An old soul: Ajah Montalvo brings eclectic setlist to UrbanBeat

Ajah Montalvo might be just 21 years old, but the East Lansing-based vocalist belts out throwback tracks that span from the 1956 classic “I Put a Spell on You” to Mazzy Star’s 1993 alt-rock ballad “Fade Into You.” Whether it’s a cover or one of her earworm originals, Montalvo’s soulful, emotive style seamlessly fuses pop with a little bit of R&B, blues, rock and roots music. Friday (May 5), she returns to UrbanBeat for another intimate show, but this time with a live band behind her.

At what age did you start performing? 

Ajah Montalvo: I began diving into singing competitions and the Michigan State University Children’s Choir at 9 years old. Around the age of 5, we discovered I had an ear for music after I learned how to play Alvin and the Chipmunks’ Christmas song with a children’s keyboard book after seeing the movie. 

Today, your setlist includes some older classics. Has that always been your taste? 

I’m influenced by many older, soulful artists and many genres of music. From a young age, I’ve always had an old soul for music, looking up to artists like Amy Winehouse, Stevie Nicks, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone. Currently, artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Chris Stapleton and Adele inspire my sound.

What led you to cover the Mazzy Star song? 

I initially saw Miley Cyrus’ cover of the song, and it immediately made me cry without even really taking the chance to understand the lyrics. As an artist, my biggest goal is to make people feel something, so when I hear an artist that can do that to me, I immediately want to be able to portray that same emotion to others. 

You just released a cover of “I Put a Spell on You.” Why’d you pick that song?

As a young girl, I remember watching Joss Stone perform on ‘American Idol’ and immediately falling in love with the soul in her voice. She performed “I Put a Spell on You,” which is where I got my inspiration from. But as I’ve become older, I’ve tried to involve different vocal techniques to add more spice and grit to the song, giving it more emotion. 

Career-wise, what’s next for you?

I’m now working on new material, traveling between Nashville and Detroit, and I’m planning to launch a single within the next few months, along with an EP to follow. I’m continuing to write and work with my production team down in Nashville, along  with performing at different music festivals throughout the Midwest. 

Outside of music, what are you typically up to?

You can usually find me spending time outside with my 3-year-old pup when the sun decides to peek through or hanging out with my family. I’ve recently found a new love for golf and cannot keep myself off the course for too long. I also adore fresh flowers and try to bring them home. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to care for me much, but they always bring me joy. Along with all that, I’m constantly searching for other new artists to add to my plethora of music playlists that stay on repeat.

To hear her music, visit Ajah Montalvo on Facebook at facebook.com/only1ajah or on YouTube, Instagram or TikTok.