Meet Montez Harris | Business owner, producer, songwriter, engineer, chef

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

Hi Montez, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Passion for Music: Love for the craft is a powerful motivator. People are drawn to working with those who are genuinely enthusiastic. Building Relationships: The  list of artists you’ve worked with suggests a strong network of contacts and the ability to build trust and rapport with creative partners. High-Quality Work: Success in the music industry comes down to creating music that people love. Your collaborations must have resonated with listeners to keep you in demand. Versatility and Adaptability: The artists you mentioned range from hip-hop pioneers (Outkast, Dungeon Family) to contemporary stars (Future). Being able to produce across different styles and eras is a huge strength.

What should our readers know about your business?
MONTEZ “TEZ” HARRIS

If Atlanta is indeed the new mecca of the music industry, few have contributed more in establishing the peach state capital’s global music dominance than Super Producer- Engineer Montez Harris aka, Tez. While the majority of his friends were playing sports or causing mischief, young Tez was learning how to record and purchasing his first beat machine. Shortly after mastering its use, Tez flexed his music muscle by serving as one of the primary producers for influential southern Hip-Hop acts, The Youngbloodz, Jim Crow, and The Attic Crew. After garnering critical acclaim for his extraordinary production style, due largely in part to his groundbreaking work with the Youngbloodz, Tez caught the attention of legendary production trio Organized Noise. It would be his pairing with Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and Patrick “Sleepy” Brown, who collectively comprise Organized Noise that would lead to Tez becoming an iconic figure in the Atlanta music scene. Considered by many as one of the chief architects of the Atlanta sound, Tez has produced, engineered, and discovered many of the artists who have laid the foundation for the city’s monumental rise to power. Superstar talent such as Outkast, Goodie Mob, Joi, Sleepy Brown, Cool Breeze, Slim Calhoun, EJ The Witch Doctor, Manish Man, Backbone, Cutty, Shawty Put, Konkrete, Playboi Tre, Left Eye of TLC, Nivea, Mark Twayne, Suga Suga, Big Floaty, Jazzy Pha, Bone Crusher, Lil Jon, Polow Da Don, Jagged Edge, Big Oomp, Slick Pulla, Dem Franchize Boyz, and Jermaine Dupree. Never one to boast about past accomplishments or to sit idle, Tez found time to work with an array of artists outside of Atlanta to include Mint Condition, Spice 1, Sunny Valentine, Rich Boy, and others. Blessed with the type of humility often found in great ministers  coupled with a grade school teacher’s patience are the qualities that set Tez apart from his contemporaries. It’s these same attributes that led the Atlanta native to start his now famous independent artist showcases. The ultimate humanitarian, Tez has mentored countless unknown artists and provided them free of charge an opportunity to showcase their abilities, two of which have gone on to fare well on the hit television show American Idol. Having fulfilled the majority of his music aspirations thus far, Tez along with business
partners Sean Paul of The Youngbloodz, and Dorcey Miller has formed Front
Street/Cornerstore Entertainment. With state of the art recording studios in Atlanta, Arkansas, and South Carolina, Tez is prepared to show the next up and  coming artist, producer, songwriter, or musician from an unpopular region how to become the center of the music universe.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Our kitchen Don Ameeche’s named after my dad, we have vegan options such as philly steaks, cauliflower wings, vegan burgers, vegan nachos. We also have meat options such as seafood dishes such as our spinach parmesean salmon. Our specialty wings, gold lemon pepper, dill pickled ranch, fried hot dogs & much more. Fontaines if you love oysters, Kpop, Revolving Sushi.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Organized Noise-Production company who helped me get started

Instagram: @atlhd @donameeches

Twitter: @atlhdstudio

Facebook: @atlhdstudio

Youtube: @atlhdstudio

Image Credits
Photos by @madammoneyent