Columbus‑born musician LynMonty is stepping into the spotlight as the bassist for the backing band at the Ohio R&B Music Festival, scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Up Front Performance Space (503 S. Front St.). Raised in a pastor’s family, LynMonty first learned to play on a junior drum set she received at age eight and quickly moved into her church’s band, a habit that still shapes her musical approach.
From Church Band to Festival Stage
“My dad was a pastor, and there was a drum set but no drummer, so I hopped in the car with my drumsticks,” LynMonty recalled. She and her parents laughed at her determination, but the experience sparked a lifelong love of music. Today she is a multi‑instrumentalist—playing drums, bass, keyboard and saxophone—who has performed in an all‑female R&B cover band since moving to Columbus in 2015.
Rapid Preparation for a One‑Night Show
With only a day of rehearsal, LynMonty met drummer Jesse Marquardt and keyboardist Stephen Ballard the night before the interview. The trio will support eight singers—Miiracle, Akoiya, Telly Loves, A Lust, Zyirra, D.O.T.Y., Zavion and Kayla Renee—each presenting three to four original songs. “I’ve been listening to the tracks while driving, charting things out, because most of it is original music I haven’t heard before,” she said. The band is committing more than 20 songs to memory, a task LynMonty tackles with meticulous notes.
New Gear to Capture the Sound
To faithfully reproduce the synthetic basslines woven into many of the artists’ recordings, LynMonty invested in an MXR synth bass pedal. “I could just play the right notes on the bass, but to be sonically true I’m trying to match the tones,” she explained. Her goal is not to dominate the music but to serve the song, staying true to the original arrangements while adding her own disciplined touch.
Roots in the Black Church Influence the Rhythm
The festival’s repertoire leans heavily on themes of love, attraction and hopeful futures, with basslines that echo a heartbeat’s pulse. LynMonty notes that many performers grew up in Black churches, where music is woven into the fabric of worship. “You’ve got heavy driving basslines, foot stomping, hand clapping, six‑eight shuffles and call‑and‑response,” she said, recalling the influence of artists like Andrae Crouch and Walter Hawkins on her own musical foundation.
A Personal Tribute on Stage
Last year LynMonty performed a solo concert at Natalie’s Grandview, marking the ten‑year anniversary of her father’s death. The show featured gospel songs from her childhood church, a full‑circle moment that reinforced her belief that music is home, no matter the distance or time elapsed.
As the Ohio R&B Music Festival approaches, LynMonty’s dedication, church‑rooted rhythm and new equipment promise to give life to the original songs of Ohio’s emerging R&B talent, offering festival‑goers a night of authentic, heartfelt performance.
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
