Diandra Interviews Ritt Momney: The Fear And Excitement of Success
Many times, I have said, “I can’t fail anymore,” right before I failed again. Success is more terrifying to those who have had greater losses compared to those whom have had greater gains. Maybe, it is because we are not used to it or, maybe, it is because our desperate need to see ourselves elevated and “better” shrouds the fun of doing something and seeing where it goes. Hence, I got slightly sensitive with Jack Rutter’s responses, a.k.a Ritt Momney, because they were so casually raw and truthful to the human experience. When our desires feel like needs, it is hard to see how we function, and, in our interview, he discusses how his excellent debut, Her And All of My Friends, made him transparent to himself.
Diandra: Growing in the Mormon Church, how did leaving your religion remold how you see music as a spiritual/ self-reflective experience?
Ritt Momney: It didn’t really remold how I saw music, as much as, it just reaffirmed it. Before, all I’d really written songs about were romantic relationships and the fallouts associated with them. Lately, writing more about my relationship with the community associates with my church and the fallout associated with that. I’ve noticed that it’s just as satisfying to get all of those thoughts out there as it is to get all of my thoughts on other “break-ups” out there.
Ritt Momney – Paper News Music Video
Diandra: Your newest album is an internal search for your own truths. What specific truths did you find about yourself in the creation of this record?
Ritt Momney: Honestly, the biggest thing writing has sort of “unveiled” for me is kind of just how shitty I’ve been in a lot of the choices I’ve made. Writing an honest song about your past can really open you up to realizations that you may ignore or dismiss if you never really take the time to sit down and evaluate them.
Diandra: How do you feel your role as an artist has built your identity as a person?
Ritt Momney: I worry a lot that my “role as an artist” has sort of become my identity. I’ve written about this quite a bit in the past, and it’s true now more than ever. Way too much of my self-esteem is riding on the success of this album… As exciting as Ritt’s growth in popularity has been, the anxiety that comes with it is a lot more prevalent most of the time.
Ritt Momney – Something In General
Diandra: There are a few break-up songs on the record. What did writing about your heartbreak reveal to you about how you love and are loved in relationships?
Ritt Momney: As I said earlier, writing helps me realize my shittiness more than anything else. Writing about heartbreak has mainly helped me realize how selfish I am in relationships. Throughout the album, there aren’t many instances in which I express any sort of understanding or sympathy towards my ex.
Diandra: Your record was a product of your loneliness. How did creating music by yourself help you enjoy being by yourself? What were the things you most learned to you appreciate about you in that process?
Ritt Momney: I wouldn’t really say I enjoy being by myself. Music has certainly made it easier for me to be alone, but maybe that’s just because I’m getting the social affirmation from fans that I used to get from friends. Music has helped me a ton in terms of overcoming loneliness, but it feels like more of a short-term fix than anything else.
Diandra: You have said, as an artist, you have an affinity for despair. What about sadness do you feel attracts a song from you, and what can you say you are happy about, currently, in your life?
Ritt Momney: Beyond the fact that I’m kind of a generally sad person (not to be pretentious about it), I think there’s just so much more to explore on the sad side of the emotional spectrum than there is on the happy side. Maybe, that’s because I tend to suppress my sadness, or maybe the sad side of the spectrum is just a lot deeper. I don’t really know. I just know that I’ve never really learned anything new about myself through writing a song about sunshine and rainbows.
I would say I’m pretty happy at this point in my life, especially compared to how I was when I wrote most of the album. Although I’m really, really anxious about my future as a musician, it excites me as well. I’ve got a tour of the country and a move to LA to look forward to, parents who support me in any way they can, and a wonderful girlfriend who does the same. I’m very fortunate, and I try hard not to let my perspective get in the way of that.
Ritt Momney – Pollution/Disclaimer
Diandra: With the album being an attempt to find a level a peace and clarity about your situations, do you feel clearer and more at peace?
Ritt Momney: Clearer, definitely. Not necessarily more at peace though, your feelings don’t go away just because you understand them.
Me: SO TRUE!!!!!!!!
Diandra: Ultimately, what do you want “Ritt Momney” to convey about Jack Rutter?
Ritt Momney: I try not think about what I want it to convey, just because that makes it harder to be completely honest and transparent with myself. I guess I would say I want it to convey an unfiltered version of whatever’s in my head.
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