Rare Monk

Rare Monk

Rare Monk is an indie rock group from Portland, Oregon, active since 2012. The band develops a sound built from 1990s and contemporary indie rock, with elements of pop, psychedelic rock and dance music, and it has been compared in broad terms with artists such as Modest Mouse, Sonic Youth and Phoenix.

Background

The group forms around college roots in Portland, where it develops a reputation as a live band with a strong, high-energy performance style. Frontman Dorian Aites describes the band’s approach as writing songs simply because they sound good, rather than trying to fit a fixed style.

Releases

In 2012, Rare Monk works with producer Skyler Norwood, known for his work with Blind Pilot, Horsefeathers and Talkdemonic, on the self-released EP Death By Proxy. The title track and the song “Underground” present the band’s mix of pop momentum and slower, funk-influenced movement.

In 2014, the band issues a limited-edition AA-side 7-inch single on B3SCI Records with the songs “Splice” and “Sleep/Attack”. That release is recorded and produced in late summer 2013 at Wax LTD Studios in Los Angeles by Wally Gagel, who has worked with Best Coast, Muse, Family Of The Year and Folk Implosion.