We’re back with another exclusive interview today. This time with that genius remixing motherfucker, Monolith! If you missed the last feature, the one with his insane take on Stevie Wonder‘s “Superstition“, check it out here. And here’s some more goodies to keep you going.
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DE (HOUDINI): Tell us about Monolith the project and who you are as an individual. What’s a day in the life like?
Monolith: I am Darren Hanson. Born in San Francisco but currently live in Los Angeles, though am back and forth between there and NYC a lot. I make music, or at least attempt to. My life is similar to a perpetual cocaine hangover, my dissatisfactions in life and whatever can be directly attributed to how well I think Im making music that day. Sometimes its awesome. Sometimes you just want to shoot yourself. But I digress, for now life is between Los Angeles and the Sex Cult studios in Philly.
DE: Who are your biggest influences as an artist?
Monolith: I listen to a lot of 80s goth, dark wave, black metal and doom metal. I suppose Its all stuff I grew up on. Over time its relatively dark nature has become natural. Strangely enough, I don’t actually listen to as much dance music as I would like. The market is so saturated right now that its hard to wade through all that material to find good tracks, but they are always there. Everyone on Sex Cult really helps everyone out with ideas and suggestions, so id say they are probably just as influential as any artist I listen to.
DE: What’s it like being a musician on the grind in NYC (LA? Both?)?
Monolith: Its interesting, a small world once you realize everyone in L.A. actually knows each other. In the nine months since I’ve been taking this seriously, I’ve either met or played with so many DJs and producers that I used to look up to before I got into this that it really has changed my perspective on the EDM community as a whole. It makes you realize that everyone is just a human, which makes the music side of it even more interesting.
DE: What’s the next step for you? More releases? Touring? Videos?
Monolith: I dont even know where to start. Ive been working on my first EP which is going to be massive. Some of the tracks are unlike anything thats out there. Theres also collaborations with Designer Drugs coming out for their next album, and I am always working on remixes. I actually have a project that MVP of Designer Drugs and myself called Kloaks that we are working on. For the last year we’ve been constructing an album and I think we will finish it right after the new DD album is done.
DE: What’s the craziest show you’ve played? Tell us about some of the weirdest, coolest, funniest things you’ve seen in the business.
Monolith: 75% of the last tour was just a drunk blur. Taiwan was pretty weird, consumed ducks blood and got lost countless times is always fun, but the weirdest stuff that happens seems to be when Im back in the studio. With the internet, pretty much any fan can talk to an artist or celebrity or whatever. I’ve had fans send me everything from pictures of my face photoshopped on their ex boyfriends bodies to a CGI erotic film some fan supposedly did of me. People are fucking weird, but I suppose its flattering to some extent.
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Monolith is on Facebook, with plenty more slaps on SoundCloud.