In this conversation I caught up with London-based experimental artist, Monelise. I had the pleasure of interviewing Monelise a few years ago during the campaign for her single 'Insane' and since then I have been a huge fan of her work and was delighted when Monelise announced the release of her second album 'Sanctify My Love'. In this interview, Monelise shares the creative process behind her latest album alongside some insight into the cinematic and literary references that are prominent throughout her discography. You can also check out my brand new series on Instagram called 'The Soundtrack of My Life' which features a cover by Monelise of James Shelton's 'Lilac Wine'.
Hi Monelise, thank you for taking the time to do this interview! Please could you introduce yourself to our readers!
Hi Keiko, so great to speak to you again! My name is Monelise and I’m an art-pop artist based in London. I make music and experiential merchandise designed to take my listeners on an immersive multi-sensory journey.
It has been three years since our last interview during the height of the pandemic, how have things changed for you since then?
It feels like so much has changed! I recorded a new album, launched my own Oracle Deck, created more soul paintings than ever, and worked for some really exciting International clients. I have also experimented with growing the Monelise team!
The last time we spoke you were busy releasing your single ‘Insane’ and you are now back with your sophomore album ‘Sanctify My Love’. Could you tell us a bit about the creative process behind the album and how it differs from your debut album ‘Hauntology’?
The two album creation processes varied quite vastly. ‘Hauntology’ was born as a live show and subsequently turned into a studio album that replicated many of the original live arrangements. ‘Sanctify My Love’, on the other hand, began as a studio album - and was created entirely remotely and by just two people; myself and my LA-based producer Steven Frazier.
Your new album features a lot of film and literary references, could you tell us a bit about how cinema/books/media influences your work and how it inspired your new album?
I’m really excited to see that many of my fans are also into an interesting variety of literature and cinema. I am an English Literature graduate myself so a lot of that influence naturally seeps into my music. ‘Sanctify My Love’ was almost written as a small book, with an extensive ‘chapter’ for each song (they are all interconnected in a similarly experimental maze to David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive). In the songs you will spot veiled influences from the plays of Shakespeare, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and the German film Wings of Desire. Note - some of these references occur in French and Russian - two languages with which I have a background.
Did you face any significant challenges during the course of creating the album?
Raising funds was quite a challenge, but eventually, through several different avenues, we got there!
What would you say is your favourite track from the album and why?
My personal favourite track is “This Mortal Coil”. Even from the first demo, it made me feel something special. Almost the entire melody came to me in a single go, and the whole song just has some sense of otherworldliness. “Red Bus Short Cut” also has a special place in my heart as it was the first song written for the album and I was up in the mountains while channelling it!
What do you hope your listeners take away from your new album?
I hope that with “Sanctify My Love”, my listeners go on a cinematic journey of inner exploration, and feel feelings that are beyond the realm of words. It would be an honour if these songs got to soundtrack some special moments in their lives.
In our previous interview you mentioned how you would like to hear a broader spectrum of genres represented on radio and on blogs, has this changed since the pandemic or do you still feel that there is more to be done?
I feel there is still more to be done, but as always, nothing is impossible, and I am very grateful to have been regularly
supported by BBC Introducing in the past few years!
Alongside your album you have also made a new podcast called ‘Monelise Oracle’, what can you tell us about the podcast and what listeners can expect from the episodes?
I’m really excited to have launched this podcast, which is named after my Oracle Deck as a symbol of a deeper dive into the mythology of my sound-world. Listeners can expect to hear really exciting interviews, as well as some mystical trips the stories, sound waves and synchronicities that make up the tapestry of my music.
What are your plans for the rest of 2023? Will you be playing live gigs/releasing new music videos?
Yes! I am currently conceptualising two music videos for songs on the album and preparing to play a show on November 24th. I am also starting to organise my US tour for next year.
And finally, do you have a message for your fans, Blue Roses?
Thank you so much for the amazing support and inspiration you’ve provided to my journey over the years. You are truly an integral part of the tapestry of the “Monelise Oracle”. Also: album 3 is in the works since December 2022…shhh!
Follow Monelise using the links below and make sure to check out her new album 'Sanctify My Love' on Spotify where you can also listen to her new podcast 'Monelise Oracle'
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