Mit ihrer selbstbetitelten Debüt-EP haben Monobloc schnell Aufmerksamkeit auf sich gezogen – nicht nur in ihrer Heimat New York, sondern auch international. Ihr Sound: irgendwo zwischen Post-Punk, Indie und einer Portion Experimentierfreude, die an sowjetischen Retro-Futurismus erinnert. Im Gespräch mit uns dem Frontstage Magazine erzählen Mop und Ben, wie sich die Band seit ihren Anfängen in der DIY-Szene entwickelt hat, warum Videospiel-Soundtracks und Michael-Jackson-Auftritte zu ihrer Inspiration gehören – und wie es sich anfühlt, erstmals in Deutschland auf Tour zu sein. Dabei stehen nicht nur Festivalbühnen auf dem Plan, sondern auch Clubshows, unter anderem in Berlin. Und eins ist sicher: Monobloc haben noch einiges vor.
Frontstage Magazine: Your s/t debut ep has attracted a lot of attention. How would you describe the band’s evolution since your early days in New York’s DIY scene?
Mop: Now that we have a year of touring under our belt it feels like the new songs are reflecting that; we know how the five of us playing together sounds and we can use that creatively. But stylistically there are a lot of things from the EP that we still connect to.
Frontstage Magazine: You’re often compared to bands like The Strokes but have still found your own sound. What are your biggest musical influences, and what do you want to express with your music?
Ben: Speaking personally, bands like New Order, the Police, Fugazi, and Warpaint are big inspirations. I think a big goal for me is to create songs that are unique yet have a feeling of familiarity.
Frontstage Magazine: Your sound has been described as “experimental Sovietwave-inspired indie rock” as well as “minimalist post-punk with pop sensibilities.” How did you develop this style, and what role do your diverse musical backgrounds play in that process?
Mop: When we’re working on a song, we tend to try a lot of ideas out before we settle on our parts. We find the small moments that stand out and strip the rest of the noise away, keeping it simple and minimal. We have a post-punk identity, but when we write we’ll watch / listen to anything from video game soundtracks to Michael Jackson Super Bowl performances for inspiration.
Frontstage Magazine: You’re heading out on your first European tour this summer. How does it feel to finally present your music to European audiences — are there particular cities or venues you’re most looking forward to?
Ben: We’ve actually done a couple tours of Europe but this is our first time in Germany. I’ve never been to Berlin so really looking forward to seeing it for the first time.
Mop: It’s really surreal to be touring internationally and see people come out to our shows in all these different cities. It’s been something we’ve been working towards for years and years, and it’s great to finally have the opportunities to do so.
Frontstage Magazine: You’ll be supporting Bloc Party in Munich and then headlining your own show in Berlin. How do you approach these kinds of shows differently? Do you prefer the energy of a big stage or the intimacy of a smaller club?
Mop: Just being in the moment while on stage and enjoying our songs and hoping the audience does too is pretty much my approach for all our shows.
Frontstage Magazine: What are your plans after the European tour? Can fans expect new music or more live shows anytime soon?
Ben: keep an ear out, we’ve been writing some new songs i think we’re all really excited by.
Wir vom Frontstage Magazine präsentieren euch das Konzert in Berlin in Zusammenarbeit mit MCT.
15.07.2025 München, Zenith | Support für Bloc Party
17.07.2025 Berlin, Kantine am Berghain
Ticketpreis München: 50,00 Euro zzgl. Gebühren
Ticketpreis Berlin: 20,00 Euro zzgl. Gebühren
Fotocredit: MCT
