TLOBF Interview // Monarchy

As the CD spins across my desk Mr.Hughes says “I think you’ll like these, do you fancy an interview?”. A couple of plays later and I’m nodding in agreement, whilst jotting down some questions. But it’s only after I agree that he begins to tell me tales of journalists abducted in black cabs and taken to darkened rooms to interview the band via videolink. Monarchy are a band shrouded in mystery with their identities kept extremely secret.

Fortunately, after a couple of days practicing escape techniques, it transpires the band are happy to do the interview via Skype. So after a quick trip out to offload 50 canisters of pepper spray, my computer begins to buzz – Monarchy are calling.

The video-link flickers into action and I’m presented with the following visions in purple.

There’s a lot of intrigue around your identities – your bio refers to you as ‘Singer’ and ‘Producer’ but that seems a bit formal – how would you like to be addressed?
Ra: I’m Ra the singer.

Andrew: And I’m Andrew the producer – but sometimes we swap over.

R: The whole singer/producer thing is a bit one-box. We write a lot together and when we spend a lot of time together we begin to act as one.

So why all the secrecy?
A: It wasn’t a deliberate move – we launched Monarchy with one image and one song – which people really resonated with. I think there is a massive information overload where you read really, really, dull twitter streams from people and we didn’t want to enter into that; it’s so much better to have mystique and mystery.

So you won’t be tweeting about what you had for breakfast?
A: We’re not. At first people wanted to know more about artists, so artists felt obliged to let people know – but it becomes really banal. The classic example for me is when I read that Calvin Harris bit heavily on his fork – who cares? Or Little Boots saying “Why is it every time I go into an airport I come out with a new pair of Kurt Geiger shoes?”.

So in a way we are manipulating it to take it back to an era when artists could disappear and have some mystery – people could then have a sense of curiosity and imagination about the artist.

The flip-side is also that the artists then have to have their lives blanded out. To have their lifestyle under the microscope, they have to become bland. You have artists who the only thing that the record company can hang on hook on is the fact that they go jogging.

There’s been plenty of speculation about your real identity, what’s the best rumour you’ve heard about who you are?
R: The heavy metal band called The Monarchy from Montreal – they have been in the studio since 2003.

A: It was proclaimed on Radio 1 that we used to play at Ozfest and now we are doing this kind of music.

You pulled a gig in 2010 which further added to the mystery, but are you planning some live shows soon?
R: We are playing our first live gig in Florida at the beginning of June; which we are going to transmit it into space. Then we’ll be playing in Europe in September.

Are you playing as yourselves? Not dressing as robots, ninjas or pirates?
A: No, we will play as ourselves. But we might have some kind of obscuring going on. The Florida gig isn’t for the public though, the main purpose is to transmit it into space.

There are a lot of space themes in your work, is that something you have a keen of interest it?
A: We do find space aspirational, but we are also fascinated by peoples aspirations to space. A lot of people view space as an escape from the world and the everyday. The reality is we are not going to get out in the next 200 years. But the imagination around that is inspiring and we inject our music with that inspiration.

Where were the seeds of forming monarchy sown?
A: We met through a friend who said we should do music together – and they were right. We’ve been making music for about four years.

What’s the song writing process – do you work on everything together or bring your own pieces to the table?
A: We don’t really talk about process too much; it actually just arrives fully formed ! It’s definitely a fused and organic effort, we never write two songs in the same way and there is a lot of bouncing ideas back and forth.

And when is the album due?
R: Some time in July, there isn’t a date set in the sand.

I’ve really liked what I’ve heard so far – it’s such a pleasure to hear really good pop music again – what are your influences?
R: The common artists we look up to are Stevie Wonder and Daft Punk. That’s where we see our music, as an intersection of those two artists. There are a plethora of other artists that influence us, from poets to musicians… it’s a long list.

What current stuff are you listening to?
A: We’ve been stuck in the studio for a bit, but I’ve been listening to the Jonsi album, it’s really growing on me.

You’ve done a lot of remix work too, is there a dream track you’d love to remix?
A: I do absolutely love ‘I’m Not In Love’ by 10cc.

R: It’s hard to know what to do with it.

A: When something’s so amazingly perfect, you don’t want to remix it. Sometimes I like remixing stuff that’s not 100% what I like – you can sort of fuck it up.

Do you think reality TV show singing competitions have made pop music a dirty word?
A: I feel outside of that world. I view them as marketing – I don’t put them in the same category as pop music. I know it’s “popular” but it’s like comparing McDonalds to Gordon Ramsey – this is something that’s manufactured and marketed. The artists are complete puppets and have no say in what they sing, how they look, what their videos look like or any part of their career. I don’t view that as pop music. I’d view pop music as Scissor Sisters or the Killers where the artists are writing the music.

R: It’s a successful marketing campaign. There is a public perception that this is pop music, plus there is a massive audience. When they started those shows I was upset at what I thought it was doing to the music industry – but I don’t think its actually had a negative effect. Its enabled a division between manufactured and not-manufactured artists in an easily distinguishable way.

A: I have massive respect for Lady Gaga – and everything that goes around the music. For me that’s a credible creative force; as much as I love Jedward I don’t count them as a creative force.

Do you miss Top Of The Pops? Do you think we need a mainstream music outlet?
R: There was Pop-World. It was quite good, but there was something about Simon Amstell that was unbelievably horrible to watch. It wasn’t a forum for artists, it was “lets take the piss out of artists”. So it would be nice to have mainstream show. Jools Holland is amazing, put it’s all picked by Jools – he has incredible artists. But Electronic music doesn’t ever seem to come across well on the show.

Who is you favourite member of the royal family?
A: I don’t have one.

R: They are not particularly inspiring.

Some have comedy value.
R: That’s true

A: Which royal family are you talking about?

I don’t mind. If you have a faveourite you can pick from any.
R: Louis the 14th – he had a sense of style and did good things for the arts. He was long ruling too.

I’ve got a couple of reader submitted questions here.

Okay, Ruth asks – How did you choose your name?
A: We wanted something aspirational and elitist. We never wanted to make a band that was for everyone, we wanted people to come to us and discover us. Rather than being democratic, we wanted to be “above the people” rather than “of the people”.

Next: What is your faveourite chocolate bar?
R: Orange.

Chocolate orange?
R: No, not chocolate orange – the colour orange.

Okay?
A: I’ll say Thursday.

Thanks! That’s those done. So, to finish off -what are the plans for the rest of 2010?
Both: Very busy,

A: Working with a range of artists and getting ready for the live show June and album in July. ‘Love Get Out Of My Way’ is the next single.

With that the conversions comes to a close and the video-link window disappears from my screen. At the outset I was quite keen to do my Columbo bit and uncover their identities. But after chatting to them it became apparent that it doesn’t matter who they are – what matters is the music. And they’ve certainly got that nailed.

You can find keep a closer eye on them at www.monarchysound.com