Interview
I was fortunate to catch up with the MonaLisa Twins on Saturday, 30th April, 2016, between their two regular Cavern sets. We headed through the audience that had just soaked up their first batch of idyllic songs, up the iconic spiral stairs and out into the light, remarking that it was strange after just being in The Cavern. We headed off to a local Mexican fast food joint, where I asked them a few questions.
So you’ve done lots of interviews before, but the most important question of all is….Do you miss Apfelstrudel?
LISA: If we miss Apfelstrudel? Yeah actually. Probably the biggest thing I miss about Austria, which sounds a bit harsh, is the food. Nothing against British food but Austrian food is just nicer- Schnitzel, Gulasch, Apfelstrudel.
Do you get to go back there much then?
MONA: Not at all actually. We’ve not been there in probably more than a year right?
LISA: Yes. Ever since we came here exactly two years ago we’ve only been back twice. And it wasn’t even for long. We don’t really miss it either because we’re really happy here . But of course it’s where we grew up, where we started our musical journey so it’ll always be fun to go back from time to time.
So you’ve got lots of family still out there?
LISA: Well our parents are both with us here which is brilliant and I think that takes away the whole homesickness and we work together with our parents a lot. It’s a family business.
It’s almost like the Von Trapps, isn’t it?
LISA: We had not seen the Sound of Music until a couple of months ago. I never knew what people were talking about. It’s the first thing people said when we said we from Austria, “Oh. Sound of Music.” I’m like, “What’s that? I don’t know what it is.” Now we know.
So what’s your earliest musical memory? When you were babies did you cry in harmony?
MONA: When we were babies we didn’t take much notice of each other. One of us would be crying and the other one fast asleep. First singing? I’d say we started on car rides when we were really tiny. Our dad used to teach us to sing harmonies. We’d do like really early Beatles songs and stuff like that. Our dad, just while driving the car would teach us things.
I suppose you’re like the Everlys. Were they twins or brothers?
LISA: No they’re brothers. They fell out though. Hope that never happens.
MONA: No it won’t. I can’t imagine that happening.
That’s one thing I wanted to ask: “Do you ever disagree over a song? Which song to do or how to do it?
MONA: We have musical differences in that we sometimes disagree in small things. But I think in the overall picture we’re very similar when it comes to taste.
LISA: And usually if we disagree the end result is better than what we both had in mind before.
I love your “That’s Life” video. Is that your dog?
MONA: No no!
Who comes up with the ideas for videos? Is it joint?
LISA: For that one I don’t know who had the initial idea. We normally sit around with our dad and brainstorm over a tea and coffee and then we go, “What can we do for this one?” and one of us comes up with a good idea. We kind of go for that and bounce around ideas. Everything is self-made. Every video you see on Youtube is made in the family.
They’re always feel good videos, aren’t they? They make you smile.
MONA: Well that’s good. That’s what music should do. Make you think. Make you feel good.
I like the videos shot on location. Like the San Francisco ones.
MONA: That’s kind of how we started off our Youtube. We actually did videos in Liverpool in 2009. Initially we’d go to California and record songs about California right there and sing on the music videos. Then we came to Liverpool and sang Beatles songs here. We’d always combine travelling with recording, ever since we were about thirteen.
I love your versions of those songs. The original melodies are haunting but I think your versions are sometimes better. Like God Only Knows.
LISA: Thank you!
MONA: (A song like California Dreaming by the Mamas and Papas) I think that’s what works well with our voices. Because we’re twins, our voices are quite similar and blend well together.
LISA: If you’ve got something like Mamas and Papas you can just lay harmony on harmony. That always sounds great.
So have you got a favourite gig you’ve ever played?
(At this point a former drummer shows up in the café and there is clearly a lot of mutual respect)
MONA: At the beginning of last year we did a showcase in London. It was a good gig and we brought people from Liverpool. We made a big deal about it and the turnout was incredible. I think that was probably one of the highlights.
LISA: Another one that stands out quite a bit was when we once organised a huge gig in a big shed back in Austria, because we lived close to Vienna but still in the middle of nowhere. We put our own stage there with PA and lights and we plastered the whole area with posters. I think the highest density in posters you’ve ever seen.
MONA: I think three hundred people showed up, which at the time for us was mind-blowing. It was the first big thing we organised ourselves.
You’ve got a good drummer and bass player at the moment.
MONA: Thank you. We’ve had enough time at the Cavern to get really tight now.
How does it make you feel playing where the Beatles played?
LISA: (pauses…smiles) Good! It’s good fun. Every week is a little different. The audience is always a little different, the vibe a little different.
MONA: We try to change up the songs every now and then. Even if we play the same things it’s never the same.
How many of your own songs did you play so far tonight, in the first set?
MONA: We played two already and we’re going to play two more in the second set.
What’s your favourite Beatles album?
LISA: Rubber Soul or Revolver. We like the middle stuff best. (I can’t disagree here)
So what plans have you got, immediate and long term?
LISA: Right now we’re working on the second album. It’s going well. We’ve got all the songs written. We’re recording now and then once it’s done everything that comes with releasing an album, which is a lot of work, but we’re really looking forward to it. Then touring probably and working on the next album after that.
Will you play with Steve Harley again?
MONA: Yeah. We just played a gig with him last Saturday, for the Mick Ronson fundraising that gives money out to young musicians. It was a very memorable show, with Earl Slick, Lisa and Maggi Ronson, a big choir to add some haunting harmonies to Harley’s “Sebastian”. Every now and then we’re playing a couple of festivals with Steve and his band. Totally different to what we normally do but that’s why it’s so good. This time we even got to play David Bowie songs.
And finally…If you got to ask yourself a question in an interview what would it be? (Pause…) I’m just going to sit back…
LISA: Do we have to answer the question? Ok…I would ask, “If you could ask yourself a question what would it be?”
That’s clever. And finally finally…What’s the question that you are fed up of being asked all the time?
MONA: What’s your favourite superpower?
LISA: Or this one. What we also get surprisingly often is …How do you know each other?
(We conclude, talking about the time they met in the womb, before heading back to the Cavern for the second blistering rock n roll set.)
For a review the MonaLisa Twins Cavern gig please see: http://www.cre8ivation.com/?p=5569
For a biography, information about gigs and recordings and a link to the Youtube videos please go to the MonaLisa Twins website:
https://www.monalisa-twins.com/
