Read your bio on the net. “You want to eat my fetus?” That’s just freaky. Explain yourself.
Picasso once ranted that all children are born artists. Then, everything starts to smell as we grow up. Fetuses are pure and make an outstanding source of artistic nutrition. Also, it’s a beautiful mental image that would be right at home in David Lynch’s “Alphabet 3” montage.
How would you describe your album, Mannequins, if it was a friend?
Mannequins is stuck in a pretty dark place. He/she has a lot of unanswered questions, but still tries to stay honest and ultimately find his/her place in society. As a friend, Mannequins might be a bit depressing to hang out with. But at least he/she doesn’t judge.
What animals other than the Bakeneko are you guys into?
Creatures with a lot of fur, huge fangs and, specifically, those that have socially unacceptable quirks. The list includes very polite bears, judgmental huskies and wolves that can’t go to the cinema alone.
What has been your best gig yet?
Ruby Room in Shibuya. We did a high-energy set right after a blistering White Stripes-ish duo, with an awesome crowd in a tight cramped place once graced by monsters like Massive Attack and Aphex Twin. And People’s Party 2012 at Scape. There was a huge stage, great sound and lighting. We got to perform with acts like The Jezabels, Metronomy, Bombay Bicycle Club and In Each Hand A Cutlass! Also, Crazy Elephant at Clarke Quay for Music Matters 2012. Just moments before the show, we learnt that Bob Ezrin (mega-famous producer of Pink Floyd’s The Wall, Kiss’ Destroyer and various Alice Cooper albums) said he liked our music. It really fired us up.
What do you think of the local music scene?
Today, we’ve got stellar acts like The Observatory, Nicholas Chim, Shelves, Sixx and many more. In terms of support, genre range and productivity, we have a great shot at reaching the famous musical peak of the 1960s (with bands like The Crescendos, The Straydogs and The Quests). And as the younger generation consumes music in an unbiased fashion (be it local or foreign), the only way is up. The more we do, or the more we fail, the more we will learn and grow.
Where do you dream of performing?
Festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella, of course. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where we play. As long as anyone is willing to take the time and give us a chance, it’s dream enough. Making music is a privilege to us. We’ll keep working at it to bring our music to a larger audience.
Who do you admire in this industry?
We admire anyone who has dared to make this a profession. Anyone who has spent nights toiling over the consonants in a song, went shit broke recording an album, or simply keeps harboring the desire to express themselves musically no matter their circumstances. It’s always a fight to be able to do what you love, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
MONSTER CAT is performing on June 9, 7pm at Sub-Sonic Live at The Court @ 1 Kay Siang Road.
