Lotus Arts Box

BITCH 'N' MONK: "The seeds of this experimental male-female duo were planted in Taunton, which is somehow fitting, for Bitch ("beatboxing soprano" and guitarist Heidi Heidelberg) 'n' Monk's (experimental flautist Mauricio Velasierra) poison apple sound of jazz, folk and classical is in bitter proximity to West Country trip-hop miserablists Portishead [...] It vibrates with the sort of wacky, joie de vivre tUnE-yArDs is prone to - and that ain't a bad thing." - The Quietus

With their unusual instrumentation of soprano, electric guitar, traditional flutes and effects, Bitch 'n' Monk have been gaining an eclectic set of fans including Yoko Ono and Ray Davies. Angular melodies and seemingly irrational harmony may come from nights listening to Prokofiev and Wayne Shorter, or just from a shared fetish for the tritone. Inexplicable groove on the strangest of bar lengths might reflect their affinity with West African rhythms, or just a belief that anything – however bizarre – can be spectacular if played with commitment and energy.

Since forming in 2013 they have been known to roam the stages of London’s Royal Festival Hall, Vortex, Paris’ La Cigale, Rich Mix and the V&A Museum. Their debut short album 'Fulafalonga' came out on July 14th on Lotus Arts Box Records.