Posted on January 3, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Take me to the Momeraths

What surprises me the most about Internet is the neverending chance to stumble upon fresh new bands to discover. Some of them are interesting, most of them all are starting to become quite boring… then here they come! Still something fine enough to set your enthusiasm on fire and secretly steal you a smile.

Sweet melodies and voices, crazy songs with sudden twist of directions and a handful of cool ideas. Like the awaited next big thing in an anime cartoon network. “The Magic Numbers” meets “The Boy Less Likely to” going from twee to folk. Ladz and gentz, please meet The Momeraths.

Mark Zonda: Ladies and gentlemen, The Momeraths. First of all, Why Alice?

Momeraths: Since Claire was young she has had a love for children’s stories and poems, The Jabberwocky from Alice in Wonderland being one of her favourites, and The momeraths are little fury coloured creatures in the Disney adaption and we thought that this suited our music terrifically!

Mark Zonda: Second one: why Pop Italiano?

Momeraths: Paolo is 3/4 Italian, with a father who is Sardinian and a Mother who is half Italian from Florence, and as he is the songwriter we thought this was quite a fitting idea, combining the Italian heritage with our pop music!

Mark Zonda: What do you know about Italian Pop Music? Anything in particular about its indie scene?

Momeraths: We know very little about the indie scene in italy Nonno Joe (Zonda: that’s my nickname btw), could you recommend anything to us? As for Italian pop music, Paolo only knows a few bits from his parents and family from the 70s such as Battisti and Baglioni but is not a fan as they used to make him play them on the guitar at family parties when he was a child. Ha ha!

Mark Zonda: Well. There’s a lot of interesting stuff going on in the Italian indie scene, such as Le Man Avec Les Lunettes, Les Fauves, Annie Hall and Superpartners, naming the fews. As for Battisti you shouldn’t worrie. His “10 Ragazze per me” was one of the hits on the dancefloor of “How Does It Feels To Be Love” nights last summer. Dealing with indie gems, how does it takes for you to write the whole structure of a song, and where inspiration come from?

Momeraths: We all have many different tastes in music and so there are many influences upon us from “Belle and Sebastian” to “The Mystery Jets” to “The Andrews Sisters”. However, it doesn’t take very long for the song to come together, and the best ones are always the easiest to create.

Mark Zonda: Talking ’bout one of my favourites, Belle & Sebastians: which is your top 5 of songs?

Momeraths: 1 “Dylan in the movies”, 2 “Lazy line painter Jane”, 3 “Sleep the clock around”, 4 “She’s losing it”, 5 “Funny little frog”

Mark Zonda: Take Belle & Sebastian. I always wondered how the fate bunched’em together starting the whole thing. What about you?

Momeraths: We have all been friends for a few years, and Paolo and Claire have been singing for a number of years for fun, and it gradually developed into our little colourful extravaganza!

Mark Zonda: Finally: outroduce your band….

Momeraths: The Momeraths are five little fur balls from the south of these isles playing fun colourful pop folk music. They are to release their first EP, “Crayon colours…” on the 2nd of february 2009, which features a limited edition knitted cover with goodies inside. To join the fun visit www.myspace.com/wherethemomerathsgo. Grazie Nonno!

Mark Zonda: A true pleasure.

Waiting for our sight:

• What Will Replace MTV? (15)
• Our last year of independent? (7)
• Indie O’Clock: Tiny Tide and Nothing Meets All (7)
• Funny Little Bunny (6)
• Christmas Indie Ep from Japan (6)