Do you have a problem with people finding your family rather alternative?
Gomez: No problem at all. We love to welcome them to our home for grave diggings and late night torture sessions.
Morticia: I feel bad for the people who find us alternative. Their lives are normally lacking imagination and inner life.
How are you coping with your neighbors?
M: Our life of solitude in Central Park keeps us far from neighbors. We are thankful to be away from any friendly faces that may brighten the day.
G: If by "coping" you mean locking them in the dungeon then we are doing just fine.
Morticia, you look absolutely stunning as always. Would you be so kind as to share your beauty secrets?
M: Pain inducing corsets, occasional torture sessions, and staying out of bright sunny weather give me my sickly glow.
How would you define a dream honeymoon?
G: A long weekend in the Bermuda Triangle with no food or shelter, followed by a couple massage by Thing.
M: A bed of nails in a rat infested, condemned motel, and sharp instruments of death sound like a dream come true.
The kids are not getting any younger. How do you keep tabs on their whereabouts?
G: We have many chains and shackles to keep the kids away from goodness and close to trouble.
M: On the contrary, I fully expect our children to play in the streets and talk to strangers. I wouldn't want to shield them from the horrors of this world.
Looking forward to seeing you on stage. Thanks for your time!
M: Yes, it was my pleasure. I hope the weather is dreadful and your travel unsafe.
G: You’re unwelcome.
The Addams Family runs through July 28 at Festive Grand Theatre, Resorts World Sentosa. Tickets from SISTIC at $55-$75.
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Let’s face it: the only waves that pack a punch here are of the heat variety. But with world class breaks a short flight away in Bali, surely some of us are surfing? Since International Surfing Day (June 21) is just around the corner, we decided to ask the President of the Surfing Association of Singapore, Nazir Salleh, about the state of the scene here.
How’s the popularity of the sport these days?
We have seen a steady trend of young local Singaporeans and expats taking our surfing classes [and] can see that the sport will grow in years to come. We think that part of the interest has to do with the opening of Wavehouse Sentosa (see wavehousentosa. com for updates on future classes). That’s really a nice place to hang out and enjoy the artificial surf—the best we can have here.
What are some of the difficulties you face?
Surfing is not a mainstream sport here and this has been our biggest challenge. Having an association in a country where there is no surfing culture is never going to be easy. There is so much work to be done and funding seems to be our main problem. But we’re trying to start our own Singaporean Surfing league outside Singapore just for our local surfers in spots around the region.
What are your thoughts on the future of surfing here?
It’s growing, slowly but surely. We now have around 800 members on our Facebook page and that is a good sign. We have more events in the pipeline for locals and expats to come together and create a surfing contest for beginners and experienced surfers. Whether you’re young or old, surfing is a sport for everyone.
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What are some of your post-rock idols? What is it about them that draws you? Post Rock? Hmm... been a long time. We were very heavily in to Slint when we were starting out, I think they were a big influence on us. Same can be said for Tortoise.
How have your motivation and sound changed or evolved over the last 15 years?
We just go where the music takes us and it takes us very many different dirctions, I don't look at it so much as a linear progress. Not playing the same song all the time and not making the same album all the time is what keeps us motivated to keep on keeping on.
You’re quite a large collective—how do you guys keep your relationships positive while on tour?
Yes, I think all in all you might say we are quite a big clan, but the great thing is that we rotate a lot and it varies all the time who plays the shows. People take breaks for shorter or longer times, but it's easy to come back. As for being on tour, I guess it took us a while to learn just to be polite to each other and sensitive to other people’s needs and then you'll be all right. Same goes for everyone individually, it is important to get yourself into the mindset that helps you get through the stress as easily as you can.
How would you describe your music if it was a drink and what would you call it?
Haha, good question. It would be some sort of strange smelling cocktail and it would have so many different ingredients that it would be hard to tell what's in it. People sitting around a dinner table would pass the drink between them and have a taste and everyone would have a clear idea what it tasted like, but nobody would have the same idea or agree about what is in it. I would call the drink Ambiguous Undercurrent or Sigmund Void or mr.Spaghetti Pants or Sylvester Alone or Jambon Jovi.
Bjork once said, “Most Icelandic people are really proud to be from there.” What are you proudest of?
I don't know if I am especially proud to be Icelandic, I do not think it is any better or any more interesting than being from somewhere else. I realize that the nature we have in this country is amazing, but it is important to remember that the people who live in the country do not own the nature and are not entitled to it in any way. And nature does not make you a better person; it only provides you a chance to become one.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had on stage, whether it be good or bad?
A couple of years ago we played a show in Warsaw in Poland with a polish choir and string orchestra which was amazing, but the best thing is that we got to invite very many of our friends to play the show with us, so they came and did one song with us each. We had Sin Fang, Benni Hemm Hemm, Amiina, Jóhann Jóhannson and many others and it was a magnificent evening. So that goes in to the good experience pile. I can't recall any bad memories from stage at the moment, maybe I just suppress them. Maybe they are not worth thinking about, I don't know.
Name one artiste the band would love to work with. Why?
Oh, I don't know... the Singapore Symphony Orchestra? Are they available? We like playing at Esplanade last time and we really liked the building. So, it's perfect. If they are not available, we can try and go for... Ennio Morricone? First one that pops into my head at the moment. And why not?
If you could turn back time and change something, when and what would it be?
It's not about the choices that we make, but what we do to make them right. That being said, I don't know. Not sure if it is a good idea to go back in time to change things, I have recently been watching Back to the Future and I think this film proves that it is a bad idea. Not that it stops Doc or Marty. Maybe I would change some football results, that seems harmless enough.
What are you guys like when you’re jamming and creating?
We keep it very loose and sloppy. 95% of the time will go into joking and about 5% into the music. When we write the songs, Gunni and myself will do that often very individually and then we meet up and mash things together.
What’s a typical moment of inspiration like for you?
I get inspired while swimming. There is an isolation you can find by swimming that you cannot find anywhere else. The problem is though, that you can't write anything down or record anything underwater, so many inspired thoughts, melodies or words are lost in the water.
Múm performs alongside Shelves and Wavves in a triple-bill concert at Zouk, Jun 15.
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Big Foot Industries
A one-stop shop for all the bare essentials of surfing and possibly the only physical store here that sells actual surfboards.
Quiksilver
This giant flagship store offers a tremendous range of clothing and accessories to get you in the mood.
Surfshop@WaveHouse Sentosa
Can at least help you look like a surfer with a generous range of fashion wear to choose from. Also, last minute rashguards are available here just before you enter the wave check-in area.
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How does ESPZEN differentiate from other amateur leagues like D2D and The X League?
These [other] leagues are “social” football leagues not “amateur” football leagues. There is a market for social teams in Singapore... it’s not our market. We attract teams who understand football and love the game; they want to play football against teams of a similar standard, and they want organization, discipline and structure. Prize money is not a motive; high prize money is actually an unnecessary evil in amateur sports. Once serious prize money is added to a soccer tournament, suddenly the intensity rises and it can be a “win at all costs” mentality for some teams or players.
ESPZEN manages leagues for over 160 teams. We have approximately 4,000 players under our management from over 35 nationalities, and we organize over 3,500 games per annum. To execute this volume of activity, organization, process management, training and industrialization is required.
With so many weekly amateur games going on in Singapore—especially since the opening of school fields for public use over the weekend years ago–why do you think the football talent pool in Singapore is still saturated? It’s a little known fact that ESPZEN back in 2003/4 was instrumental is lobbying the Ministry of Education to release school fields so that our football league could commence. Amateur leagues are generally for older players who play amateur football are not looking to become professional players. That being said our leagues have seen many former Singapore League players participate and continue into their golden years. Patrick Paran scored 111 goals in our Sunday League before joining the S League. A national football training center is a must and children need to be taught football using the same methods as successful countries in other parts of the World. Singapore does not need to re-invent the wheel. In short, young players need to” learn to play football before they learn to win football”/ For example, a six to seven year-old player should be comfortable with the ball, learn to keep possession, pass and move and only later should children learn how to win. We should judge youth football games by number of completed passes, time in possession and not simply kick and rush goals. It’s a crime to ask youth players (less than nine years of age) to play seven-a-side football game as this is destroying development.
Do the new artificial pitches contribute to overall quality of our footballers?
Astro turf pitches remove the uncertainty of bumpy surfaces. Having matches played on astro turf means less games and training sessions are cancelled. The astro turf has improved Singapore’s average football player. The challenge with astro turf is that it takes out of the game slide tackles as sliding on astro can lead to friction burns. Slide tackles however are an important part of the game and removing this element from the sport means players become less aggressive on the pitch and find it harder to win the ball back. Professional players train on astro turf all over the world but not exclusively. Quality grass pitches and training facilities are still required.
Are you a proponent of the recently approved goal line technology?
100% yes—in professional sport. Let’s get the decisions correct and remove the guess work.
Are you an active footballer yourself?
I played for South East England school boys at the age of 16, and I still play today. In addition I am also a qualified coach from the Football Association of United Kingdom. I coach at weekends in ESPZEN Soccer School, which sees over 300 children each week.
Does ESPZEN plan to move on to organizing amateur leagues for other sports as well?
In addition we also have a sister company PEZZAZ, which manages Amateur Basketball Leagues under the same principles as our football league model; opportunities in other team sports are perhaps limited as there is no volume of participants or access to facilities.
Your referees are normally at the frontline when it comes to your footballing clients. Do they get plenty of abuse? As referees are human beings, there are times when referees do make wrong judgement calls in the games, which makes certain players unhappy. A referee's role on the field of play is very difficult being the only match official present hence we expect from all ESPZEN team managers that they should always control their players and let the referee deal with any situation at all times. After seeing the need to improve the relationship between players and referees, ESPZEN will launch our RESPECT program soon, which is a first in Singapore.
If there was one thing about Singapore football that you could change, what would it be?
More effective investment in youth football (facilities, coaches, methods, culture).
ESPZEN's Men's Midweek Futsal League Season 12 commences at the end of May. You can register your team at the official website.
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The band has successfully broken into the American market and garnered two huge awards. What’s next?
The success in the States has given us an amazing platform to build upon and the year is shaping up to be a big one. We have already released a third EP and are now focusing on the release of our debut album, which was partly recorded on our last trip to the States with legendary producer Keith Olsen. This also coincides with signing an A&R deal with LA based company A&R Worldwide, which has been responsible for breaking some hugh international acts such as Muse in the US markets.
The song “Neurogenesis” was inspired from your keen interest in historical events—what’s been your greatest personal watershed event?
I think everyone in the band has a love for history and has at some point been affected by events past. But for me if I am really honest with you, my greatest watershed moment is every time I watch a great movie with an inspirational soundtrack. I have a love for film composers such as Hans Zimmer and Trent Reznor. It might sound shallow but but for me nothing could be so deep.
What’s your pre-performance ritual like?
Our pre-performance ritual usual comes in the form of a greasy takeaway dinner, a few drinks (maybe beers haha) and a huddle before we start to play. It is pretty simple stuff but it works well.
Many bands are big on promoting themselves on social media these days. How does social media tie in with Monks of Mellonwah?
Being in a band today you realize that social media is everything. It is so important. For us, it has become a way to constantly interact with our fans; it means we can share new music and videos almost instantaneously, promote key events and gigs, and most importantly, it is a way for us to keep up-to-date with what is going on with our fans, what they like and want they want to see and shows. Sites like Facebook have become a pocket book of fans—we can keep them constantly updated and share with them every moment of success and failure.
In a recent interview with UTG, you mentioned “…as a band we have always favored writing music that builds and climaxes in some epic kind of way.” Do you see your music in the movies anytime soon?
Definitely. This is one of our dreams. Our latest release Sky And The Dark Night is I think a great testament to this.
Three artistes you'd like to collaborate with?
This is always a great question and our answers are always changing. I think now, I would say peoplelike Muse, Jay Z and Hans Zimmer… Muse is a band that I think really are on top of the world; their live shows are incredible and keep true to the traditions of perfomance laid down by bands like Pink Floyd; not to mention that their music is brilliant. Jay Z, because who cab honestly dispute the claim that he is one of the coolest and smoothest guys on the planet. And Hans Zimmer because he is simply a genius. As an aspiring film composer, I look up greatly to Hans and his ability to create music, which has effectively reinvented the role of music in film.
What do you like best about working with your fellow members?
Everyone knows that it is easy to work solo and that the emotional and physical strain of being in a band is often too much. But there is a beauty in being in a band that you just can't find on your own… We have shared some incredible times together and the bond we have formed through a common love for music is something that I will take to the grave.
What was the toughest period you guys have gone through together?
In 2012 we had a line up change leading up to the LA Music Awards. We were also due to record and perform a US tour at the time so it was a very challenging period for us. It didn’t last long though as we solved the problem pretty quickly and as a result are now a stronger unit than ever before. Nothing in this business is easy, you have to struggle and work very hard for everything but that is also a good thing. Success is best enjoyed after you have tasted tough times and have had the determination and work ethic to rise up again.
What do you not want your music to be conveyed as?
Good question, but I guess we would like to be known as a ground breaking band, a band that is fresh and inventive, a band that pioneers. So as for what we don’t want to be conveyed as, I would say the opposite of all of that!
How excited are you to perform in Singapore?
We are hugely excited to perform at Music Matters in Singapore. Myself and our bass player John, lived in Asia as young kids and have a big heart for Singapore and its food. We love the food—the spicier the better! Seriously though, it’s an honor to be playing in Singapore and we hope that the fans their love our music and our performances.
What's the meaning of life?
I wish I had some insider knowledge on this and what the greater power has got in store for all of us, but I guess if I knew, it might take away the majesty and the excitement from everyday life. For me though, being happy and enjoying life is what it is all about. Music helps me do that!
Monks of Mellonwah will be performing at Clarke Quay for Music Matters Live. Date and time to be confirmed.
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