The New Monarchs

Minneapolis electronic crusaders, The New Monarchs, have been hibernating almost since their birth in 2005. Starting out as a guitar, bass, and drums quartet, the band soon split for college. However, remaining members Sean Hogan (Vocals, Guitar, Programming, Electronics) and Taylor Nelson (Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar, Programming, Electronics, Piano) continued to write and exchange ideas via email while at their respective schools, then jointly applied the varnish to the tunes between semesters, with a more electronically based outlook. When Hogan graduated from University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in the spring of 2008, the band began recording their debut LP, Blueprints, in the box office of their former high school’s theater department. With over two months of late nights and continuing to work their day jobs, The New Monarchs found their final product ranging from energetic dance tunes with irrefutable hooks to droning experimental pieces with grave undertones. With influences stemming from the likes of Kraftwerk, The Postal Service, Radiohead, and Nine Inch Nails, Blueprints unloads a conjured up, ten track recipe of soft, sullen lyrics, and an array of mind-bending beats backed by raw, brutal guitars. The New Monarchs are surrounded by electronic music innovators amongst the Minneapolis scene, and having recently signed to local label, Soup Bowl Records, they have big plans for the road during the upcoming year. Blueprints will take you on a journey of new aural experiences and musical vision. This duo will make your late night drives to nowhere a party, a meditation, a rebirth, and will hypnotize you into an ethereal soundscape that you’ll never want to part ways with. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.