You can keep a secret, right? I got a really great gift from Nerdkween. It was on my birthday when I was in Atlanta. I met Monica Arrington (aka Nerdkween) on night three of The Other Sound. I enjoyed talking to her about music and life. That conversation would continue the next night as we met up at 11:11 Teahouse for more Other Sound fun. After the friendly pleasantries of hello and whatnot, I felt like a kid at Christmas when she said, “OK, ready for your birthday goodie bag?”
Grinning as she held out the little package, I swear I actually rubbed my hands frantically and cackled, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!” Inside was more than I could have hoped for. There was a button, stickers and two CDs. One of them had new stuff that I can’t actually tell you about. You see, these songs are not only unreleased, but works in progress. I was so honored that, after meeting just the night before, she thought enough to let me hear it.
I will say that this is a stunning collection of music. Monica takes influences from many areas and combines them into a style of what she calls post-modern pop. I don’t know how I would actually classify it. She has a unique perspective on what a song should be. There is a darkness to the ambiance and an innocence to the intelligence. The sound is decidedly lo-fi with noises that bring out an almost eerie quality and at the center is this sweet voice that draws you in.
In a message I received the other day, Monica said she hopes the new CD will be ready for release by Thanksgiving on Stickfigure Records. If you can’t wait for the new material to be released, check out Nerdkween on MySpace. And if you live in Atlanta, be sure to stop by a show and say hi. You’ll be glad you did. I know I am.
See Also:
Nerdkween
Stickfigure Records
The Other Sound
