Monarchy (band)

Monarchy is a British electronic music duo consisting of Andrew Armstrong (producer, DJ) and Ra Black (vocals, lyrics).[2][3] Based in London,[4] the duo was previously known as Milke.[2][3] They have released three studio albums and two extended plays.

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

History

In November 2009, Monarchy was featured as "Band of the Day" on The Guardian website.[5] 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".[6] 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.[2][3]

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][7] 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,[8] Monarchy was set to release their self-titled debut album that August.[9][10] However, the duo were dropped by Mercury a few months later, and the album's release was cancelled.[1][10] 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.[10][11] 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.[12] Popjustice placed Around the Sun at number fourteen on its list of the best albums of 2011.[13] 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.[14] The duo released the single "Living Without You" on 28 April 2014.[15] Their extended play Almost Human, was officially released on 8 September 2014,[16] after premiering exclusively on Vibe's website on 15 August.[17] Monarchy's second studio album, Abnocto, was released on 6 March 2015 by Hacan Sounds.[18] It was preceded by the single "Dancing in the Corner" on 19 January 2015.[19]

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.[20]

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.[21]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Year Released in Tracklist
Around the Sun 2011 Worldwide 1. Black, The Colour Of My Heart

2. I Won't Let Go

3. The Phoenix Alive

4. Love Get Out Of My Way

5. Maybe I'm Crazy

6. You Don't Want To Dance With Me

7. Around The Sun

8. Jealous Guy

9. Floating Cars

10. Gold In The Fire

11. Call

12. Travelling By Ambulance

13. Same Old You (Bonus Track)

14. We Were Young (Bonus Track)

15. Alien (Bonus Track)

Abnocto 2015 Worldwide 1. Living Without You

2. Dancing in the Corner

3. The Dream

4. It's All I Know

5. Falling in Love With A Memory

6. Almost Human

7. Disintegration (featuring Dita Von Teese)

8. Black Widow

9. The Beautiful Ones

10. Fractured World

11. The Wave

12. Like A Soldier

Abnocto (Bonus Tracks)[22] United Kingdom only 1. Cherry Moon

2. Promised Me Sunshine

3. Metropolis

4. Two People Talking

5. Perigee Moon

6. I Won't Let Go (Live at Silencio, Paris)

7. Maybe I'm Crazy (Live at Silencio, Paris)

8. Living Without You (Live at Razzmatazz)

Mid:Night 2019 Worldwide 1. Back to the Start

2. Deep Cut

3. Get Into the Night

4. Deadset Lust

5. MidNight

6. Hula Hoop 8000

7. Racie's Cousin

8. Cumming Coma

Extended plays
  • Almost Human (2014)
  • Re|Vision (2015)

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" 2016
"Back to the Start" 2019
"Deep Cut" 2018
"Dance Like Hell" 2016 Non-album singles
"Glow Vision" 2019
"Just Give Me Your Love" 2020

Music videos
Title Year Director(s)
"The Phoenix Alive" 2010 Nils Porrmann[23]
"Love Get Out of My Way" Price James[24]
"I Won't Let Go" 2011 Roy Raz[25]
"You Don't Want to Dance with Me"
(featuring Britt Love)		 Ramy Dance[23]
"Disintegration"
(featuring Dita Von Teese)		 2013 Roy Raz[26]
"Living Without You" 2014 Jimmy Ahlander and Robin Antiga[27]
"Almost Human" Matthew Daily Young[28]
"The Beautiful Ones" Maud Regnault and Thomas Blanchard[29]
"Black Widow" 2015 Ross McElwain and Manos Ioannou[30]
"Hula Hoop 8000" 2017 Virgili Jubero
"MidNight" 2018 Alberto Van Stokkum
"Back to the Start" 2019 Mar del Corral[31]

Remixes
Title Year Artist
"She Needs Me" (Monarchy Black Galaxy Remix)[32] 2010 Fyfe Dangerfield
"Hollywood" (Monarchy 'Gliese Remix')[33] Marina and the Diamonds
"Acapella" (Monarchy Urania Club Mix)[34] Kelis
"Starry Eyed" (Monarchy 'The Horse Head Nebular' Remix)[35] Ellie Goulding
"Dance in the Dark" (Monarchy 'Stylites' Remix)[36] Lady Gaga
"White Knuckle Ride" (Monarchy Remix)[37] Jamiroquai
"Sister Marie Says" (Monarchy Twin Galaxies Remix)[38] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
"Better than Today" (Monarchy 'Kylie Through the Wormhole' Remix)[39] Kylie Minogue
"Mantra Mania" (Monarchy Remix)[40] 2016 S'Express

References
  1. Michael, Hann (4 August 2011). "Monarchy: Around the Sun – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  2. "Revealed: why the hottest new bands are hiding their faces". The Independent. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  3. Hubbard, Michael (16 September 2011). "Interview – Monarchy". musicOMH. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  4. Cragg, Michael (13 April 2011). "New music: Monarchy – I Won't Let Go". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  5. Lester, Paul (27 November 2009). "New band of the day – No 678: Monarchy". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  6. "GOLD 013: MONARCHY". Neon Gold Records. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  7. Saunders, Sam (1 August 2011). "Monarchy – Around the Sun Album Review". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  8. "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...
  9. "Key Releases: 14.08.10". Music Week. 14 August 2010. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013 – via HighBeam Research.
  10. Empire, Kitty (7 August 2011). "Monarchy: Around the Sun – review". The Observer. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  11. "Around the Sun by Monarchy". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  12. Malone, Ailbhe (8 August 2011). "Album Review: Monarchy – 'Around The Sun'". NME. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  13. "2011: The 33 Best Albums". Popjustice. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  14. O'Mance, Brad (6 December 2012). "Monarchy have announced details of their new Dita Von Teese-featuring single". Popjustice. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  15. "Living Without You: Monarchy: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  16. "Almost Human – EP by Monarchy". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  17. Rodriguez, Krystal (15 August 2014). "Premiere: Monarchy "Almost Human"". Vibe. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  18. "Abnocto – Monarchy". HMV Ireland. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  19. "Dancing in the Corner (2015) | Monarchy". 7digital (UK). Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  20. Armstrong, Andrew (1 June 2015). "We've had a troubled time lately". Facebook. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  21. "New Age | Dark Age, by Karma Fields". Monstercat. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  22. "Monarchy (2) - Abnocto (Bonus Tracks)". Discogs. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  23. "Monarchy". IMVDb. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  24. Knight, David (8 July 2010). "Monarchy's Love Get Out Of My Way by Price James". Promo News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  25. Knight, David (14 April 2011). "Monarchy's I Won't Let Go by Roy Raz". Promo News. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  26. Knight, David (16 January 2013). "Monarchy & Dita Von Teese 'Disintegration' by Roy Raz". Promo News. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  27. Ahlander, Jimmy (2 June 2014). "Monarchy "Living Without You" (Jimmy Ahlander & Robin Antiga, dir.)". VideoStatic. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  28. Gottlieb, Steven (15 October 2014). "Monarchy "Almost Human" (Matthew Daily Young, dir.)". VideoStatic. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  29. Gottlieb, Steven (11 November 2014). "Monarchy "The Beautiful Ones" (Maud Regnault, Thomas Blanchard, dir.)". VideoStatic. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  30. Brown, Jimmy (24 March 2015). "Monarchy 'Black Widow' by Ross McElwain & Manos Ioannou". Promo News. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  31. Monarchy – Back To The Start (Official Video), retrieved 2 February 2020
  32. "She Needs Me" (UK CD single). Fyfe Dangerfield. Polydor Records. 2010. 2727700.CS1 maint: others (link)
  33. "Hollywood – EP by Marina and The Diamonds". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  34. "Acapella (The Remixes) by Kelis". iTunes Store (Australia). Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  35. "Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed (Monarchy 'The Horse Head Nebular' Remix)". SoundCloud. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  36. "Lady Gaga | The Remix (CD) 2010". Universal Music UK. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  37. "White Knuckle Ride – Remixes (UK promotional CD-R single). Jamiroquai. Mercury Records. 2010.CS1 maint: others (link)
  38. "Sister Marie Says (Remixes) by Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  39. "Better Than Today – EP by Kylie Minogue". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  40. "Enjoy This Trip – S'Express". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
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