Meet Vanessa Montilla | Sound Engineer, Producer & Healing Music Recording Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa Montilla and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, why did you pursue a creative career?

I would have to say: it chose me 😉

As much as I’ve always liked Science, the right hemisphere of my brain is very present in mostly everything I do:
I enjoy cooking with no recipes, for example; I was always interested in learning from other cultures and philosophies; I’m more comfortable not following a perfectly-timed schedule —so more spontaneous, in a way; I can fly really high in my own mind just by being present in my breath… so… at some point, my soul was asking for a little more behind the technicisms and the success I had achieved in my career as a sound engineer, and so then life gave me, on one side, very talented and long-time good friends coming together, and at the same time, a perfect opportunity to finally show and share what my personal path had been building towards in the last decade or so, in search for meaning…

Music had always been an important part of my life and I never left it aside; I just thought I preferred the backstage situation for years. But when I started really sprouting into who I am essentially, I had to sing that search out loud and go for it: and so KoTo Kaur, my Mantra Music project started being shaped, and it’s given me a lot more exploration and learning than I ever thought. Also, a lot of smiles, heart-filling moments and other sonic achievements 😉

So, to me, Art is life. And that’s what we’re here for: to re-create… mostly ourselves!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It´s been a long ride… of discovery, mostly… or re-discovery of the Self, of my-Self. If I have to put my art into a one-sentence statement, I´d say: “Its been a path of many turns into self-discovery, deep inner-knowledge and remembrance, through sound and music, which shines a light for others to do the same.”

For years, I went onto executing, assisting, and many times, technically leading important productions under the baton of cherished Gustavo Dudamel and the family of the SBSOV (Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela). That, I’m very proud and grateful for. Having the opportunity to learn from the best ´Ton-Meisters´ in the world and shaping a career in Classical Music as an Engineer and Producer as I did… I do not take that for granted!

However, as for much joy and professional growth, there was something kind-of missing… I even made my way onto working on film scoring both within the institution and independently as a freelancer for some productions in Venezuela, and it was a very fun and stretching part of the journey…

Until finally, after a period of profound hardship in my personal life, a wind of change came blowing not so softly, and I finally had no other choice than to let the spiritual path I had long started walking lead the way into my next chapter: and as I allowed space for my-Self to re-align all aspects of me, I literally found my voice in a chanting meditation session and I HAD TO listen to it. Suddenly, purpose and memories came together very clearly into the picture and although it took me many years to get from there to where I am now — also knowing there’s still long to learn and go, today I find meaning to and beyond everything I do professionally, and to me, there’s no greater satisfaction than that in whatever craft you do.

Has it been easy? Yes and no… At the beginning it brought some big changes amidst a lot of chaos and that was difficult to sail, but certainty in communicating the healing power of sound, silence, and music was present in my heart, and honestly it wasn’t like I planned or had to do much more; I had to just surrender and trust that the path would light its own way before me as long as I remained aligned and doing my part… funny it´s easier writing about than actually doing it, but truly… that´s what I did.

I had to overcome the challenge of feeling lonely sometimes… Don’t get me wrong, but quite some solitude –in my case, at least– is needed to find the pure channel one has to become in order to transfer so much energy in the form of healing sounds and presence to people around you; it was very, very challenging to recognize myself as such. Also, to see myself in the role of leader to the – to me, considered– greater musicians I commenced the project with: long beloved friends but also long admired professionals in the field of music creation.

But ultimately, what I think was most scary, if you take this sacredly and seriously, was to realize that you have so much responsibility in your hands when you are conducive to someone´s healing process, or some kind of reference or guide to someone in the vulnerability of their own search for transformation. And at the same time, understand that you’re not at all important nor needed… satires of this duality world we live in 😉

I see sound as a vehicle to raise your vibration and elevate your highest prayers and desires, to clear your mind and whole psyque/living machine. I have created my music from my own experience and need of finding inner peace and sanity, and knowing myself supported and loved; so that I intend to give to others. Yet whatever the intention put into it, one has to be conscious that conveys great trustworthiness, but I’ve found that the same vibrations have given me the grace and joy I need to hold that space for whoever wants or needs to receive those waves.

Biggest lesson? Stay focused, know and trust yourself –and The Universe, be creative (even in finding new ways to do so) and above all, always listen to your inner voice!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow, I could go long here! Of course one’s story it’s a… an epigenetic story altogether: the circumstances, the people, places and situations bring change… everything shapes you; and everything is connected.

So I’d have to even mention my middle school teachers, who infused us with a sense of devotion to almost everything we unveiled while learning; the same devotion that gets back to me when I chant. The SBSOV, my Music family — and unconsciously, the personal sound healing “machine” I grew with, and all the professional peering and development it later on gave me regarding the classical side of my engineering career.

If I have to mention a book I’d have to say “BE HERE NOW”, by Ram Dass, as it opened my eyes and complete spirit –consciously– for the first time, to all that energy matter we are in this human experience, and the “coincidence” of simply picking it up from a boy-I-once-loved’s bookshelf one random day; the same boy that took me to the most magical concert I had ever been yet, when my soul told me: “one day you’ll be doing this” — me not even beginning to understand what it was that was happening there. Many years later, I became a student of that incredible woman, Snatam Kaur Khalsa, and I’ll be forever grateful for that life opportunity.

Around those days, the situations I was going through made me to found the will to really keep up with my Kundalini Yoga & Meditation practice for all, and my wonderful and powerful teacher, Hari Kaur, appeared in my life when I was ready for it; an example of great love, discipline, confidence and determination, as were many of the brave yogis I used to practice with in the early hours every week, and who went onto becoming the good friends I needed in this country. It was then and where I “heard” my voice for the first time in my life, despite all “my musical years”, so that’s not to leave aside.

In the nucleus of the spiritual artistic project I today hold, I even have to thank the extreme lockdown we all faced during the pandemic, as it left me — as many others– wandering around and it brought me from NYC to Miami, where I really had to redefine purpose in order to deeply vibrate life again. The chaotic upside-down world was the reason those very talented and beloved friends I mentioned earlier: Yilmer Vivas and Lester Paredes, surprisingly ended up from Russia and Venezuela to here; and the many conversations we had once had about my interests in the sacred aspect of Sound started shaping the music of KoTo Kaur. An interesting night of charades and thorough talks brought new friends and colleagues on board, AleMor & Wizzmer, to land a platform for me to take off as an artist in this city and whom I continued to pursue career achievements with, being nominated for a Latin Grammy Awards as a Recording Engineer on her first EP, in 2021.

Many members of my extended family and life-time friends have supported me along the way, in the distance, through many years and in many forms, but of course I have to thank my parents for trusting me: both my interests as a kid and allowing me a training in the world of arts, and for respecting my choices, endeavors and paths as an early adult, even if different, unknown, or at first sight, distant from their forms and beliefs. To my bother Daniel, I cannot be more thankful for everything he does to support me in the present times, despite our different personalities; words are short, truly.

And last but not least, the Miami community & new inspiring and loving friends I’ve made here: the ones who show up and support the day-to-day work, and some of whom have opened doors, sung with me, worked and gifted me a piece of their art or needed advice, lended me their studios, recorded us, prepared me a meal, photographed me, transcribed my own music for me, put together some kind of SSMM thing that I’m struggling with, guided me, lifted me, and all of that much more of current life. I have to specially mention here César “Pablito” Rodríguez, whom I share a world of ideas and laughs with every time we´re producing my music and who is always up for adventuring with me into enjoying the “tough” work!

Instagram: @kotokaur

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-montilla-/

Youtube: @kotokaur

Other: Listen to KoTo Kaur on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and most streaming platforms. Latest single here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kotokaur/maa

Image Credits
Juan Bastidas, April Nicole, Giano Currie