized that, in addition to my passion for music, I was also passionate about realizing new ideas, about building and successfully running companies.

Do all your companies have something to do with music?

Most of them do. I founded a marketing company as well as my own label. I use one of my companies to invest in start-ups, but I also help out with my network and my expertise. I have a merchandising company and a fashion label. I run a construction company with my father and my brother and a hairdressing salon with my mother.

»Mit 13 fing ich an, meine ersten Texte zu schreiben, weil das für mich ein Ventil war, um Erlebtes zu verarbeiten.«

With all these commitments, how do you find the time to make music?

That’s the challenge. Other artists just go into the studio every day and make music. I really have to find time for it, to schedule it in.

But you want to stay “mostly” a musician?

Yes, because even my entrepreneurial self understands that music is what makes me happy. Music is my passion. It permeates my innermost being.

How did you get into hip hop?

My cousin had a big influence on me. I must have been six or seven years old at the time. He was almost twice as old and listened to Eminem, 50 Cent and Tupac all the time. The first time I heard “Lose Yourself” by Eminem, I was blown away. And I’ve loved hip hop ever since.

You say that music is your life. What does your music reveal about you personally?

Significantly more than with other artists, I think. It’s always been like that. I started writing my first lyrics when I was thirteen because it was an outlet for me to process the things that were going on in my life. I’ve always been bad at talking about things like that with other people. But I found that I could do that with my music, that I was able to put my emotions into a package, deal with my feelings, communicate them to others.

(...)

→ Read the full interview in ramp #63 "Happy on the Road".

Michael Köckritz

Editor in Chief

As a journalist, author, artist and media maker, Michael Köckritz succeeds time and again in creating both attention-grabbing and sustainably stimulating impulses in the context of contemporary and future topics as well as lifestyle and luxury worlds. As publisher and editor-in-chief, he has realised a whole series of book and lifestyle magazine formats that have regularly won numerous national and international awards over the years. The car culture magazine ramp, the men's lifestyle magazine rampstyle and the design magazine ramp.design are published internationally and are considered style-setting.

ramp #63 Happy on the Road

ramp #63 Happy on the Road

Glücklich auf der Straße? Sowieso. Für ein anständiges Autokulturmagazin ist so ein glückliches Unterwegssein gewissermaßen nur eine bereits konzeptionell hinterlegte Pflichtveranstaltung. Nach und nach – und mit etwas Glück (was sich hier ja fein ins Thema fügt) – entwickeln sich diese Emotionen in der Summe dann vergnüglich zu einer Affektbasis, ...

Our Bestsellers

The Porsche Book

100,00 EUR

An opulent and entertainingly informative coffee table book about the elite of automobiles – Porsche! It offers a comprehensive view of the brand's significance in pop culture and automotive history.
rampstyle #32 Stay Cool

20,00 EUR

A professional survival tip for beginners: If you become lost and a search is initiated for you: Stay put. This may sound simple, but it is not. In stressful situations, our brain releases a substantial amount of norepinephrine into the relevant receptors, which unfortunately significantly impairs cognitive function.
Mercedes-Benz Milestones

50,00 EUR

In the visually stunning coffee table book Mercedes-Benz Milestones, the ramp editorial team takes you on a journey through the history of the internationally coveted German car manufacturer.
BMW Milestones

50,00 EUR

The ultimate BMW guide: The icons of the car brand in a visually stunning coffee table book.
ramp #64 How About That!

20,00 EUR

Surprises open our eyes to new things, which now isn't really a big surprise. The unexpected simply stays in memory longer, sparks curiosity – and prompts action. Essential for adapting to a changing world. The future might just be warming up for progress. It's meant to move forward effectively.
ramp #65
Surfing Cowboys

20,00 EUR

If you think "Surfing Cowboys" refers to neoprene-clad prairie riders or surfers wearing cowboy hats, you're slightly off the mark in this case. In the latest issue of our Car.Culture.Magazine, it's about the meeting of two quintessentially American archetypes, both embodying a deep longing for lived independence and untamed, self-determined freedom.
rampstyle #31 Isn't That Something?

20,00 EUR

Focusing on the essentials, blocking out everything else... If you’re focused, you’ve already mastered one important key skill. In our multimodal world, focus is, unfortunately, a rather limited resource. In particularly focused moments, we forget all about time. But do we run the risk of developing tunnel vision? Does focus lose its power over time? Do we become habituated? Far from it. Unexpected surprises? Bring ‘em on!
ramp #63 Happy on the Road

20,00 EUR

Happy on the road? You bet. For any respectable car culture magazine, after all, being happy on the road is a mandatory prerequisite. Over time, and with a little bit of luck (which is, after all, a close relative of happiness), these feelings cheerfully blossom into an emotional foundation that ...
rampstyle #30 Blue Skies

20,00 EUR

After “All Summer Long” here’s our follow-up issue with the title “Blue Skies”. Of course. Because readers who know a little something about the English singer and songwriter Chris Rea will have already noticed how we’ve come full circle here. The blue sky as a symbol of hopeful optimism about what’s to come.
ramp #62 Wild Things

20,00 EUR

Just heading along, the journey itself a wonderfully blank page that presents itself to us with a cheerful unpredictability, as an inspired playing field for trial and error, for curiosity and spontaneity, unexpected surprises and flights of fancy. Wild and untamed. Just like life itself.
Director’s Cut: Luxury

125,00 EUR

Luxury is enticing and exciting, polarizing and provocative, not to mention that it is good for the economy. But the essence of luxury goes far beyond the material. Luxury appeals to our senses, our dreams and our desires. It immediately evokes images that are as precise as they are diverse. Luxury also triggers some pretty clear opinions – both favorable and unfavorable.
rampdesign: Success by Design

20,00 EUR

A design that makes all the difference? Always a nice task. An even more exciting task is the development of an attractive and desirable design that is derived coherently from the brand and which creates long-term brand awareness using a modern approach. Which makes it so important to come up with a design that differentiates and positions the brand effectively.
rampstyle #29 All Summer Long

20,00 EUR

Barcelona in summer. With Alvaro Soler - and a Porsche 911 SC. An approach to the phenomenon and the person Yves Saint Laurent. We spoke with Udo Kier in Palm Springs, and Luc Donckerwolke in his garage. And then there's the cover - and the associated story of House of Spoils.
Porsche 911 Everlasting Love Stories

99,00 EUR

Sixty years of the Porsche 911 – sixty years that stand for very personal, highly emotional relationships of love involving this sports car. Stories marked by love, lust and passion. Captured in this high-quality illustrated book.
ramp #61 Love Is in the Air

20,00 EUR

Blue skies, the scent of fresh grass, the warmth of the moment – but above all: sunshine. The light of the sun’s rays, scientists say, is the decisive factor at the beginning of the warm season that triggers the merry mix of happiness hormones which energetically drive us headlong into the summer.
rampstyle #27
By the Way

20,00 EUR

Did you know that between thirty and fifty percent of all scientific discoveries are the result of coincidence? Velcro, Viagra, X-rays – sometimes people find things without even looking for them, but they are rewarded with an unexpected alternative.
rampstyle #28 Into the Great Wide Open

20,00 EUR

An exclusive fashion editorial with Tim Bendzko. Unseen pictures by photographer Anouk Masson Krantz. A conversation with star director Guy Ritchie and a somewhat different interview with musician Dan Auerbach. All this and much more awaits you in this issue of rampstyle.
Director’s Cut: The Lamborghini Book

100,00 EUR

Author texts, expert interviews and aesthetically pleasing imagery do the brand justice in all aspects and make the book a must-have for all car fans and Lamborghini enthusiasts. Alongside exclusive design sketches, an overview of all series models with full technical specifications completes this extraordinary and ambitious book project.
The Lamborghini Book

100,00 EUR

Author texts, expert interviews and aesthetically pleasing imagery do the brand justice in all aspects and make the book a must-have for all car fans and Lamborghini enthusiasts. An overview of all series models with full technical specifications completes this extraordinary and ambitious book project.
ramp #60 Too Cool to Handle.

20,00 EUR

A magazine about coolness? Among other things. But one thing at a time. First of all, it’s off to the movies. There’s this businessman from Boston who helps relieve a bank of a substantial amount of money. The insurance companies are on to him, but they can’t prove a thing. That, in a nutshell, is the plot of...
ramp #59 Tomorrow Is Yesterday

18,00 EUR

“Tomorrow Is Yesterday” was the title of an episode of the television series Star Trek, and although it was the nineteenth episode overall, it was the first to flicker into German living rooms fifty years ago this May. The story revolved around timelines and time travel.
rampstyle #26 Good News

15,00 EUR

Two thin ovals far up inside a circle, a curved arc below, sketched on sunny yellow. In a split second, our brain has combined the elements into a smiling face, instantly putting us in a good mood. Wonderful! A smiley like that just feels good.
Men’s manual - Best of rampstyle by Michael Köckritz

29,00 EUR

Existential questions are answered here: How do I build the perfect sandcastle? How do I start a band? Is there a perfect record player? (Spoiler Alert: yes, there is). Men´s manual is a supergroup of sorts: ramp and teNeues throw together their concentrated expertise in lifestyle.
The Porsche Book

100,00 EUR

An opulent and entertainingly informative coffee table book about the elite of automobiles – Porsche! It offers a comprehensive view of the brand's significance in pop culture and automotive history.
rampstyle #32 Stay Cool

20,00 EUR

A professional survival tip for beginners: If you become lost and a search is initiated for you: Stay put. This may sound simple, but it is not. In stressful situations, our brain releases a substantial amount of norepinephrine into the relevant receptors, which unfortunately significantly impairs cognitive function.
Mercedes-Benz Milestones

50,00 EUR

In the visually stunning coffee table book Mercedes-Benz Milestones, the ramp editorial team takes you on a journey through the history of the internationally coveted German car manufacturer.
BMW Milestones

50,00 EUR

The ultimate BMW guide: The icons of the car brand in a visually stunning coffee table book.
ramp #64 How About That!

20,00 EUR

Surprises open our eyes to new things, which now isn't really a big surprise. The unexpected simply stays in memory longer, sparks curiosity – and prompts action. Essential for adapting to a changing world. The future might just be warming up for progress. It's meant to move forward effectively.
ramp #65
Surfing Cowboys

20,00 EUR

If you think "Surfing Cowboys" refers to neoprene-clad prairie riders or surfers wearing cowboy hats, you're slightly off the mark in this case. In the latest issue of our Car.Culture.Magazine, it's about the meeting of two quintessentially American archetypes, both embodying a deep longing for lived independence and untamed, self-determined freedom.
rampstyle #31 Isn't That Something?

20,00 EUR

Focusing on the essentials, blocking out everything else... If you’re focused, you’ve already mastered one important key skill. In our multimodal world, focus is, unfortunately, a rather limited resource. In particularly focused moments, we forget all about time. But do we run the risk of developing tunnel vision? Does focus lose its power over time? Do we become habituated? Far from it. Unexpected surprises? Bring ‘em on!
ramp #63 Happy on the Road

20,00 EUR

Happy on the road? You bet. For any respectable car culture magazine, after all, being happy on the road is a mandatory prerequisite. Over time, and with a little bit of luck (which is, after all, a close relative of happiness), these feelings cheerfully blossom into an emotional foundation that ...
rampstyle #30 Blue Skies

20,00 EUR

After “All Summer Long” here’s our follow-up issue with the title “Blue Skies”. Of course. Because readers who know a little something about the English singer and songwriter Chris Rea will have already noticed how we’ve come full circle here. The blue sky as a symbol of hopeful optimism about what’s to come.
ramp #62 Wild Things

20,00 EUR

Just heading along, the journey itself a wonderfully blank page that presents itself to us with a cheerful unpredictability, as an inspired playing field for trial and error, for curiosity and spontaneity, unexpected surprises and flights of fancy. Wild and untamed. Just like life itself.
Director’s Cut: Luxury

125,00 EUR

Luxury is enticing and exciting, polarizing and provocative, not to mention that it is good for the economy. But the essence of luxury goes far beyond the material. Luxury appeals to our senses, our dreams and our desires. It immediately evokes images that are as precise as they are diverse. Luxury also triggers some pretty clear opinions – both favorable and unfavorable.
rampdesign: Success by Design

20,00 EUR

A design that makes all the difference? Always a nice task. An even more exciting task is the development of an attractive and desirable design that is derived coherently from the brand and which creates long-term brand awareness using a modern approach. Which makes it so important to come up with a design that differentiates and positions the brand effectively.
rampstyle #29 All Summer Long

20,00 EUR

Barcelona in summer. With Alvaro Soler - and a Porsche 911 SC. An approach to the phenomenon and the person Yves Saint Laurent. We spoke with Udo Kier in Palm Springs, and Luc Donckerwolke in his garage. And then there's the cover - and the associated story of House of Spoils.
Porsche 911 Everlasting Love Stories

99,00 EUR

Sixty years of the Porsche 911 – sixty years that stand for very personal, highly emotional relationships of love involving this sports car. Stories marked by love, lust and passion. Captured in this high-quality illustrated book.
ramp #61 Love Is in the Air

20,00 EUR

Blue skies, the scent of fresh grass, the warmth of the moment – but above all: sunshine. The light of the sun’s rays, scientists say, is the decisive factor at the beginning of the warm season that triggers the merry mix of happiness hormones which energetically drive us headlong into the summer.
rampstyle #27
By the Way

20,00 EUR

Did you know that between thirty and fifty percent of all scientific discoveries are the result of coincidence? Velcro, Viagra, X-rays – sometimes people find things without even looking for them, but they are rewarded with an unexpected alternative.
rampstyle #28 Into the Great Wide Open

20,00 EUR

An exclusive fashion editorial with Tim Bendzko. Unseen pictures by photographer Anouk Masson Krantz. A conversation with star director Guy Ritchie and a somewhat different interview with musician Dan Auerbach. All this and much more awaits you in this issue of rampstyle.
Director’s Cut: The Lamborghini Book

100,00 EUR

Author texts, expert interviews and aesthetically pleasing imagery do the brand justice in all aspects and make the book a must-have for all car fans and Lamborghini enthusiasts. Alongside exclusive design sketches, an overview of all series models with full technical specifications completes this extraordinary and ambitious book project.
The Lamborghini Book

100,00 EUR

Author texts, expert interviews and aesthetically pleasing imagery do the brand justice in all aspects and make the book a must-have for all car fans and Lamborghini enthusiasts. An overview of all series models with full technical specifications completes this extraordinary and ambitious book project.
ramp #60 Too Cool to Handle.

20,00 EUR

A magazine about coolness? Among other things. But one thing at a time. First of all, it’s off to the movies. There’s this businessman from Boston who helps relieve a bank of a substantial amount of money. The insurance companies are on to him, but they can’t prove a thing. That, in a nutshell, is the plot of...
ramp #59 Tomorrow Is Yesterday

18,00 EUR

“Tomorrow Is Yesterday” was the title of an episode of the television series Star Trek, and although it was the nineteenth episode overall, it was the first to flicker into German living rooms fifty years ago this May. The story revolved around timelines and time travel.
rampstyle #26 Good News

15,00 EUR

Two thin ovals far up inside a circle, a curved arc below, sketched on sunny yellow. In a split second, our brain has combined the elements into a smiling face, instantly putting us in a good mood. Wonderful! A smiley like that just feels good.
Men’s manual - Best of rampstyle by Michael Köckritz

29,00 EUR

Existential questions are answered here: How do I build the perfect sandcastle? How do I start a band? Is there a perfect record player? (Spoiler Alert: yes, there is). Men´s manual is a supergroup of sorts: ramp and teNeues throw together their concentrated expertise in lifestyle.