Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Monkey The Dog

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

Francisco: The memory of my father playing salsa vinyl records for me in the 1980s.

Diego: The memories that come to mind right now take me back to when I was 4 years old.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

Francisco: When I was 14, I became very interested in Latin American ska from the 90s, and that’s when I joined a ska band and wrote our first songs.

Diego: My memory goes back to when I was 16 and started creating percussion instruments and drums in a Ramones-style punk band.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

In 2021, we belonged to a psychedelic rock band. The band broke up, and the two of us decided to continue creating together under the name Monkey the Dog. That’s where we met.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

Well, if you’re a purist, our sound might seem strange to you at first, since we mix many musical genres, but if you’re open to listening to unconventional music, you’ll like what we do. We create by mixing different genres of rock, electronic, ethnic, experimental, cinematic styles, even rap and some groove.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

Perseverance. Since we started this project, we have set ourselves a series of continuous work rhythms, which has generated a dynamic in the duo that makes the next song sound better than the previous one, at least that’s what we think.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

Our sound is defined by a mix of instruments, both organic and electronic. We use different synthesizers with a retro feel, then organic instruments such as guitar and bass, vocals with different layers, and also within the organic range we use handpans, percussion instruments, and drums. In terms of software, we mainly use Ableton to record, mix, produce, and master the entire process.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

Francisco: The smile

Diego: Tame impala

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

Francisco: When writing lyrics, I draw inspiration from experiences you encounter in today’s world.

Diego: Good and bad, because I don’t make a living from music yet. Having a conventional job means that the two worlds are balanced and sometimes they fit together perfectly and sometimes they don’t. Just like life itself.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

We want to spark curiosity and reflection on various current topics and expand your mind to open it up to a different way of listening to music.

 What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

The most important lesson is that in order to achieve your goals, you need to devote time and be consistent in what you want.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

Internationally, Coachella; nationally, Mad Cool, which is held every year in Madrid.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Francisco: Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails, because he has stood out as a musician for the last three decades and, in terms of production, he has now moved into film, winning several Oscars.

Diego: I would like to compose and produce a song for Michael Jackson. I think he was a great artist who marked an era and a generation. Even though he was a pop artist, he told a story in all his work and his incredible talent was undeniable.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1la7SQE26l6ZhwpOLx5QiC?si=h58YRP9lQbenMzwTFr9V8Q

YouTube:

Bandcamp:

Instagram: 

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

We want our sound to reach many people and create a community of listeners around our project.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

that you will never get bored of listening to Monkey the Dog, as we are constantly changing and evolving.

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