"I don't know if I've ever met anyone who doesn't like music," ponders Mick Maslowski, guitarist, singer, and songwriter for Monkey Jacket. "Have you?!"
Exactly.
So as the holidays near, the checkout lines grow, the shady mall Santa gets fatter and fatter, The Overcast has a (predictable) gift idea for you: online music. Although we're big fans of free, legal downloads...money talks. And now, Monkey talks.
Monkey Jacket's debut full-length started selling last month on CDBaby and we're almost positive you'll enjoy it. Even if you didn't like this band the first time we featured them, you'll move to what the band has done to carbonate their crazy, upbeat sound. Along with cleaner production, some new arrangements, and extra emphasis on the rhythm section and much-improved vocals, a lot of the fresh fizz is the synth. Old favorites come new and improved with '80s-style synthesizer and a band that knows how to step it up.
We talked to Mick about the additions and subtractions, inspiration, and stepping it up.
The Overcast: When did you start recording the CD?
Mick: I'd say around early- or mid-June...somewhere around there.
Did you guys still have Andrew on tenor sax back then?
Mick: Yeah, we did. But as time went on, things weren't working out, so I had to make some changes. So, it ended up being only Schuster [alto sax] recording horn tracks.
As for making changes, where did all that synth come from?
Mick: You know, I'm not really sure. I've heard a few people mention stuff about us being a "Ska Band with a synthesizer", and I never really knew why. I didn't really think it was a main thing, but I guess I just haven't really noticed because it must of been a gradual process of using it more and more.
Either way, I've always loved the sound of them, so I guess it's just adding another instrument that I like the sound of.
That doesn't really make sense, because I said I loved the sound, then I said I liked the sound, so I'll just combine those words and say I loke the sound of them.
I love the synth too. It sets you guys apart.
Mick: Well, thanks. I like to hear that, because I think it's kind of cool to not sound exactly like everything else, whatever that might be. I guess thats kind of a clichˇ thing to say.
People do say that a lot, but not as many actually make it work. I think it's cool how you guys sound a little ska, a little punk, a little '80s etc etc without making it sound watered down or awkward.
Mick: Yeah, we've been getting a lot of 80's comments, I think because of "Tease Me Please Me". Which is cool, because 80's music rules. And I like throwing a little bit of everything in when I write the songs, I don't want to just be one genre. One thing I've noticed is out of the people that I've talked to that like us, a lot of them like a lot of different music, not neccessarily just "ska music". I kind of like the idea of fitting in with ska bands (or bands of any genre), but not being ONLY that genre. It seems like that would attract more fans, for one thing.
Do you listen to a lot of different genres? Or, what's your approach to listening?
Mick: Well, I try to listen to a lot of stuff. It seems like there's so many different kinds of music, I can't really say I do or don't. A lot of people seem to think they listen to every type of music ever if they listen to rock, rap, and punk. I think a lot of people don't really realize there's so much out there. Recently, I've been trying to listen to different kinds of music, even if I don't really like it, just to see if there's something I can get out of it that might help me with my writing, or even just one little part in the song I might really enjoy. I used to just disregard a song if I didn't like it right away, but now I'm trying harder to see what they all have to offer.
So what brings you to one song over another?
Mick: I guess everyone has their preferences, usually. I tend to like songs that have a lot of melodies in them. That's probably why I like instruments like horns and synthesizers, they're kind of made for melodies in a way to me. But that's not always the case, I like a variety of bands/artists.
What brings you to write music?
Mick: Well, for what makes me want to... I guess it's an outlet for one thing, lyrically and musically. I enjoy playing music, and having other people hear the songs I write and like them is awesome. And for ideas, they mostly come from just around me for lyrics...whatever is going on in my life, although I don't like to straight-up explain things in the lyrics I write, so they're a little disguised. That kind of adds another level to it, because people can listen to it, and maybe think it's about something completely different or important to them, instead of what I was thinking when I wrote it.
It's hard to explain, I just love playing, and I love writing. I think music is kind of universal. It's everywhere, and everyone likes some kind of music. I don't know if I've ever met anyone who doesn't like music. Have you?!
Four months later...how was Warped?
It sounds like its great and amazing, but it really didn't seem like it was all that special...but we got cool laminated pass things!
Now that you've recorded The Don'ts of Motivational Speaking, what's coming next for the band?
More instruments you loke the sound of?
Okay, last question I told myself I'd ask you. Out of curiosity, do any of you own a monkey jacket?
Well then... Anything else you want the masses to know?
Mick: Definitely. Plus, it'd open up a lot more possibilites for the kinds of music we could play.
Mick: Nope. In fact, when I came up with the name, I didn't even know a monkey jacket was an actual clothing item. Though, I won't go into where the name actually came from in the first place, heh.
Mick: Get our CD at www.cdbaby.com/monkeyjacket, and tell all your friends about us!