‘Black Monsoon knows how to inspire and is a band to keep on your radar'
-ROCKTRIBUNE (BE)
"The Dutch have their own Sonic Youth"
-DANSENDE BEREN (BE)
'Reminding of the raw and slower Bleach period of Nirvana'
-3VOOR12 (NL)
‘Sludgy pervading guitar riffs mixed with the melodic voices of the two vocalists'
-THE DAILY INDIE (NL)
'Talent'
-NEVER MIND THE HYPE (NL)
'Raw Indie'
- dBs STUDIO Utrecht (NL)
'Gigging heavily on the festival circuit in Holland and elsewhere, they will bring their beautiful grungey noise to London for our listening pleasure'
-CIVIL WAR LONDON (UK)
Jacquelien Kwast (guitars/vocals), Teun Guichelaar (guitars/vocals), Marjolijn Dokter (drums / backing vocals)
Photo: Ab Al-tamimi
BLACK MONSOON BIOGRAPHY (English)
If PJ Harvey, Kurt Cobain, and Sonic Youth had a love baby, it might have been named Black Monsoon. Dutch rockers Black Monsoon blend their personal picks from highlights of nineties grunge and alternative rock into their own style of going against the grain. Driven by catchy guitar riffs and the pounding drums of Marjolijn Dokter, the melancholic vocals of frontwoman Jacky Kwast and frontman Teun Guichelaar embrace each other to find comfort. On stage, the alt-rockers express their personal blood, sweat and tears by alienating melodies, unusual guitar tunings and drill-machine solos.
In 2018, the band debuted with a selftitled EP, recorded at Sputnikstudio in Antwerp (BE). Along with their well acclaimed DIY attitude, this soon put Black Monsoon in the spotlights of underground venues across the country and abroad. The band opened for artists such as Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Indian Askin, Whispering Sons and David Nance Group. In 2019, Black Monsoon toured Popronde, the acclaimed touring festival for up-and-coming talented bands in The Netherlands, where the band was picked as talent by Dutch music magazine Never Mind the Hype.
Since the release of well-received singles Jabberwocky’ and ‘ Losing’ in late summer of 2019, the three have been crossing the Dutch borders by setting foot to Germany and touring the United Kingdom, while stretching the boundaries of their musical experimentations.
On 27 November 2020 the band released ‘Pantomime’ as their first long player. On these eleven tracks the trio scratches open painful wounds from oppressive feelings of insecurity and self-reflection. While COVID measures did not allow for a regular album release tour, the trio organized a video-release tour to present each of every track in its most appropriate atmosphere. As such, the band released a series of single live videos that were shot at eleven unique locations (including a vintage shop, art exhibition and skate park). Each track was premiered by different media, and the full series can still be found on the band's YouTube channel.
Nothing beats a live show with an audience!
