Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackson, Dave, and Hagen.
Jackson, Dave, and Hagen, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
“The band started when I had music I had been sitting on as a solo artist and wanted badly to have people to share the fun with. When I met Hagen, he was playing in tons of bands, and I knew he probably wouldn’t be able to commit to another so I asked him to at least play a few shows with me and record an EP so that I could show it to other drummers and he said he’d happily do that. That was over three years ago…
Dave came along when we needed a bassist too, and he has been the “olive branch” of the band. What I mean by that is that Hagen and Dave have similar music tastes and Dave and I have similar music tastes. Whenever we’re writing music Dave will turn to Hagen and say, “do this drum part like in this Foo Fighters song,” and then he’ll turn to me and say, “do this part just like in this Radiohead song.” It’s super fun to watch because I think that Dave is one of the few people in the middle of that Venn diagram of people between those two bands and we’re lucky to have him there to show Hagen and me that we both like good music.
Currently, we’re trying to stockpile as much material as we can and once we have a body of new songs that we’re happy with we’ll decide what we want to do with it. In the past, I’ve always pressured myself to release a steady flow of material, but I want it to feel more relaxed this time around, and personally, I think that the music is reflected that. Who knows, maybe we’ll release multiple EPs or an LP with some bonus material. All I know is that I’m having a good time with the band mates I have, and we’re not looking to make things any more difficult than they need to be.” -Jackson
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
“We make music. I wouldn’t say that there’s anything in particular that we aim for thematically when we’re writing, but I just hope that people can relate to what we’re doing. Some of the songs are lighthearted content, and some can seem heavier. I would never want someone to listen to our music and think it’s a bummer. One time my mom came out to our show and afterward asked if I was sad and I said absolutely not all the supposed melancholy that can come across from music is a genuine therapy for all of us.” -Jackson
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
“Making music can come with its own financial burdens, but when it really comes down to it, we all started making music because we love doing it. You don’t need expensive gear to make music. I have caught myself feeling more creative on random pieces of cheap instruments than I have on my gear that I’ve amassed over the years. If you can afford it and want I say do it but don’t let that hold you back when it actually comes to creating. Hell everyone has vocal cords so you can always sing for free!” -Jackson
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
“All our music is available on Spotify, Bandcamp, Itunes, as well as physical formats. We’re consistently playing shows in DFW (Dallas, Fort Worth, Denton, etc.) and you can reach out to us on Instagram and Facebook to find out what we’re always up to. If we’re not playing shows, I’m at least updating our social media with pictures of my cat.” -Jackson
Contact Info:
- Email: mnkrband@gmail.com
- Instagram: mnkrmusic
- Facebook: facebook.com/monikerdallas
- Other: monikermusic.bandcamp.com
Image Credit:
Personal photo by Garrett Smith
Live photos by Austin Longueville & Erin Devany
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
