Following on from the release of his highly-praised studio album 'A Fine Commitment' earlier this year, Brooklyn-based artist Monograms now looks to highlight one of its standout offerings with the new video for 'Listen Up'.
Much like what we got to hear on his recent full-length, 'Listen Up' is a wonderfully bright and shimmering slit of indie-rock gold. With its broad and immersive visuals perfectly heightening its already tantalising textures, the track stands as one of his most captivating to date.
So with the new video available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Definitely drum machines and samplers. I think the production side of music and layering things always hit me the most natural… Plus I didn’t start playing guitar, bass and drums til a bit later.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Oh wow, well, Everyone in my family are huge music fans (even though no one else plays an instrument) but music was constantly on everywhere so I really fell in love with the different energy and moods of everything I heard. All the classic rock my dad listened to, all the pop my sister listened to, and all the reggae, disco, funk and soul my mom listened to. Also my parents weren’t together so there was some distance between the moods too, I really got a nice separate slice of everything wedged into my lifeblood very early on. I was lucky to be exposed to so many different kinds of incredible music at a very young age.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I honestly have no idea haha. I feel like maybe I had a copy of The Doors greatest hits when I was about 11.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Hmmm I dunno, I guess maybe Blur Song 2: for its complex simplicity.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Not really. I’m constantly writing since I record mostly at home, so there’s no real ritual other than constantly doing it.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Fontaines DC, Squid, Trouble Andrew, Death Grips.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Tame Impala or Nine Inch Nails ! I like to think maybe those people are my people. Also those venue are very, very HUGE :)… so wouldn’t that be fun.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
It’s a language, right? So I think when you hear that your music connected with someone, it’s like you’ve communicated on a level that’s way better than talking ever could be. It’s very cool when that happens.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Just getting the proper exposure and being heard. There’s definitely an element of over saturation at times, so I’m sure that people out there would love so much stuff they’ve simply never heard cause it just hasn’t gotten the exposure it maybe deserves and that can feel frustrating for an artist.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
1) Make music you would want to listen to. 2) If playing music ever starts being more work than it is fun, you need to change something up.
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Monograms' new video for 'Listen Up' is available to stream now. Watch it in the player below.