The Unanswered Question

THIS BLOG IS MOVING TO - www.mikemonday.com

2010-02-14T01:04:00.000-08:00

This blog is now discontinued and can be now found at: www.mikemonday.com

There you can:
- subscribe to my feed for my latest news
- listen to my new releases and new remixes for free
- find what studio equipment I use including VST plugins
- get regular music production tips

Systematic Sessions DJ Mix

2009-08-12T00:56:00.001-07:00

After playing with Marc Romboy at the Om event at Sonar, he asked me to do this DJ mix for his Systematic Sessions Show.

Oh and the last track is "TR Love" which he signed for his 5 years Systematic release.

Kreuzberg Institute Podcast

2009-07-22T13:12:00.001-07:00

Here's a DJ mix I did for the Kreuzberg Institut podcast series.

It's 2 hours long - the first hour is from the legendary (and very lovely) Hipp-e, I start about 60 mins in.

TR Love

2009-07-09T03:16:00.000-07:00

Check my (slighty geeky but I hope very playable) homage to classic Roland drum machines:

Mike Monday "TR Love" (Systematic)

This is a low quality mp3, if you want the whole shebang you can get it here from Beatport.

I wrote it for Marc Romboy at Systematic who asked me to do a track for his 5 Years Systematic anniversary release.

It's a very straightforward, no nonsense record that uses drum sounds from the Roland 505, 606, 707, 808 and 909. And before you ask no I'm afraid I don't have all these original machines, some of the drum sounds are samples...

(Oh and refreshingly there's no hint of any congas, bongos or ethnic vocals anywhere on the track)

What Canto Is It?

2009-06-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

Here's another edit/bootleg I did recently. Luke Solomon from Classic asked me to remix one of my favourites from the Classic catalogue and I picked 3rd Face "Canto Della Liberta".

While fiddling about with it, I soon realised that it worked perfectly with one of my old tracks, "What Day Is It?" on Playtime, so I sent the result to Luke who loved it and instantly wanted to release it. Unfortunately there were some publishing issues with releasing it officially, so instead here it is free:

Mike Monday vs 3rd Face "What Canto Is It?" (Vocal)
Mike Monday vs 3rd Face "What Canto Is It?" (Dub)

Animal Collective Unofficial Edit

2009-06-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

One of the things I've incorporated into my live set is music from elsewhere that has truly inspired me. But I've tried not to just play the original track as a DJ would, but instead attempted to do "live" remixes of said music.

One example I used is a track off the recent stunning Animal Collective album "Merriweather Post Pavilion". (If you haven't heard the album yet, where have you been? You need it in your life! Buy it on iTunes here.)

What I did with the track got such a huge reaction when I played it in my first live set that I decided I really had to commit it to...er...mp3. And here it is for your listening pleasure:

Animal Collective - My Girls (Mike Monday's Unofficial Remix)

It is completely unofficial so if you like it please support the brilliant, wonderful, marvellous Animal Collective and buy their album or if you can't stretch to that, then at least the track "My Girls".

Oh and here's some of the reactions I've had from a few DJ luminaries I've sent it to:

BEN WATT:
"ace! played it at the arches"

PHILLIP JUNG (MANDY):
f**king great remix of the animal collective
"really really good man! played it out twice already."

LAURENT GARNIER:
"yes yes yes mister Monday
another big dancefloor shaker
Full support as always"

AUDIOFLY
"bro....just heard your remix of the animal collective.....wikid
really liking that line you have taken....super good... MANDY played it in Romania the other day, and i almost fell over..."

MOZAIC
"yea man, just dropped your "my girls" boot at this street faire fest here in SF and the crowd went mental"

Michel Lundi Gets The Curse

2009-05-14T23:51:00.001-07:00

In the interest of completeness, here's another mix I did for the very cool French blog Get The Curse November last year:

Michel Lundi Gets The Curse

It's quite a bit deeper than the Comes Down one and gets pretty intense towards the end. Maybe I was in a bad mood that day.

Gonno - I Don't Need Competition
Dimi Angelis & Jeroen Search - Omnia
Morgan Geist - Detroit - Carl Craig Remix
Cassy - Idle Blues
Hannah Holland - Banshee - Mike Monday Remix
Jackmate - Malawi Dub
Mass Prod - Sunset - Livio & Roby Remix
Matt Star - Kuhle Fliege - Hugo Remix
Sideshow - If Alone - Chateau Flight Remix
Mike Monday - I Am Plankton - Pezzner Remix
J Mode - The Trouble
Marc Antona - Give Me Flowers
Raudive - Christmas Tree
Donato Dozzy & Giorgio Gigli - Real Love EQ
Exercise One - All Out
Rogerio Martins - Nozzle
DJ T - Outbreak - True School Mix
Tobias - I Can't Fight The Feeling
Mike Monday - Stargirl - Club Mix
Sueno Latino - Sueno Latino - Derrick May Remix

Mike Monday Comes Down

2009-05-12T05:37:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd post a couple of my recent DJ mixes, (although they're not that recent now - doesn't time fly?) and continue to do so from now on as and when I do them.

Oh and I've also got a few live sets I've recorded both in my studio and at gigs that I'll be posting in the coming weeks.

But this particular DJ mix I made to be a post club soundtrack after a hard night on the tiles, so it starts up & funky and gradually gets more weird and freaky before finally fading to a whisper with "Stargirl". Enjoy...

Mike Monday Comes Down (Oct 2008)

Erobique - Endorphinmachine
Pepe Deluxe - Girl - Radio Slave Remix
Hirtenfeller & Bader - Monday
Homm & Popoviciu - Urban Ballroom
Loco Dice - Pimp Jackson Is Talking Now
Brett Johnson - Space Dub
Late Of The Pier - Bathroom Gurgle - Duke Dumont Remix
Martin Brothers - Dum
Kleep - Zoo
Mike Monday vs 3rd Face - What Canto Is It?
Alexi Delano & Tony Rohr - Discoteca Butt
Channel X - Hot Candy
Marc Houle - Meatier Shower
Dillon - C Unseen C - Ruede Hagelstein Remix
Frivolous - Just Add Irony
Lee Jones - Safari - Stimming Remix
Dapayk & Padberg - Island feat Caro - Noze Remix
Mathias Aguayo - Minimal - DJ Koze Remix
Robert Babicz - Boarding
Mike Monday - Stargirl

MM Chart May 2009

2009-05-12T00:18:00.000-07:00

1/ Mark Henning - Biggity Giggity (Frankie)

2/ Tony Lionni - Found A Place (Ostgut Ton)

3/ Four Tet & Burial - Moth/Wolfcub (Text)

4/ Animal Collective - My Girls - MM's Unofficial Remix (CDR)

5/ Spencer Parker - The Beginning - Michel Cleis Remix (Buzzin Fly)

6/ Appleblim & Ramadanman - Justify - Will Saul & Mike Monday Remix (Applepips)

7/ Dop - 36500 Days (Safari Electronique)

8/ Lauhaus - Bombay Disco (Remote Area)

9/ Mike Monday - TR Love (Systematic)

10/ Sleazy McQueen - Naked - Kink Remix (Hairy Claw)

Catnip polarises America!

2008-10-22T05:07:00.000-07:00

The hubris of my last post is worthy of a Greek tragedy. After reading the frankly hilarious Catnip video reviews on iTunes US, I have started to wonder whether I really meant what I said. How could anyone get so angry about something as harmless and fun as Catnip? I can't help but think that the more vitriolic reviews say more about the reviewer than the video itself.

But all this did set me thinking. Don't the reviews make for an interesting snapshot of America? They could even be seen as a microcosm of a completely polarised country evinced in the November 4th presidential election (which is also my birthday weirdly enough).

I'm not suggesting that everyone who got hot under the collar is a McCain supporter, or that all the wonderful and beautiful people who valiantly defended my work are Obamaheads, after all many of the reviewers are probably not old enough to vote. But the reaction to Catnip has shown in an unusual and unexpected way 2 sides of an amazing and bewildering country, and make me realise why I both love and fear the United States.

I spend a fair amount of time there, and literally everyone I have encountered in any meaningful way is both open minded and intelligent. I think Stephen Fry puts it excellently in his podcast (Episode 2 - Bored Of The Dance) where he rails against the rampant anti Americanism that is rife here in Europe. Especially the ridiculous and offensive idea that Americans have no sense of irony. But whilst in the US, I do spend all my time in the cities, particularly San Francisco, which I know can't be viewed as representative. But can any single place or point of view be representative of such a multi-faceted country, especially one as divided as the USA?

Anyway, despite these ruminations I am left a little shellshocked, and have kept sane remembering (and completely twisting) the words of an early eminent American president:

"You can't please all of the people all of the time, or please some of the people all of the time or even please all of the people some of the time. You can however please yourself."

This is probably an unfashionable thing to say but...

2008-10-18T05:53:00.000-07:00

As someone who's been writing and releasing music for nearly 14 years (crikey!), these are exciting times indeed. Not particularly good times, but most definitely exciting. The way that music is now distributed has fundamentally changed and there are many unforseen consequences and opportunities as a result of this seismic shift, some good some bad.

The digital behemoth that is iTunes is too often seen as simply a necessary evil by artists and labels, but given that someone was going to do it, I am broadly pretty positive about the way iTunes operates.

I'm not going to rehearse the familiar arguments about how much they pay the artists/labels for the music, how they are a virtual monopoly on digital music, or about how they're hastening the end of the album as a format for releasing music. But in my experience so far they have a healthy regard for music which isn't necessarily the most commercial (my music video Catnip has been chosen as the music video of the week for the front page of iTunes US and available for a free download - plug plug), and what's more on a personal level its the details about the site that I'm starting to dig.

The user reviews are something both frightening and exhilarating for me as an artist, as until now no one has really been able to tell me what the genuine punter - who isn't my mum - thinks about my work. Journo reviews are one thing, but reading these early customer reviews of Songs Without Words on iTunes USA (I particularly love the "strange and retarded" one - isn't that a compliment?) has given me an invaluable insight into what Joe Plumber thinks of my work. This can only be a good thing for me as an artist.

Ok, user reviews are not just as iTunes idea, but the way they are so front and centre of the iTunes shopping experience is excellent. Power to the people! Or to Steve Jobs! Or just maybe both.

Look what I saw in HMV on Oxford Street today

2008-10-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

Made my week - especially as there was only 1 copy left! Can'y help thinking that was more to do with the amazing Drunkpark artwork though...

If you want to see whether you agree with HMV you check it on iTunes here!

Episode 2 of Catnip Cartoon up on Beatportal

2008-08-21T02:05:00.000-07:00

The second part of my Catnip cartoon is now up exclusively on Beatportal!

If you thought the first part was good have a butchers at this...

Mondayclub TV

2008-08-09T01:34:00.000-07:00

I've put up my Kyte TV channel in the sidebar. If you want to see what's been going on in Mondayworld, I'll be regularly updating it with video of my travels, studio sessions and other random bits and pieces.

And if you click the "Get And Share" button you can embed it into wherever you want, and it will automatically update the player with the new shows as they come up.

Promo DJ mix (again)

2008-07-28T12:18:00.000-07:00

I just realised that the promo period for the DJDownload mix I did for Sonar has ended, so I've uploaded it it here:

Mike Monday's Sonar Mix

Mike Monday - I Am Plankton (Om) *
Tommy Four Seven - Eat Me - Mike Monday Remix (Brique Rouge)
Mike Monday - The 11 11 - Original Club Mix (Om) *
Mike Monday - I Am Plankton - Mikes Swim For It The Jellyfish Are Coming Dub Mix (Om) *
Tomski & Fredboy - Do The Tartelet - Mike Monday Remix (Tartelet)
Mike Monday - The Unanswered Question (Om) *
Worthy - Mummer - Mike Monday Remix (Katabatic)
Mike Monday - Salieri Complex - Extended Club Mix (Om) *
Mike Monday - Stargirl - Exclusive Sonar Remix (Om) *

taken from the forthcoming album on Om Records "Songs Without Words pt 1"

Weatherall Makes My Day

2008-07-25T07:34:00.000-07:00

Whilst cleaning the house this morning, I decided to get a much needed musical fix from Andrew Weatherall.

I'm a big fan of the Get The Curse podcasts, as they get some great DJ mixes up, but this was the first time I'd had a chance to listen to the Andrew Weatherall - Rotters Golf Club one from early June.

When I was putting some serious elbow grease into waxing my kitchen table, at about 27mins in I was pleasantly surprised to hear a recent remix I did of Falko Brocksieper's 'Lament' come in.

Particularly ironic as one of the main reasons I was checking it out was to get some inspiration for the long list of remixes I'm about to embark on...

Glade Festival 08

2008-07-11T04:46:00.001-07:00

The start of the rest of my life

2008-07-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

I've just finished my second album "Songs Without Words Part 1", and am coming to terms with having a life again. I've spent the last 9 months holed up alone in the studio, and am now wondering what's next. Its been a difficult birth...

So I now have an opportunity to start this blog, which I hope will give an insight into what makes someone who writes and performs their own tunes tick. I'll be posting new tracks, videos, mixes as well as taking a camera on the road with me to put up anything that I find interesting, annoying or ridiculous.

Here's a link to a 30 minute DJ mix I did for the Om and DJDownload Sonar event. It's a sneak peek at some club remixes of tracks from the album as well as some of my recent remixes. Be quick as its only available to download free until 17th July:

Mike Monday's Free Exclusive Sonar Mix

Mike Monday - I Am Plankton (Om) *
Tommy Four Seven - Eat Me - Mike Monday Remix (Brique Rouge)
Mike Monday - The 11 11 - Original Club Mix (Om) *
Mike Monday - I Am Plankton - Mikes Swim For It The Jellyfish Are Coming Dub Mix (Om) *
Tomski & Fredboy - Do The Tartelet - Mike Monday Remix (Tartelet)
Mike Monday - The Unanswered Question (Om) *
Worthy - Mummer - Mike Monday Remix (Katabatic)
Mike Monday - Salieri Complex - Extended Club Mix (Om) *
Mike Monday - Stargirl - Exclusive Sonar Remix (Om) *

taken from the forthcoming album on Om Records "Songs Without Words pt 1"