Santa Semeli and The Monks is a brain child of Semeli Economou and Haraldur Agustsson. Currently based in London, where both of them are also involved in theatre and film, the band is testing out NYC music scene. They recently played two shows on the LES: one at Nublu and another one at Pianos, both are known for showcasing up and coming bands.
Their music draws on a variety of musical genres and it is blend of punk rock, indie and pop, all done with Semeli’s unstoppable energy and bravado. We recently caught up with the band to learn more about them and what they are bringing to NYC.
Flowers In A Gun: What’s your background? How did you get into music?
Semeli: My dad was a concert pianist and I grew up around a lot of musicians. So that’s my base, but I studied acting and directing. I played a little piano when I was kid but didn’t really pursue it seriously. In a way music wasn’t really a choice, it was a second nature I was living in the music. I mean I never consciously made a choice to be a musician. it just happened.
FIG: Let’s backtrack. When did you decide that you wanted to start a band?
S: Well, I always wanted to make music and I was always writing a bunch of poetry and wanted to set it to music. But I also wasn’t quite sure how to go about it, I felt like I needed someone to collaborate on it with. I would say about 7 years ago is when I seriously started thinking about it. Anyway, so I also wanted to do a show, like a theatrical show and one of my former acting students suggested to work with Haraldur on some stuff, actually as a musician and not as an actor. And then we got together about two years ago and I gave him a bunch of poetry and he started writing.
FIG: How did you form the band?
S: It all happened very gradually. We found a pianist, so we started to expand the music. Then we got a drummer, then a bass player and it all kind of happened very organically and very quickly. We had a bunch of songs that we wanted to record so we made an album “Santa Semeli and the Monks,” which is available on itunes. It was a natural progression. We recorded at a studio in London. It was a very enjoyable process; very effortless and happened very naturally.
FIG: What does the name of the band mean?
S: There is no Saint for Entertainment, so Santa Semeli is that. And the monks symbolize dedication to the cause and the cause is making good music and serving it. It is about service to the art that you are making.
FIG: What are your main musical influences? What drives your music?
Haraldur: I come from a very vocal background, everyone in my family sings. Butt more generally its choir and pop/rock.
S: I come from Tchaikovsky, I have a very good sense of orchestration. We are both very open minded to the possibilities of telling a story through the song.
FIG: What kind of stories are trying to tell through your songs?
S: For me it’s all very personal, it’s all about the things that concern me. Sometimes it is a form of personal exorcism, sometimes it is about social observations … I also have a need to bring awareness to the people even if it is about myself, it’s always about being honest and sharing my thoughts.
FIG: You play show in the States and England, what do you prefer? Do you feel like there is a big difference?
S: People here are more open, they have a stronger sense of adventure, they like new things … London is more conservative in a certain respect.
FIG: What makes a good show? When is it success?
S: When I know I gave 100% of what I could do. The audience doesn’t really matter to me – when I am good I know they will listen.
H: The audience you don’t even remember most of the time. A good usually flies by in a second. Because you are having too much fun!
FIG: What are our plans going forward?
S: We want to make a new album. We want to make some music videos, which of course takes time. We are releasing a disco song called “Where is the disco in this town?” We want to tour, of course, and play bigger places, etc.
FIG: Describe your band in three words?
S: Simply The Best.
