Ahead of the Australian representative's performance for Eurovision 2020: Big Night In! on Saturday, Montaigne is asking some big questions of herself following weeks in lockdown.
"I wonder if it will influence me to make more careful decisions?" she says.
Montaigne, real name Jessica Cerro, says the impact of the coronavirus pandemic - which meant the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands was cancelled for the first time in 64 years - may have changed her career for the better.
"I have a strong feeling that I will be making big career decisions, in terms of performances and stuff," she said.
Montaigne sings Don't Break Me during the 2020 Eurovision - Australia Decides final at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in February. Source: AAP
Quarantine has "brought up some startling realisations that could be life-changing".
"I used to think having a career as a music artist and being famous was the pinnacle of achievement, and now I think my metric of success has shifted on the scale a little bit."
"Now I'm just, like, if I can do things every day that are simple, that I love, then I'm living a good life."
Montaigne was declared the winner of 'Eurovision - Australia Decides' in February, for the right to represent Australia with her original song Don't Break Me.
She will instead perform as part of Eurovision 2020: Big Night In!, Australia's alternative TV event for fans who would normally be attending or watching the song contest.
With the contest and promotion for it cancelled, Montaigne says she has happily used the spare time to indulge in her hobbies.
"I am an introvert and quite happy to be at home, doing the gardening, playing my videogames, painting with watercolours and singing by myself on my piano," she said.
But it's also given her more time to think about her career, and she said she's realised she wants more control.
"It's possible in order to do that I'm going to have to get a part-time job and earn money and finance it myself," she said.
"Not to say my label isn't allowing me to be myself ... I don't think I could do everything myself, but I want to do more things with me at the helm, directing, with certainty and without question."
Montaigne said she sympathised with everyone involved in the 2020 contest when it got cancelled and she is grateful to be able to be representing Australia in the 2021 competition.
"I feel grateful I get to try again. I feel trepidatious that I get to try again, especially with the new parameters, or lack thereof ... I'm just confirmed for it now. I feel the temptation to do the further-to-the-left creatively," she said.
Alternative contest for Eurovision fans
Eurovision 2020: Big Night In! will be hosted by Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey and will celebrate the 2020 artists and their songs with special guest appearances.
Fans have been voting for their favourite three acts from the competing nations, which will be counted down over three hours.
From her Melbourne lounge room, Djenat Ploughman will be watching with her partner Sheldon. They were supposed to be in Rotterdam for the contest.
Eurovision fan Djenat Ploughman was supposed to be Rotterdam for the song contest this year, but is happy to be safe at home. Here she is in Sweden, 2016. Source: Supplied
"My Eurovision week has been amazing. It started last Saturday night with Dami Im’s Facebook #EuroIsoParty," she said.
"What some people may not realise, the preparation and organisation to attend Eurovision can be an eight to 10-month process. We applied for the ballot to get tickets back in October and secured them in December. With COVID-19 flooding throughout the world, a part of me always remained hopeful the show would still go on."
"The news in March was absolutely devastating. I think all Eurovision fans' hearts broke that day."
Djenat Ploughman travelled to Sweden for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest with her mum Josephine. Source: Supplied
Ms Ploughman said she has found solace in Australia's official Eurovision fan club, OGAE. Together, she said, they mourned not only the cancelled event but the many devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Nothing will ever stop passionate Eurovision Fans from celebrating the one contest that we look forward to and love every year," she said.
"From the moment the winning country is announced, the preparation for next year's show begins. Fans of Eurovision follow contest news all year long. To us, Eurovision goes well beyond the broadcast week in May each year."
OGAE Australia Secretary Kurtis Carter said Australian fans were finding new ways to support their favourite artists.
"We have online preview parties, lip-sync competitions, online discussions of past contests, fan-votes, viewing parties and so much more," he said.
"It is still a very difficult year for Eurovision fans not being able to watch and attend the 2020 contest in Rotterdam.
"[And] it wasn't just the fans that have missed out because of the current situation. Artists and those in the industry have also suffered greatly. The main source of income for artists has now disappeared. I feel it is very important to continue to support our talented and hard-working artists at this time and I implore others to do so if they can."
Watch Eurovision 2020: Big Night In! and see Montaigne perform from 7.30pm Saturday 16 May on SBS. Join the conversation online with the hashtags #Eurovision and #BigNightIn
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