Project Description

Interview with

MONNONE ALONE

Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs

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Last month, esteemed Melbourne outfit Monnone Alone revealed their first new material in over five years with the instantly recognisable indie jam ‘Cut Knuckle’. The long awaited single is the first to be revealed of the outfit’s forthcoming album Summer of The Mosquito, following from their 2013 LP Together at Last. Fronted by former Lucksmiths bassists and Lost and Lonesome label head Mark Monnone, the four-piece are excited to now gift fans with a brand new video created by artistic all-rounder Lehmann B. Smith ahead of their Melbourne single launch at The Gasometer on Saturday 13 October.

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How did you first get into music? When did it become a serious?

When we were kids. my older sister used to dress me up as Gene Simmons from Kiss and she was always Paul Stanley. After a while I got to be pretty good at applying my own make-up, so I decided to go it alone without the sis. From there I became a bit of a wiz around the school ground, dazzling many fourth-graders with my cardboard-guitar-on-a-tennis-racket shtick. When I was in year 7 I went to see my first proper show – Dire Straits at the Myer Music Bowl. Around then is when it became serious.

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What kind of music did you grow up on? What artists inspired you and which do you still look to now for ideas?

It’s funny – whilst making our recent record, I’ve found myself returning to a lot of the old favourites I had in high school. Early Hoodoo Gurus and Hunters & Collectors, Australian Crawl, Midnight Oil, The Kinks… Blue Ruin was a big one for me and I got to see them play a reformation show last year which was awesome. I got into a fair bit of punk rock too, back in the day and I still look to bands like Minor Threat and Fugazi, especially when it comes to things like putting on shows and organising tours. I also find endless inspiration in artists like Little Wings, Chris Cohen, Dear Nora, Sonny & the Sunsets and Juan Wauters. Loosely speaking, I guess you’d call it folk music, a lot of it mostly rooted somewhat in the Grateful Dead. Oh, and then there’s Jonathan Richman… Don’t get me started on Jonathan!

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As the boss of “Lost and Lonesome”, how do you find a balance between your everyday life and your musical one? Which role do you prefer more?

Well, my “everyday life” is mostly stay-at-home-dad at the moment, so most of my L&L label work happens between the hours of 10pm and 4am. Can’t say it’s ideal but it’s actually pretty cool to get a flow on into the wee hours. Musically, I’m in a verdant patch at the moment, writing songs almost daily (whilst pushing a baby stroller around the park), and having plenty of time to enjoy the Monnone Alone works in progress before the album comes out next year. Given the choice, the L&L office would be staffed by hip millennial’s and I’d just be playing music full time, with a baby strapped to my back.

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You can stream/embed the latest track ‘Cut Knuckle’ via
Spotify
Bandcamp

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With your latest solo offering “Cut Knuckle” can you describe its origins and evolution?

That song was written many moons ago, during a winter spent house-sitting on Flinders Island, Tasmania. I wrote Cut Knuckle and (an earlier single) ‘Eddie’ in a frenzy of dog walking, beach combing, bread baking wholesomeness. I was listening to a lot of Television Personalities and Art Museums at the time and I think I can hear echoes of that when I listen to those records today. Half a decade after writing it, ‘Cut Knuckle’ has certainly been around the block quite a few times; a regular in the set, it’s had different drummers and bass players all leave their mark on where it’s ended up, like a sonic amoeba. I love that about it.

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When is your album due for release?

That’s a good question. It’s pretty much 100% complete but I’m still looking to the stars and planets for when to set it loose. 2019 is looking likely though.

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If someone had never listened to Monnone Alone before, what song of yours would you recommend to them if they could only listen to one?

Damn, now I wish I had’ve done that ‘Stars on 45’ remix/medley of all the songs on my first album. I guess ‘Pink Earrings’ is a good place to start.

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You have a single launch at The Gasometer in 13 October. Are there any further dates coming up in the near future? Any major touring plans on the drawing board?

I hope so! We’re really trying hard to get the band on the road early-next year. No dates are sorted as yet, but we’re welcome to any invitations to play backyards, frisbee tournaments, crafternoons…

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