MONKFISH - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Monkfish meld East and Central African popular dance styles such as ndombolo & rumba Congolaise with Cuban & Antillean beats and grooves. Monkfish's sound is African with a strong Caribbean mix, but it is also a musical response to the diversity of latter day European urban centres, specifically London, which the group inhabits. On vocals the group has the sharp and energetic attack of Ugandan born and bred Papa Paul - still largely informed by his miss-spent youth singing in swinging clubs throughout Kampala - he adds an urban African dimension to the sound of the group. The songs are largely comments on the trials of everyday life, sung in Luganda, Swahili, and Lingala, whilst live, Monkfish transport their audience far from those trials with high energy assaults of dense percussion and lush melody lines from guitars, horns, flute, and keys.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/18/2006
Band Website: sternsmusic.com/disk_info/MFMCD001
Band Members: -Anna- Keys, vocals, percussion -Fordy- Timbales, percussion. -Gary- Congas, percussion. -Liam- Bass. -Mandy- Flute, saxophone, percussion. -Papa- Vocals. -Paul- Guitar, vocals. -Vernon- drums.
Influences: Zaiko Langa Langa, Bembeya Jazz, Ragga Dee, Samba Mapangala, Tabu Ley, Mbilia Bell, Mose Fan Fan/Nico/Diblo/Mbenza/Mwana Congo/Vangu/Bopol/Nedule/Bongo Wendo/Manuaku Waku/Kimoko/Lokassa/Mawatu/Rigo/Mandjeku/Sharo/Madoka/Huit Kilo, Orchestra Baobab, Mbira dzeNharira, Buddy Rich, Sona Diabate, Chopin, Dorothy Masuka, the mighty BIG COUNTRY, champeta, merengue, cumbia, Rachmaninov, Cuba, Santaria/Bata music, Fela, Franco, Dan Maraya Jos, Culture, Arsenio Rodrigues, Mpongo Love, Celestine Ekwu, Rex Lawson, Victor Olaiya, Pamelo Mounk'a, Sun Ra, Messiaen, Steve Reich, Tom Waits, Phillip Glass, zouk, Syliphone records, Oumou Sangare.....
Sounds Like: a colony of gannets attending a silent disco in a an East African dancehall....
Record Label: rectangular and plain
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Monkfish @ the Flying Carpet, Cross Kings, Kings Cross Sat 2nd August.

..TR> SAT 2 THE FLYING CARPET Main Stage 8:30pm £5 A very special day for the Flying Carpet...ITS ALEX'S BIRTHDAY!!! Here to celebrate are the fantastic London base...
Posted by MONKFISH on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:58:00 PST

Monkfish CD avaliable now!

The new Monkfish CD Mwasinanga is avaliable now.... five of the best Monkfish tracks for just £5. Avaliable direct from Monkfish or via the Sterns website..... Only a limited number avaliable so get y...
Posted by MONKFISH on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:59:00 PST

Monkfish at Cambridge July 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6RAJi9yX-M ...
Posted by MONKFISH on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:54:00 PST

Newly recorded tracks uploaded..have a listen!!

We got some newly recorded tracks uploaded, hope you can find the time to have a listen! We went for a very direct Ndombolo style approach with these two new ones, we also enjoyed working with a 6/8 b...
Posted by MONKFISH on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:13:00 PST

Monkfish @ Secousse Friday 11th April

Come and shake a leg with us at London’s premeire global urban beats club at the Notting Hill Arts club Friday 11th. Along with the Radio Clit duo playing there usual mix of hiplife, kuduro,&nbs...
Posted by MONKFISH on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:39:00 PST

Monkfish supports cancer research

Hey all Mandy from Monkfish is running the London Marathon this year on April 13th to raise money for Cancer Research in memory of her Mum. Monkfish will be supporting her and are planning a gig to ra...
Posted by MONKFISH on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:33:00 PST

New live monkfish videos

If you missed the Oxjam gig don't worry... you can check out the live (home) video here on my space... just click view my videos and choose your song!
Posted by MONKFISH on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 01:47:00 PST

Check this out!

stamp your feet and shake your ass down to lush acoustic beats rising up from Africa, Cuba, Antilles, and South America served up with rich melodies and hard East African vocal delivery Monkfis...
Posted by MONKFISH on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:16:00 PST