Monkz

Monkz is a house and dance act that begins in January 2002 as a DJ and producer trio made up of Shootie, Supacurtis and G.u.l.u. Gulu leaves the group in 2004. In May 2002, the singer Flower joins and contributes vocals to the track “By Your Side”, which becomes the first release associated with the group.

Early releases and club links

“By Your Side” appears on the Pacha Winter Session double mix CD in December 2002. Monkz also holds a DJ residency at Pacha Budapest and becomes part of the Pacha Futura DJ association from November 2002. The group plays overseas, including Miami, and appears at Opium on the 30th birthday of Pacha Ibiza alongside Satoshi, Pete Tong and Wally Lopez. They also perform at Pacha Ibiza in July and August, and share bills with Bob Sinclair and Claudio Coccoluto.

Label releases and chart support

In spring 2003, Plastic Fantastic signs the group for three 12-inch singles. Their first release on the label is “Canga Urania” in November 2003, which receives DJ support and reaches the US Balance Chart for four weeks, peaking at number two. It is played by DJs including Satoshi, John Digweed, Chris Fortier and Danny Tenaglia. The group’s earlier track “Nu Bluez” appears on Sander Kleinenberg’s Renaissance CD Everybody in November 2003, and a different mix is later set for release on Alternative Route Recordings in March 2004. Another track, “Slow Talking”, is signed to Dave Seaman’s next CD, also released in March 2004.

Later singles and album

Monkz releases “Bass ’n Shit and Soapless soap” on Plastic Fantastic in January 2004; the Ministry of Sound website names it “Record of the week”. A third single, “Zakka & Nekke”, follows on the same label in summer 2004 and stays on the US Balance Chart for six weeks, again reaching number two. In 2005 the group issues its first mini-album, Goggles EP, on Lowriders Recordings. The release includes “Goggles”, “I want to see the Sun”, “Nasty” and “This is our Land”. “Goggles” is also included on DJ19’s Addictive Asia Gate2 mixed CD.

Artist support

The group’s music is played by a wide range of DJs, including John Digweed, Sasha, Pete Tong, Danny Tenaglia, Hernan Cattaneo, Deep Dish, Dave Seaman, Steve Lawler, Nick Warren, Moshic, Red Jerry, Jo Mills, Rui da Silva, Paul Jackson, Justin Garrett, Satoshi Tomiie, Lee Burridge and Wally Lopez.