Monarchy (band)

Monarchy were a British-based Australian electronic music duo consisting of Andrew Armstrong (also known as Andrew "Friendly" Kornweibel; producer, DJ) and Ra Black (also known as Ra Khahn; vocals, lyrics).[2][3][4] Based in London,[5] the duo was previously known as Milke.[3][4] They have released four studio albums and two extended plays.

Monarchy
Monarchy performing at the Palencia Sonora festival in Palencia, Spain, June 2016
Monarchy performing at the Palencia Sonora festival in Palencia, Spain, June 2016
Background information
Also known asMilke
OriginLondon, England
GenresSynth-pop[1]
Years active2009–2021
Labels
Members
  • Andrew Armstrong
  • Ra Black
Websitewww.monarchysound.com

History

In November 2009, Monarchy was featured as "Band of the Day" on The Guardian website.[6] Monarchy's debut single "Gold in the Fire" was released on 1 February 2010 on Neon Gold Records, containing the B-side "Black, the Colour of My Heart".[7] They have created remixes for Ellie Goulding, Kelis, Lady Gaga, Marina and the Diamonds, Jamiroquai, Kylie Minogue, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Fyfe Dangerfield.[3][4]

Their first live show was broadcast into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in June 2010, making them the first band ever to perform live into space.[1][8] They have since performed at various London and UK venues including XOYO and HMV Forum, and festivals including The Big Chill, Popaganda in Sweden, Bestival, Eurosonic Festival in the Netherlands, Midem in Cannes, as well as Paris, Dijon, Rouen, Amsterdam, and across Europe. In 2011 they performed at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Hay Festival and Melt! festival, amongst others. Monarchy played the Together Winter Music Festival in London at the Alexandra Palace on 26 November 2011.

After signing to Mercury Records in February 2010,[9] Monarchy was set to release their self-titled debut album that August.[10][11] However, the duo were dropped by Mercury a few months later, and the album's release was cancelled.[1][11] Their debut album was ultimately released on 11 July 2011 by independent label 100% Records under a new title, Around the Sun, with a slightly different track listing.[11][12] The Guardian gave the album three out of five stars and stated that "[t]he lyrics are often arrant nonsense [...] but there are many pleasures here."[1] NME rated the album five out of 10, comparing Monarchy to Hurts, The Sound of Arrows and Steps.[13] Popjustice placed Around the Sun at number fourteen on its list of the best albums of 2011.[14] Their song "The Phoenix Alive" was featured in EA Sports game, FIFA 12 with remix of Kris Menace.

Monarchy's single "Disintegration" was released digitally on 14 January 2013 and features Neo-Burlesque performer Dita Von Teese, who also appears on the track's accompanying music video.[15] The duo released the single "Living Without You" on 28 April 2014.[16] Their extended play Almost Human, was officially released on 8 September 2014,[17] after premiering exclusively on Vibe's website on 15 August.[18] Monarchy's second studio album, Abnocto, was released on 6 March 2015 by Hacan Sounds.[19] It was preceded by the single "Dancing in the Corner" on 19 January 2015.[20]

On 27 April 2015, Armstrong announced the split of Monarchy. On 1 June, he announced that the duo had reconciled and would continue touring and creating new music.[21]

Monarchy collaborated with electronic artist Karma Fields on the track "Faint Echoes", taken from the album New Age | Dark Age, released on 2 March 2016.[22]

On August 6, 2021, the band announced they would be splitting once again. This was accompanied by the release of the bands latest album SYZYGY.[23]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details
Around the Sun
Abnocto
  • Released: 6 March 2015[19]
  • Label: Hacan Sounds
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
Mid:Night

Extended plays
Title Details
Almost Human
  • Released: 8 September 2014[17]
  • Label: Hacan Sound
  • Format: Digital download
Re|Vision
  • Released: 15 June 2015[25]
  • Label: Hacan Sound
  • Format: Digital download

Singles
Title Year Album
"Gold in the Fire" 2010 Around the Sun
"The Phoenix Alive"
"Love Get Out of My Way"
"I Won't Let Go" 2011
"Maybe I'm Crazy"
"You Don't Want to Dance with Me"
(featuring Britt Love)
"Disintegration"
(featuring Dita Von Teese)		 2013 Abnocto
"Living Without You" 2014
"Dancing in the Corner" 2015
"Hula Hoop 8000" 2016 Mid:Night
"MidNight"
"Dance Like Hell" Non-album single
"Deep Cut" 2018 Mid:Night
"Back to the Start" 2019
"Glow Vision" Non-album singles
"Just Give Me Your Love" 2020

Music videos
Title Year Director(s)
"The Phoenix Alive" 2010 Nils Porrmann[26]
"Love Get Out of My Way" Price James[27]
"I Won't Let Go" 2011 Roy Raz[28]
"You Don't Want to Dance with Me"
(featuring Britt Love)		 Ramy Dance[26]
"Disintegration"
(featuring Dita Von Teese)		 2013 Roy Raz[29]
"Living Without You" 2014 Jimmy Ahlander and Robin Antiga[30]
"Almost Human" Matthew Daily Young[31]
"The Beautiful Ones" Maud Regnault and Thomas Blanchard[32]
"Dancing in the Corner" 2015 Ch. Martínez[26]
"Black Widow" Ross McElwain and Manos Ioannou[33]
"Fractured World" Rosie Roche[34]
"Girls & Boys"
(featuring Dita Von Teese)		 Andrew Armstrong[26]
"Hula Hoop 8000" 2017 Virgili Jubero[35]
"MidNight" 2018 Alberto Van Stokkum[36]
"Back to the Start" 2019 Mar del Corral[37]

Remixes
Title Year Artist
"She Needs Me" (Monarchy Black Galaxy Remix)[38] 2010 Fyfe Dangerfield
"Hollywood" (Monarchy 'Gliese Remix')[39] Marina and the Diamonds
"Acapella" (Monarchy Urania Club Mix)[40] Kelis
"Starry Eyed" (Monarchy 'The Horse Head Nebular' Remix)[41] Ellie Goulding
"Dance in the Dark" (Monarchy 'Stylites' Remix)[42] Lady Gaga
"White Knuckle Ride" (Monarchy Remix)[43] Jamiroquai
"Sister Marie Says" (Monarchy Twin Galaxies Remix)[44] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
"Better than Today" (Monarchy 'Kylie Through the Wormhole' Remix)[45] Kylie Minogue
"Mantra Mania" (Monarchy Remix)[46] 2016 S'Express

References
  1. Michael, Hann (4 August 2011). "Monarchy: Around the Sun – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  2. Lester, Paul (20 January 2009). "New band of the week – No 467: Milke". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  3. "Revealed: why the hottest new bands are hiding their faces". The Independent. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  4. Hubbard, Michael (16 September 2011). "Interview – Monarchy". musicOMH. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  5. Cragg, Michael (13 April 2011). "New music: Monarchy – I Won't Let Go". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  6. Lester, Paul (27 November 2009). "New band of the day – No 678: Monarchy". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  7. "GOLD 013: MONARCHY". Neon Gold Records. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  8. Saunders, Sam (1 August 2011). "Monarchy – Around the Sun Album Review". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  9. "The Playlist". Music Week. 20 March 2010. p. 2. ISSN 0265-1548. Retrieved 31 May 2013 – via Exact Editions. Monarchy signed to Mercury last month...
  10. "Key Releases: 14.08.10". Music Week. 14 August 2010. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  11. Empire, Kitty (7 August 2011). "Monarchy: Around the Sun – review". The Observer. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  12. "Around the Sun by Monarchy". iTunes Store. United States. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  13. Malone, Ailbhe (8 August 2011). "Album Review: Monarchy – 'Around The Sun'". NME. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  14. "2011: The 33 Best Albums". Popjustice. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  15. O'Mance, Brad (6 December 2012). "Monarchy have announced details of their new Dita Von Teese-featuring single". Popjustice. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  16. "Living Without You: Monarchy: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. United Kingdom. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  17. "Almost Human – EP by Monarchy". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  18. Rodriguez, Krystal (15 August 2014). "Premiere: Monarchy "Almost Human"". Vibe. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  19. "Abnocto – Monarchy". HMV Ireland. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  20. "Dancing in the Corner (2015) | Monarchy". 7digital. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  21. Armstrong, Andrew (1 June 2015). "We've had a troubled time lately". Retrieved 1 June 2015 – via Facebook.
  22. "New Age | Dark Age, by Karma Fields". Monstercat. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  23. Band, Monarchy. "The clocks have struck 13". Facebook. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  24. "Mid:Night by Monarchy". Apple Music. United Kingdom. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  25. "ReVision by Monarchy". Apple Music. United Kingdom. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  26. "Monarchy". IMVDb. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  27. Knight, David (8 July 2010). "Monarchy's Love Get Out Of My Way by Price James". Promonews. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  28. Knight, David (14 April 2011). "Monarchy's I Won't Let Go by Roy Raz". Promonews. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  29. Knight, David (16 January 2013). "Monarchy & Dita Von Teese 'Disintegration' by Roy Raz". Promonews. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  30. Ahlander, Jimmy (2 June 2014). "Monarchy "Living Without You" (Jimmy Ahlander & Robin Antiga, dir.)". VideoStatic. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  31. Gottlieb, Steven (15 October 2014). "Monarchy "Almost Human" (Matthew Daily Young, dir.)". VideoStatic. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  32. Gottlieb, Steven (11 November 2014). "Monarchy "The Beautiful Ones" (Maud Regnault, Thomas Blanchard, dir.)". VideoStatic. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  33. Brown, Jimmy (24 March 2015). "Monarchy 'Black Widow' by Ross McElwain & Manos Ioannou". Promonews. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  34. "Fractured World / Monarchy". RosieRoche.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  35. Knight, David (30 January 2018). "Monarchy 'Hula Hoop 8000' by Virgili Jubero". Promonews. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  36. Yorke, Ana (16 April 2008). "Monarchy's "mid:night" Shows How the Electropop Group Takes Video Art as Seriously as Their Music (premiere)". PopMatters. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  37. Prasimay, Lassamie (31 January 2019). "MONARCHY 'Back To The Start' by Mar del Corral". Promonews. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  38. She Needs Me (UK CD single). Fyfe Dangerfield. Polydor Records. 2010. 2727700.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  39. "Hollywood – EP by Marina and The Diamonds". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  40. "Acapella (The Remixes) by Kelis". iTunes Store (Australia). Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  41. "Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed (Monarchy 'The Horse Head Nebular' Remix)". SoundCloud. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  42. "Lady Gaga | The Remix (CD) 2010". Universal Music UK. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  43. White Knuckle Ride – Remixes (UK promotional CD-R single). Jamiroquai. Mercury Records. 2010.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  44. "Sister Marie Says (Remixes) by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  45. "Better Than Today – EP by Kylie Minogue". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  46. "Enjoy This Trip – S'Express". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
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