Scrit: Monkey3 was originally a three-piece band, but now there are four of you? Would this have had any bearing on the name? That is, could it have been Monkey4?
Boris: Well, actually we`ve always been a four-piece band. The name of the band refers to our early jam-sessions as a free form jam collective.
Scrit: My mistake. I thought I had understood from your website bio that the band started as a three-piece. How is the rock music scene in Lausanne? Or in all of Switzerland for that matter?
Boris: There are a lot of very good bands in Switzerland, but not a specific scene. It`s a big mix with metal, rock, pop, hip-hop and folk groups. The problem is that all these bands aren`t connected together or don�t belong to the same area. Switzerland is a really small market and there`s not a lot of specific press. The stoner rock scene doesn`t even exist here... A lot of bands have the necessity to export themselves, like The Young Gods, Celtic Frost, or Samael.
Scrit: Do you find it difficult to tour or is it rather easy to pile all your stuff in a van and hit the road? How is that process for you?
Boris: We love to hit the road and play live. To organize a full tour in Europe is not that easy, though, especially for new-comer bands like us. So, usually, we book shows during weekends.
Scrit: What is a Gamuzao and a Moulinao? Or is that for only the band to know?
Boris: They are only private jokes, we felt that these words sounded good!
Scrit: Is there a correlation between you Boris, and �Boris Nuts�?
Boris: Yeah, my bandmates always say that I got pretty big ones!
Scrit: The first version of your self-titled album (which came out in 2003? only differed slightly than the re-released version in 2004, is that correct? Only the artwork was a bit different?
Boris: The only difference between the two versions is the artwork color and one is a digipack and the other is a jewel case. The label wanted to make it slightly different for distribution purposes. The digipack is 1000 copies, limited edition that will never reprint, so, if you got one, keep it!
Scrit: I understand the live experience of Monkey3 is a real multi-media affair.
Boris: When we play live, we want to give the audience a real sound and light experience. We have three screen projections with homemade pictures that emphasize the music. Unfortunately, sometimes, we cannot do our full show because of production limitations (time schedules, stage set-up...) that we can not interfere with.
Scrit: Is it a safe question to ask that, since you have a song called �35007,� you all cite them as an influence to your sound? Tell us about your experience of 35007.
Boris: 35007 is a very good band and we like them a lot. Nevertheless, they�re not an influence for us. Probably, we have the same influences as them. We decided to name this track like that because one night we saw them live in Bern and the day after we wrote a new track during our rehearsal. It was our tribute to the great show they did that night.
Scrit: Ennio Morricone has such an endlessly vast catalogue of amazing film score themes. What made you settle on �Once Upon a Time in the West� to cover?
Boris: We like this movie and the music fits it so perfectly. There is a dramatic edge to this track. The harp scene announces the end of life and the time to die, so, we thought that it was a good conclusion for the 39 Laps album.
Scrit: Is there is still going to be a split album with Ufomammut? Or did that turn into the split vinyl with Hypnos 69 (I hope there still will be)?
Boris: It turns out to be the 10" split was with Hypnos 69. There is not a split with Ufomammut scheduled for the moment. (We hope that this will happen though; it might sound good!)
Scrit: That`s too bad. Ufomammut is another badass outfit, and another �stoner rock darling.� I hope it happens. You and them, are little like the yin and yang of each other. Are you in the habit of recording audio or video of your live performances?
Boris: Yeah, often, we videotape our shows, usually for self-critical purposes, there`s always something to learn from that by watching a show, what can be done better and so on... Maybe, one day, a DVD might be released. Wait and see...
Scrit: How was the experience of playing Roadburn this year?
Boris: This was an amazing experience. Great bands, great organization, great audience. A real festival for the love of sharing music and emotions!
Scrit: I have had the privilege of hearing this set on Roadburn`s website. It`s really, really awesome Boris. The sound effects that slowly start off the show are spot-on. I was hoping to hear �Bimbo� but you can`t have everything. Instead, �Xub� was out of this world...
Boris: Thanks a lot for the compliment! Since the 39 Laps album was released, we usually play "Bimbo" as an encore. For Roadburn, as far as timing the schedule was pretty tight (which was a good thing in a big festival like that), and we didn`t have time for an encore.
Scrit: I`ll bet you speak like three or four languages don`t you? It`s OK. You can tell me...
Boris: I speak Italian because I`m Italian, I speak French because I live in the French part of Switzerland and I speak a bit of English because I lived in L.A for a year!
Scrit: You lived in LA for a year? When was that? What brought you out here?
Boris: I was there from February 2003 to April 2004. I went there to study at the G.I.T in Hollywood. It was an amazing experience. I discovered a whole new world, completely different from Europe. That made me learn a lot about myself!
Scrit: Since Monkey3 is indeed "The Ultmate Psycostoner Experience", then the band does not have a problem with the term "stoner" (which most all bands hate). If not stoner rock, what kind of �rock� do you prefer for Monkey3?
Boris: I think we prefer just the term "instrumental music." The term "psycostoner" was just a gimmick, so the press wouldn`t come up with some weird stuff (even though they did it anyway).
Scrit: Are there any album outtakes? Or has all your material made it onto the two albums?
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Boris: We actually have some tracks that were never released. They are recorded, mixed, and mastered. Maybe some EP will be released, we`ll see...
Scrit: Were there any Monkey3 demos floating around between 2000 to 2003 (before the first LP came out)?
Boris: Yeah, we had a four-track demo that`s sold out and will never be re-released. Anyway, three of the four tracks are on our first album.
Scrit: OK next big question - has Buzzville told you, "No. Flying over to play the U.S. is out of the question."
Boris: No, they didn`t tell us that. Actually we are pretty free on this side. We`d love to come to play the U.S and Canada, but we didn`t have any propositions to come for some shows. We are still waiting for that and I`m sure that one day we will come to play there. Actually, it`s an old dream for us!
Scrit: I`ve mentioned 35007. Let`s play a band name-game a bit more. Back in 2005, I heard all the way across the great ocean, and this vast land of the US (I live on the Pacific coast), that Monkey3 was going to play with Colour Haze and Los Natas. There are few shows I would sell my soul in order to see, or give an arm, foot, eyeball, what-have-you. That was such a show. Tell us about it...
Boris: Well we played this show in Munich, Germany and it was amazing. The three bands together was a killer bill for those who are into space music and the audience had a great time this night. I think it was one of our best shows, really good vibrations!
Scrit: On that same train, who have you guys enjoyed sharing a stage with the most? A favorite city or venue you`ve played in?
Boris: Actually, we enjoyed playing with all the bands we shared a bill with and each venue we played had it`s own story.
Scrit: Thanks for your time on this, Boris, and especially for all the amazing music music of Monkey3.
