Monophobia
Monophobia are a 5-piece indie band based in London who perform regularly in the West End and in the more notorious clubs around North London.
Influenced most strongly by the British rock bands of the '60s and '90s, there are also dance, pop, folk and perhaps even disco influences in some of the songs. Current line-up comprises Tony (voice & guitar), Phil (bass & synth), Zizi (keyboard & voice) and Nimesh (guitar). The new drummer will be announced soon.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Monophobia was originally conceived by Philip Quinton and Bryn Rosenwould, two drunken media students who met in Watford in 1991, and had nothing in common, not even music. Phil couldn't play an instrument and neither of them could sing. Only a small collection of embarrassing recordings exists to mark the project's early existence. The duo parted company in 1994 and Monophobia was silent until 1997 when Phil met Tony Longworth, a musician from Shepherd's Bush with a nameless band and a handful of cool tunes, and Monophobia was reinvented as a kicking live underground group. Several other bandmembers have come and gone since then but keyboardist Zizi Schuh joined last year and stayed on to become an active core bandmember, and guitarist Nimesh Hathiwala sticks loyally by the band even though Phil is a total bastard and keeps picking on him. The band have recently had one song - "Remnant Head" - released on a compilation by UK co-operative Institutionalized Records and are now in the process of recording their first true album.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
We play around London and we mostly hate it, apart from Bad Bobs in Covent Garden which has cheap booze and treats the bands well, and the Bull & Gate in Kentish Town which has a nice big stage and shows real interest in the bands.
Your musical influences
New Order, The Charlatans, The Muppets, King Adora, Pulp, Joy Division, Super Furry Animals, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Blur, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Stone Roses, The Beatles, Pink Floyd
What equipment do you use?
The Oberhiem OB-12 is fairly nifty and a little old Nanosynth.
Anything else?
Ibanez bass, purple Squier Strat, drums, Tanglewood acoustic guitar, any other crappy guitars we got.
