Music is a great blessing. It has the power to elevate and to connect us all.

https://theblackmonolith.bandcamp.com/

Vocals: Zed Tan
Bass: Damien Tan
Guitars: Damien Ng
Drums: Jason Cruz

The Black Monolith was formed by Damien Ng (formerly Bhelliom, Truth Be Known) in 2014.

Shortly after leaving Bhelliom in 2011, Damien Ng wrote the materials for the album. However, due to personal issues and other commitments, the project was put on hold. In March 2014 Damien Ng decided to rewrite and fine tune the materials. It was around the same time that he got in touch with Jason Cruz (Withered Tree/PLATE), a seasoned Rock/Pop/Blues/Jazz drummer. Rehearsals between the two soon began and 9 songs were finalized within 2 months.

Damien Tan was hired to fill in the bass duties and after a long tiring search. And together with the help of friends, Damien Ng got in touch with Zed Tan (NUS CAC Amplified), to be the singer and lyricist, and the proverbial final piece of the puzzle. The Black Monolith is now complete.

By the end of four rehearsals , Zed completed the lyrics and melody. The band entered the studio to record their debut album, which will be released in Mar/Apr 2015.

LOUD & PROUD

The Black Monolith's style of music ranges from 70s hard rock to 90s grunge. Individual members are each heavily influenced by different eras of rock. This adds a whole new dimension to their songwriting, which makes it sound familiarly classic, yet bravely modern.

Some of the best bands in the world have had 2 members with the same name - John Paul Jones and John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Ian Gillan and Ian Paice (Deep Purple). Could the two Damiens in The Black Monolith be a foretelling of something greater? That remains to be seen...

I've been a singer-songwriter all my life.

Started the typical route with piano lessons and guitar as a kid then later pursued it more fully at Northwestern University's School of Music.

After a decade of writing & recording in LA, I've been back in the Midwest writing a mix of songs as well as instrumentals.

Most of my work is created using Propellerhead Reason although I do use Ableton Live on occasion.

How my artist music has been described....

"Ramin's words go beyond the lyric to the poetic serving up pathos and 70's-style. Think Travis 1972 in a New York Art-Bar."

When philosophical lyrics meet expressive vocals, when astral guitar riffs hover above catchy rhythms, when polyphonic chants crash on rough sounds and when in all melancholy the joy of music is not neglected. Then you will know the sound of Retronova.

Scince the five-headed band, composed of Franzi [voc], Nico [voc/keys], Marcel {git/voc], Flo [bass/git] and Verena [drums], was founded in 01/2019 it synergizes decades of stage experience and a lot of different influences to a vivid and authentic performance.

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