Nothing negative about Negatives as it soars up
MONARK frontman Eugene Coetzer is relaxing in Stellenbosch when we talk on the phone. He recently moved there and finds the area inspiring.
It has been a few months since their self-titled sophomore album was released. Monark was written and produced by band members Coetzer and his bandmate Ewald Janse van Rensburg and recorded at Ewald’s studio in Potchefstroom.
A lot of people find self-titled albums bold statements, but for Coetzer it just symbolises the band coming into their own.
“We wandered around with all kinds of themes as we worked through the album. Then we just realised one thing we wanted to do and achieve with this one is to really be honest about who we are. And we’re not sugar coating anything. We’re saying this is who we are and this is what we feel like. It’s actually just saying: ‘This is Monark, and we hope you like it’.”
When they first came out in 2013 they immediately dominated the South African airwaves with their first two singles, Smiling and Build It Up before releasing their third single just before their debut album, Negatives came out. It famously reached No 1 on the iTunes Album Chart on its day of release, July 2014.
That early success created expectations, which they found challenging to deal with.
“While we were writing Monark we felt like we had to keep writing the hits. Then at some stage, we really let that go. And I think I was inspired by a couple of artists and the way they do things. The world is really comfortable with people just doing what they love and not being too fussed about putting it in a very specific box.
“I think like halfway through this process I started being relaxed and just really started doing what I like. And I think that just took it to a new level.”
Monark also signals a change in their production style and Eugene has been anxious to see how fans respond to this.
“The first album was kind of like a blank page. You put what you did out there and you just hope for the best. But with this one there’s already kind of an expectation. People kind of have an idea of what they think it’s gonna be like and then you just hope they’re gonna be happy with what you’re doing. But it’s been an awesome journey for the second chapter.”
They were in studio for about four or five months, which he says is a shorter period than with Negatives. Sake of Our Love, featuring up-and-coming songstress Ryki is one of the early favourites. Coetzer speaks glowingly of Ryki. “She’s incredible. She really blew my mind. As we went into the studio that day it was magnificent.”
It’s been a big ride for them. After spending the first few years of their playing career trying to figure things out, they seem to have found a formula that they’re comfortable with.