Mongaif
Photo provided by Mongaif.
Meet Mongaif
With swirling saxophones and lyrics of love and longing, Mongaif are nothing if not romantics. These crooners will make you swoon with their latest release from the summer, Lover.
Slinging a cocktail of R&B, jazz, and Indie, these boys are poetic and poignant, and up to something good.
We’re excited about these lads’ future, so we hit them up to discuss all things YouTube, their processes, musical literacy.
Peep it below and go buy yourself some roses. You deserve it.
The Prom: A Mad Lib By Monagif
If there's a melody you can't seem to get out of your NECK or a song running through your EPIDERMIS, then bring your feet to this year's LOVELY prom. As usual, our GOOSE BUMPS will be held in our high school KISS. A dress code will be observed. No one will be admitted wearing BLUNTED or torn ANTEATERS. Girls must wear a FLAVOUR and boys must wear a DURIAN. As always, hot SOULS will be served, and there will be PUNGENT prizes and an award for the best-CRYING couple. The HAIRLESS dance committee is also proud to announce that every girl who attends will receive a DIAPER to pin to her DANCE, and every boy will receive a complimentary SMELL.
Would You Rather…
If you had to have one person's face on the back of your own who's would it be? Why?
Sun: Hmm... it’s a tricky one. Definitely not Voldemort. I would say my younger brother. Because we have many things in common, but I think my brother looks more handsome than me.
Daniel: It would be me. Sounds bit creepy but I think its kinda cool if I could have two different facial expressions front and back :) :(
Some Questions with Monagif
When you go on youtube what kind of videos do you gravitate towards?
Hwanho: Cooking, drumming, fitness.
Daniel: Live music, I usually listen to music on youtube.
Sun: I used to watch many jazz videos that are legendary to me. Nowadays I also enjoy watching the videos that I can educate myself in various fields such as sound production, video graphing, workout routines, cooking, documentaries, etc.
What instrument/technique would you want to learn and possibly incorporate into your music?
Daniel: Synthesizer! I recently bought one for the upcoming album.
Hwanho: I have been practicing the piano for 3 months to involve in my bandmates’ conversation.
Hwansu : Sound production, using samples and sound effects to enlighten my music.
Sun: I have a couple of things that I’m into these days. String orchestrating is one thing, and I would love to play a concert with strings someday. What I’ve been heavily searching lately is the sound that possibly can express an atmospheric or supernatural feelings.
What is your process like when writing music?
Daniel: First, I always focus on capturing inspirations. It could be a word, melody or concept. And I start from there.
Hwansu : I come up with one or two basic ideas such as, atmosphere, rhythm, melody.. and try to listen to what music has to say. Sometimes I come up with ideas that have nothing to do with music - nature, politics, mood, etc. Ironically, this way, it’s easier to finish writing a song.
Sun: Usually when an idea or a feeling comes to me I sit down and start searching for the right melody or the right harmonic idea that expresses it. And beyond that, I try to extend the idea by keeping the emotional color in the right direction. It doesn’t always have to sound beautiful, but it should be able to tell a story.
Hwanho: I hope I could write a song ASAP.
Have you ever had a paranormal experience?
Hwanho: Everyday, waking up by sunlight is paranormal.
More than anything what is it that stops you from shedding?
Hwanho: Maybe love, I guess...
Hwansu : Anxiety
Sun: It’s very hard to focus on shedding when I’m worried about something serious.
Do you remember the first album/CD/tape you ever bought? Has it had any impact on the music you are making today?
Daniel: Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' album is definitely the one and one of the huge inspirations of my music.
Hwanho: Miles Davis - kind of blue, my drum teacher forced me to buy it. Now I am studying jazz.
Sun: I think it was Yoo Seung-jun’s 2nd album “For Sale” in 1998. It’s dance, R&B style music which I like to play and listen.
Hwansu : It was a Korean male R&B group called ‘Brown Eyed Soul’. When I was 13. In some ways, how they use their voice to produce harmony, background, the rhythmic accompanying is amazing. There was no distinction between voice and instruments. I guess that brought me into the idea that each instrumentalist should be able to sing, using devices they’re good at.
Who was your most influential family member growing up?
Hwansu : My mother. She still is the most influential person in my life.
Sun: Can’t choose one, but both my mom and dad influenced me in different ways. Music-wise, my youngest uncle. When I was about 7 years old, he used to play all the great pop and rock records that he liked, and I also begin to start loving music a lot. In fact, he bought me my first jazz record “Kind of Blue”.
Hwanho: All
Daniel: My parents
What is the scariest dream you ever had?
Sun: Don’t remember the scariest dream, but when I was about 6 years old I used to be able to fly in a certain dream. A lucid dream.
Daniel: All the dreams about rats…
Do you think you need to be literate in music in order to compose it?
Hwansu : Yes, only because it helps you to get closer to what you want your music to sound like.
Sun: Anyone can compose music whatever they’re trying to express by what they hear. However, to be able to express something bigger than what you are, it’s important to learn deeper and appreciate it.
What was the first concert you ever went to?
Daniel: Coldplay was great.
Hwanho: I cannot remember but I felt thrilled when I saw Robert Glasper in South Korea.
Sun: I don’t remember the exact name of the group, but it was a classical orchestra concert.
If every word you said for the rest of your life had to start with the same letter which letter would you choose? Why?
Sun: Alphabet S. Because my name is Sun, I like Saturday, and it sounds Sexy.
Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)
Sun: I hope to see you guys at the show in the near future!
Daniel: Listen Mongaif !!