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VITAL SOUND
Monkey Marc
Release date: 13 November 2020
Label: Digikillaz / DubShot
https://ingroov.es/vital-sound
Bandcamp
““Monkey Marc is a producer’s producer; staunchly independent and probably Australian electronic music’s best-kept secret. His music channels the spirit of punk, original dubstep, Public Enemy, modern beats and electronic culture, and the heaviest of Jamaican riddims all at once.””
About vital sound
While the media madness of 2020 has engulfed us and the restrictions of the pandemic have put a giant pause on Planet Earth, it's been one wild ride of a year.
The rise of far right populist governments have thrown truth into questionable chaos. Lies spread through large multimedia corporations with propaganda driven-messages have pitted people against each other. Climate change is posing an existential threat to the future of the planet.
But underneath the chaos people have been gaining momentum. Black Lives Matter protests have grown from grassroots actions to global movements, activist groups have been rising in support of global change and indigenous movements have been gaining more and more strength.
Drawing on the revolutionary roots of Jamaican reggae music, Australian superproducer Monkey Marc is releasing a potent album that reflects the turbulent climate that we live in.
Vital Sound is a hard-hitting blend of reggae, hip hop, dancehall, dub and trap. It features a heavyweight line-up of featured vocalists Sizzla, Capleton, Ninjaman, Turbulence, Fantan Mojah, Dre Island, Iba MaHr and Prince Alla, and rising stars Fyah Roiall, Blvk H3ro, Yeza, Aza Lineage and Jah Izrehl.
It also features UK artists Soom T, Riko Dan, Speng Bond, Killa P and Irah.
The album features collaborations with producers including UK dubstep pioneer Pinch, Australian producer Mista Savona (Havana Meets Kingston), UK producer Escape Roots and Jamaican producer SOS Dynamikz.
Singles from the album have been supported by David Rodigan (BBC), Max Glazer (Federation Sound, Red Bull Radio), DJ Gringo on SiriusXM, Don Letts, Jamie Rodigan, triple j (Australia), Galang Radio (tune of the week), Smile Jamaica TVJ, and many more, with strong support from radio, selectors and sound systems worldwide.
Lead single: Rebel Code
Featured artists: Blvk H3ro, Turbulence and Yeza (and Mista Savona)
Release date: 13 November 2020
MUSIC VIDEO
TURBULENCE
YEZA
BLVK H3RO
PREVIOUSLY RELEASED singles
No Surrender feat Sizzla, Capleton, Fantan Mojah and Mista Savona
YouTube (reggaeville, Monkey Marc): 8.8M views
Facebook (Monkey Marc, Xqlusiv, video, reggae.fr): 3M views
Spotify: 350,000 streams
Yaad N Abraad feat. Dre Island
YouTube plays (Monkey Marc, reggaeville): 240,000 views
Facebook views: 1.3M views
Spotify plays: 120,000 streams
Badness feat. Ninjaman
Press premiere on Large Up.
Radio premiere on Federation Sound, Red Bull Radio (Max Glazer).
Spotify plays: 40,000
Willy Lynch feat. Fyah Roiall
Premiere on Complex UK.
Radio premiere by Jamie Rodigan, Reprezent (London).
praise from
About Monkey Marc
Born in Cardiff, Wales, Monkey Marc has pursured a lifetime passion for music and social change.
Originally working as a geologist in outback Australian gold mines, Monkey got his name from his mining job that involved climbing high up into the mineshafts.
After several near-death accidents, he switched to a lifetime of music and activism. Monkey spent years roaming the Australian desert as a pioneering political activist and guerrilla environmentalist running a solar-powered sound system at the frontline of blockades and protests around Australia, including protests at Roxby Downs (the biggest uranium mine in the world), World Economic Forum S11 and G8 protests, forest blockades, actions against refugee detention centres and demonstrations for indigenous land rights.
He has worked in indigenous communities with young people and indigenous elders across Australia for over 15 years.
His punk activist background drives him to make music with a message. Monkey says, “I believe in the power of music to educate, inspire and change people’s perspectives”.
Monkey Marc’s music has been released on labels including Jahtari, Renegade Masters, Ninja Tune/ Big Dada, Elefant Traks, Omelette Records and Digikillaz.
Monkey Marc won the Music Victoria Award for Best Reggae and Dancehall Act 2018, Australia.
“Monkey Marc is an anomaly - a mash up of Mad Max and Lee Perry with a creative, DIY-fueled mastery of several genres of music, as well as the machines that power and support his productions.”
Music Production
Monkey Marc draws inspiration from varied sources such as classic hip hop producers like J Dilla, the underground UK bass music scene, 70s and 80s punk music, and the Jamaican dub pioneers of the 70s.
Monkey Marc maintains a working collection of rare and iconic studio gear including vintage drum machines, classic synthesiers, vintage effects units, tape delays, old reverb units and a vintage BBC mixing console, along with an extensive vinyl collection to sample from.
He writes most of his music on an MPC3000.
Solar studio
Monkey Marc works out of a solar-powered music studio in a shipping container in Melbourne, Australia. He writes music on zero carbon emissions.
Monkey Marc also runs a solar-powered sound system.
contact
Management: kim [at] monkeymarc.org
Whatsapp: +61 424 598 895