Description
MONKYMAN, a distinctive musical talent from Berlin, marks a high point in his career with the release of his latest album ‘What About Love.’ This eclectic collection resonates with MONKYMAN’s experiences and emotions, candidly dissecting the concepts of isolation, love, and unity. The album was created gradually over three years, imbued with authenticity, compassion, and inspiration thanks to its live recording, completely devoid of loops or plugins. The harmonious amalgamation of acoustic warmth, Drew Deal’s production at Sundown Studios and international collaborations, translates into an invigorating auditory adventure that emboldens listeners to introspect and experience a sensation of joy in unity.
This stirring album effortlessly bridges the span between entrancing introspective moments and throbbing rhythms, weaving an intricate tapestry of emotion and sound. Its concepts revolve around the central theme of love, aptly encapsulated in the titular question, ‘What about love?’, ultimately succinctly answered by the powerful declaration, ‘I feel better in love.’ This transition is an indicative highlight of MONKYMAN‘s imaginative prowess and his ability to effectively express deep-seated emotions through his musical stylings.
The roots of MONKYMAN‘s musical abilities can be traced back to his adolescence in Nambibia when a chance encounter with Fruity Loops sparked his passion for creating music. His achievements since then mirror a veritable glow-up, with live performances in numerous locations as varied as South Africa, Egypt, and Paris. ‘What About Love’ serves as a poignant symbol of his boundless creative inspirations collected from different geographic and cultural spaces.
One of the most magnetic tracks in the album, ‘Better in Love,’ serves as a perfect exemplification of the thematic and musical blending characteristic of MONKYMAN’s style. Irresistibly catchy and radiating joy, it strikes a delicate balance between intimate listening environments and dynamic club atmospheres. The song’s rich production infuses lively jazz elements with interesting afro-centric rhythms and emotionally charged vocal pieces, showcasing MONKYMAN‘s penchant for crossing genre boundaries.
An interesting revelation about the track ‘Better in Love’, which bears a delightful truth, is that it was born out of a casual jamming session in 2019, serving as a sonically satisfying closing act to his live sets. The evolution of this song, from a simple upbeat loop to the conclusion of the album, paints a heartening picture of MONKYMAN’s continuous growth and development. The fundamental message conveyed is rather uncomplicated yet profound: it is more fulfilling to experience life through the lens of love than to harbor negativity in the forms of hate, greed, or envy.
MONKYMAN’s ‘What About Love’ brings us a unique and immersive auditory journey that upholds the power of love as a universal binding force. This testament to his vast range of influences and love of musical blending has made significant strides in his career, catapulting his body of work to a realm typified by notable creative freedom and authenticity. The album itself stands as an expression of MONKYMAN‘s commitment to explore the broad-span spectrums of sound and emotion, much reminiscent of fellow music artists like XX and YY.
