Mondo NYC

IGNITING MUSIC & TECHNOLOGY

Mondo Music – Tokyo Taboo, Skinny Fresh, Shah, FingerFingerrr.

Leading up to the Mondo 2019 showcases in October, we will be highlighting the artists performing at our partnered venues. For more info, visit our artists section!

*All Mondo events are subject to change without notice*

Skinny Fresh

1. Where are you from and how do you think it’s influenced your music making? 

I am from Basel City, Switzerland. I don’t think the city has influenced my music making. My influences came from different places but especially from the U.S. When I was little I lived in San Diego for a year. During that time I came across artists like Cypress Hill, Eminem and Delinquent Habits. Those were my main influencers I’d say. Growing up as the child of a pianist, a further influence on my musical background was my mother. So my influence came rather from people than from cities or places. 

2. How did you discover that you wanted to make music? 

My crew met by chance. I needed a DJ for some upcoming shows and a friend told me he knows a DJ named Dani F. He informed me that he’s just started with djing but that he was really talented. I connected with him and we immediately knew that the vibe was good. About two years later I was looking for a singer for a new song of mine. A friend of mine introduced me to Svmthox and brought her to the studio. I was amazed by her voice and we connected right away. Since then she doesn’t just accompany me to my shows in order to sing but also to back me up. Having a female back up rapper and singer is not too common for rap artists. This combination is an asset for sure and definitely makes our live performances something special.

3. Who and what has influenced you, musically and non-musically?

I was 9-years-old when my family moved to San Diego for a year. During that year I started to listen to hiphop. I remember the first rap song I’ve ever heard. It was Rap Superstar by Cypress Hill. From that day on my musical preference changed and this music genre that I’ve never heard of before soaked me right in. I was raised in a musical family, so I learned to play the drums and piano for example. But after this is year in the U.S. I started to write lyrics and produce beats in the studio of my brother.

4. Have you ever performed in New York? If so, how was your previous experience? If not¬ what are you most excited for while performing at Mondo 2019? 

Our showcase at MONDO is our first U.S show ever. So we are actually very excited about it Furthermore, getting to perform in the city that happens to be the birthplace of hiphop, a culture that had such a huge impact on the lives of every single crew member, is a dream coming true. We can’t wait to experience NYC and having the opportunity to perform there is just amazing. 

5. What are your future tour and music release plans? 

During the last 12 month we’ve been recording a lot of new songs. We are focusing on the streaming market and therefore we are going to release one single after the other. The first single Keep It Real will drop September 24 2019. From then on we will release a new song every 2 months. 

Tokyo Taboo

1. Where are you from and how do you think it’s influenced your music-making? 

We are from London, UK. There’s an amazing, vibrant music scene here and a hub of creatives that we mix with so it’s definitely inspired us and our art.

2. How did you all meet and form? If you are a solo act, how did you discover that you wanted to make music? 

 
I auditioned Mickey as a guitar player for a solo pop project! We started writing together and progressively went down the darker rock n roll route. 
 

3. Who and what has influenced you, musically and non-musically? 

 

Dolly is a fan of big bold performers with lots of stage presence! Think Freddie Mercury, Bowie, Madonna, Debbie Harry, Lady Gaga – anyone with a persona on stage. Musically we mash up everything we listen to: Paramore, Blondie, Bowie, Queen, Halestorm, Linkin Park, Nirvana… anything that goes in our ears will inspire us somehow.  
 

4. Have you ever performed in New York? If so, how was your previous experience? If not, what are you most excited for while performing at Mondo 2019? 

We performed at Mondo two years ago and loved the whole experience! Our act has changed a bit now. Dolly has trained as a pole dancer and aerialist so we usually combine this in performances. New York is an amazing place to be for sure! We can’t wait to bring our circusy craziness to NYC! 
 

5. What are your future tour and music release plans? 

Our new single “Whiskey” was released on the 4th of October! We are so excited about this song! We also have a UK Tour coming up in Nov – Dec, with three of our fave female fronted bands. (Yur Mum, Healthy Junkies, PollyPikPocketz)
 
Dates:
 
21/11 Three Wise Monkeys, Colchester
 
24/11 at Ladyluck, Canterbury 
 
25/11 Crofters Rights, Bristol 
 
27/11 at Prince Albert, Brighton 
 
28/11 Esquires, Bedford
 
29/11 Thousand Island, London
 
04/12 Santiago, Leeds
 
05/12 Mulberry Tavern, Sheffield 
 
06/12 Temple Bar, Blackpool
 
07/12 The Kingfisher, Corby

Shah

1. Where are you from and how do you think it’s influenced your music-making?

Toronto’s brought me people from all around the world, so that’s influenced my music through having a whole world of sounds and styles to play with. And also being able to vibe with people from all sorts of communities.

2.Who and what has influenced you, musically and non-musically? 


When the people who really loved me told me that making music is the only way they can see me not ending up dead or in prison.


3. Who and what has influenced you, musically and non-musically? 


Non-musically Malcolm X, Mohammed Ali, Buddha, the Prophets, peace be upon them, and history’s great revolutionaries. Musically, Tupac but also modern day Atlanta street music.

4. Have you ever performed in New York? If so, how was your previous experience? If not, 
what are you most excited for while performing at Mondo 2019? 


I’ve never performed in NY before. In August, the Dominican community of NY made my song “Telemundo: go viral, and the love I’m been getting from the community has been gratifying. So I’m looking forward to bringing that energy to life.

5. What are your future tour and music release plans?

I just returned from my first European tour. But my next short term goal for touring is to tour in North America with a more established act, like a Kendrick or J Cole.

FingerFingerrr

 

1. Where are you from and how do you think it’s influenced your music-making?

We’re from São Paulo, Brazil. It’s such a huge city, with so much music and art going on. But I would say it’s influenced more of the way we live and our attitude to get things moving than our actual music. Time moves really fast in SP.

2. How did you all meet and form? If you are a solo act, how did you discover that you 
wanted to make music? 


We met about 12 years ago when we had a band together, with 4 members at the time, that then became FingerFingerrr, that then turned into a trio, that then became a duo. So we’re like the last two people left at your house that just won’t go away.

3. Who and what has influenced you, musically and non-musically? 


We have a lot of influences, from all over the place that mainly has to do with where we lived and what we liked growing up. I was born in São Paulo, but grew up in Stamford, CT, where I heard so much hip-hop, Chilli Peppers, Beastie Boys, Guns N’ Roses. And Ricardo is straight up from São Paulo, and he had metal bands, a jazz ensemble, and studied music. 

4. Have you ever performed in New York? If so, how was your previous experience? If not, 
what are you most excited for while performing at Mondo 2019? 


We’ve played New York 4 times now in the past 5 years! So we’re really excited to come back and see friends. Mondo will be our second legit New York festival. We did Northside (Brooklyn) in 2017. It’s really amazing we get to play NY-born ideas and ventures. We love the city, and actually lived 2 months here together touring because we dig it so much.

 5. What are your future tour and music release plans?

At this very moment, we’re finishing up our second album, which will be released at the beginning of 2020. With ‘MAR’, our first record, we went to so many places. Europe, US, Canada, Australia, played Primavera Sound, SXSW, and just did so much stuff. And so the plan is to do it all again, bigger and better.