Monograms is the moniker of Brooklyn-based musical artist, Ian Jacobs. He employs strong, swift tones to convey his creative ideas. Dynamic music with pointillism lyrics, lucid beats, and psychedelic melodies, creates a driving backdrop of underground and popular music across an eclectic spectrum.
His latest offering ‘Listen Up’ is a militant call to action and an epic single from the LP ‘A Fine Commitment’. The track is a barrage of ricocheting beats, angular guitars, and sprawling feedback that builds to a tumultuous crescendo with genre-bending attacks of post-punk, new wave, and indie-rock production, merging dark tones alongside groovy, energetic hopefulness.
An elaborate MUSIC VIDEO accompanies the track as a visually stunning display combining a masked protagonist’s exploits. Monograms fall in and out of his own image, finally landing underwater and into a dream-like performance. This aesthetic enhances the driving, syncopated rhythm, rolling guitars, and distinctive vocals the song offers.
Jacobs reflects: “I knew I wanted to make something fun and elaborate. I started to dig into some big production ideas but built concepts that didn’t take themselves too seriously at the same time. I also wanted to have something about the duality of perspective which is what the song is about, that’s where the idea of the mask came from; The idea that something bad can also be good… and vice versa, depending on how you look at it. Co-Director Brendan Ward and I came up with some crazy ideas and somehow managed to pull them all off.”
‘Listen Up’ which follows previous singles ‘Hi Low’ and ‘Carry The Weight’ finds Monograms expanding his portfolio into exciting uncharted territories. Entirely written and recorded by Monograms in Brooklyn, the song promises a thrilling meltdown of boundaries.
Monograms’ music channels the golden era of college radio whilst retaining the energy of contemporary influences. He accomplishes this while working with sounds from post-punk, gritty pop, and angular psych, to new-wave creating a mesmeric sound.
Since the project’s early bedroom recordings, Monograms has received support from international acts like Cloud Nothings, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Ezra Furman, Sunflower Bean, Man or Astro-Man?, A Place To Bury Strangers, GØGGS (Ty Segall/Ex-Cult), Gilla Band, New Candys, Caveman, DMA’s, Juan Waters, Gang of Youths, Buscabulla, the Wytches, and others.
Reputable media publications including Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, Earmilk, Under the Radar, the 405, Post-Punk, and Alt Citizen, to mention a few, have praised Monograms’ music. These features have resulted in increased exposure on radio, film, and television (KEXP, Shameless on Showtime, and SXSW Film Festival).
