Local Atlanta Indie Band: Nerdkween

With all the publicity of Atlanta being home to the next generation of Rap stars, it's notable when a musician who resides there paves their own way in another genre. Which is why I was pleased to be contacted by Monica Arrington, a female who hails from the state of Indiana, who is the sole member of "nerdkween". Currently under the record label of Stickfigure Records, Monica retains complete control over the recording in true Indie style, "I would like to maintain control of my own work so if I were to sign to a major label, I want to call the shots. But I'm so happy with the turn the music industry has made in the last 15 years or so because of the Internet. Everyone can have a chance to be heard. And kids will have a chance to discover music they probably would not hear if major labels were still dominant." Nerdkween's influences include PJ Harvey and Liz Phair's older works with a unique twist; Monica uses found objects, as well as instruments, to create the musical sounds behind the lyrics. "I noise and static! I think I stand out too because I can be very versatile and dramatic."

While originally from Indiana, Monica calls Montgomery, Alabama her hometown because she "feels like a Southerner" and that message is heard in her music. The music scores have a very metallic sound, like a banjo or the older country rock. Monica started writing songs when she was eleven years old but didn't start actively pursuing a solo music career until after college. She attended a magnet school where the first of her vocal training took place, and then in college majored in Voice and eventually changed to Music Composition. It was her group of friends in high school, who proudly claimed the label of "nerds", that inspired the name "nerdkween". Monica says, "Beings intelligent is something to be proud of." Some of Monica's earlier songs can be attributed to high school and adolescence as well, since she defined them as "teenage angst and depression stuff". Now as she gets older, the songs are still about events in her life but are less "confessional-like." "Or I simply switch roles with someone else in my life and write from their perspective," she adds. Monica's family has been supportive of her dream since day one; her father's advice to her concerning the choice? "As long as you are doing something with your music, one day it will all fall into place".

I asked Monica what her top 5 favorite songs by nerdkween are, and this is what she responded:

8 years- It's noise coming together in harmony.

Icon- It's very bare, and the lyrics are clever.

If- This has some good advice to myself, and it's where jazz and country music tangle up in my vocals.

Let me go- I finally let go of my teenage angst.

I wish I was your cloud- I like the airy quality it has.

Monica has a good grip on what her music is about and what she wants to accomplish. Though she doesn't shy away from praising the songs of nerdkween, she also doesn't try to shine the spotlight on the individual. When I asked her what she wanted people to say about nerdkween should she experience her fifteen minutes of fame, the answer was simple: "nerdkween does her own thing." While she goes back and forth on including new members in the band to help better the quality of music and to be able to tour together, it would be difficult to incorporate the use of radios and tapes on stage. So it seems that this one-woman-band is on the right track to getting her sound out into the world. Nerdkween has played in places like New York, Athens (Georgia), Atlanta and many others. In the summer of 2007 there should be a full album released under the Stickfigure label. In addition, there is soon to be a website, created by none other than Monica herself, and she is looking to give out freebies (concert passes, CDs, merchandise) to any who want to spread the nerdkween love and be apart of the street team.

To ensure the true essence of our artist isn't looked over, as everyone has a lighter side, I decided to throw a couple of questions at Monica and dig deeper.

CB: What is your favorite sound?
MA: The hum of an electric current makes me tingle.
CB: What is your favorite curse word?
MA: Dern...really. I try to be cute.
CB: What sound do you hate?
MA: Anything that comes out of George W. Bush's mouth!
CB: What makes you laugh?
MA: Eric Cartman
CB: If you could be a vegetable, what would you be and why?
MA: Corn. My friends say I'm corny anyway, and because I was born in Indiana.

Obviously, Monica is as eccentric and colorful as her music stylings. There are two bits of advice which she would like to share with people out there. The first to other Indie artists: "Keep making music and stay true to what you want to do musically! There will always be people who won't like you. But there are so many more who will. And critics can be fickle with their comments. I met writers who have told me that they give bad reviews just to shake things up! Think of Bob Dylan, when he came out everyone hated him and his voice, but he's STILL making music today." And the last to nerdkween's fans: "Don't be afraid to be yourself. Nobody is really normal. Celebrate the freak in you!"

Bravo, nerdkween.