Monelise is an alternative artist currently based in London, UK. In this conversation we discuss the inspiration and recording process behind her brand new single Insane. Monelise also shares the artists who inspire her music and her tips for anyone wanting to pursue a career in the music industry.
Hi Monelise, tell us a bit about yourself!
My name is Monelise and I’m an alternative artist based in London. I would describe my music as a cinematically-driven, hypnotic venture into the mysterious corners of the mind. Last year I released a concept album, Hauntology, and am now releasing a series of singles.
Your new single Insane features a dramatic opening and uses haunting melodies, what inspired you to write this song?
The composition of Insane was very intuitive, and this is something that makes this song unique in my repertoire. I am normally quite pre-meditative with my lyrics, for instance, and I look at them as a real craft that needs to be honed until the lyrical story clicks into place. But writing Insane was like inviting my subconscious to just come out and say whatever it needed to at that moment! You can feel that in the raw energy and rhythms of the song - it’s all very much about communicating a feeling of hovering “on the edge”.
Would you say that Insane explores a different sound to your previous work like Clockwork Heart? If so, what would you say are the main differences between your previous work compared to the music you are currently releasing?
In Insane I’m tapping directly into a visceral space, the whole song can be viewed as an exploration of a distinctly feminine type of desire and sensuality. While Clockwork Heart contains a similar darkness, mystery and pulsating beat, the story behind it is much more pre-meditated and almost a “dark fairytale”. Insane, on the other hand, was like capturing a raw moment from a specific time and place - with no filters.
Perhaps something that unifies these two singles is that they express - in very different ways - a desire to break free from containment. And we are very much living in times of restriction nowadays! As a very freedom-seeking person in all areas of life, this aspect of our times is affecting me deeply.
Do you have a particular artist or musician who you consider having inspired your musical style?
I am inspired by Kate Bush, Sevdaliza, BANKS, and the soundtracks of David Lynch films.
Where did you record the new single?
We actually recorded what ended up being the final vocals on the day that the song was written - in Northeim, Germany! The rest of the production took place remotely between London and Antwerp.
How was the recording process?
It was as intuitive as the composition of the song. The whole thing seemed to have clicked together in a single heartbeat.
Did you face any challenges with the overall process?
Well, the producer and I had a hard time agreeing on which version should be the lead single and which should be the support mix. As a result we will have quite a few different versions of “Insane” coming out. We may have gone a little insane in the process (pun intended!).
Lockdown has deeply affected the music industry both in the UK and globally, has lockdown affected your creative process in any way?
To be honest, I’ve been more productive than ever. But lockdown has absolutely affected what I am writing about and the energy I channel into my songs. As I mentioned earlier, both Clockwork Heart and Insane have a “lockdown” energy in them.
In what ways has the past year made you change and reconsider the ways you engage with your audience and listeners?
Not being able to play live has been a real challenge, and I do yearn for that feeling of really connecting with real-life audiences like I did during my Hauntology show in 2019. This is truly irreplaceable. However, I’ve become much more thoughtful about audiovisually weaving my songs into an existing “universe” - I would really love for listeners to experience these singles as part of a broader story. The whole point of my songs is for them to be a multi-sensory experience, and recently I’m putting a lot of detail into how I shape that experience for people.
What would you like to see change in the current music industry?
I’d love to hear a broader spectrum of genres on the radio, and to generally see more indie music making the waves!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue music as a career?
To never lose touch with the inimitable magic of the creative process - and use that to inspire you when the rest gets tough!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
To be brave as a performer. And take time to connect with a song before singing it.
Check out Monelise's new single Insane and her other songs including Clockwork Heart in the link down below!
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