MonkeyRat On the Making Of “Niels Uni Dam”
Can you share any interesting or unique stories or perspectives in "Niels Uni Dam?"
Every time I would ask Niels Uni Dam to correct text or add info regarding the Open mic events, (that I've been hosting with Arnold Ludvig since 2015), he would always correct and add the info - right away! "Damn, he's so quick to fix" I would say to myself, 1st, time, 2nd time, 3rd time. Then one day, I said it out loud, "Damn, he's so quick to fix"... "What?", asked, Arnold Ludvig, award-winning bass virtuoso and composer of MonkeyRat. "Oh, my God, his last name is Dam!" I exclaimed. That was the inspiration to write a funny song about Niels Uni Dam, one of our staunchest supporters of Open mic.
The people in the Faroes are usually very laid back and slow paced, so I was pleasantly surprised to meet a fast Faroese! :)
What was your experience working with international award-winning cosplay artist, Kii Aagre?
Fantastic! :) *She is so good at what she does. Kii Aagre made the wigs, did the makeup, handmade, borrowed, bought, and altered the 3 costumes of Niels Uni Dam for the 3 roles she portrayed: 1) red-headed mohawk rapper of Mc-Har, 2) the Faroe Islands football fan fanatic, and 3) businessman in a suit and tie and bowler hat. She played the 3 characters so well. We had a blast and laughed so much!
How do you feel "Niels Uni Dam" represents your artistic identity?
I feel that "Niels Uni Dam" finally encapsulates all my artistic identities not only as a songwriter and singer, but the video also shows my comedic side as an actress, my performance side as a dancer, and my imagination as a storyteller, scriptwriter, and director.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I was born to a Calabrese mother and father, where dancing to the Calabrese Tarantella, a fast-paced 6/8, 12/8 dance was in my blood since conception. I was bouncing off the walls with so much energy, that my mother nicknamed me - Fuoco Ardente - ardent fire! :) I fell in love with tap dancing and flamenco dancing watching the old Hollywood classics as a child. I've been dancing to music since the age of 3. I dreamt of going to Hollywood and Broadway, but alas, those dreams were not allowed; my Italian father knew too well what happens to young girls in the music business. At 26, I moved out to pursue an acting career, a scandalous act in those days, but music and dancing to music were my true passions. I never thought it was possible to dream again until I met, Arnold Ludvig from the Faroe Islands in Montreal, where I was born and raised. It simmered for many years until we moved and lived in the Faroe Islands, the Janteloven became unbearable, and that's when I started my music career, in 2006, I performed it live with a band, something I had never done in my life, but I had something to say and say it I did.
How do you balance creativity and commercial success in your music career?
Well, I like to dance, but, I'm also a poet. So, it all depends on the inspiration that I receive. MonkeyRat is a multi-genre band rooted mainly in Funk. I grew up with all the great music from the 70's including, rock, world music, etc...
I allow myself to receive what comes to me. I like hooks, guitar, and bass licks that are catchy cause I like to dance, and "Niels Uni Dam" makes me wanna dance and laugh, two of my favorite things in life. I also DJ'd at Mojo Blues Bar in Copenhagen for 7 years, my DJ name was, OneDerFunk! :)