After spending the last couple of years finding and cultivating their sound, London-based outfit Monsoon Radio recently unveiled their brilliant debut EP 'What Could Be Different?'
Featuring the previously shared offerings 'Let Me Be' and lead single 'So It Seems', the band's four-track collection makes for a rousing introduction. With nods to the glimmering Britpop sound as well as driven indie-rock aesthetics, their first collection gives them an instantly recognisable direction that shows great promise for the years ahead.
So with the new EP available now, we sat down with them to find out more about their background and what has inspired them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Guitars.
What was the first song that inspired you to make your own music?
Nas - 'The Message'. The song used a sample from a Sting track called Shape of my heart, which I found out after the fact. Not knowing a lot about production and sampling at 11 years of age it just really intrigued me and set me on a path to figuring out how this thing called music actually works.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
Underground hip hop and rock/metal - from Jedi Mind Tricks to Slayer and everything in-between.
What do you find is the best environment to find inspiration for your music?
I do my best thinking whilst driving and usually have strokes of genius whilst on the North Circular road stuck in traffic.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
At the moment I'm really in to Father John Misty, Billy Joel (a little late, I know) and Taemin. Other than that, I'm always listening to Oasis, Radiohead, Immortal Technique and Metallica.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
None have been specifically about people, in particular. I try to write about a state of mind and then give some personification to that state of mind.
What has been the most unusual moment in your career so far?
Police showed up on the Let Me Be video shoot and thought we were filming a hostage situation... go check out the video, you'll see what I'm talking about.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Hilary Duff. Only her.
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
Food critic - loads of impostors out there serving Biryanis that taste like boiled rice.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
"Practice makes perfect.. unless you're just really bad at the things".
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Monsoon Radio's debut EP 'What Could Be Different?' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in full via the player below.