MONSTA Gouch
If you spent at least a few hours on MySpace visiting pages of top dubstep and drum and bass artists, you must have seen monster-like portrait illustrations (many set as profile pictures, and
How did you first get started as an illustrator and music artist?
some are tattooed in flesh!) by Ben Somers, also known as Monsta. Skream, Benga, Mala, N-Type, Goldie, Jakes, Caspa, Roska, Stenchman... not many escaped the sharp eye and pen of this talented illustrator
I guess it’s just thoughts in my head, and things I can’t explain with words, that’s mainly what my pictures are about.
Are most of your illustrations hand-drawn then converted to the computer? What software do you use? Yeah, I draw them all in pen. I’ve never used Illustrator. I bought a tablet a little while ago and I just couldn’t get on with it, so I just draw everything in pen and then scan it in, put it in Photoshop and then color it in. I’ve always done that and I can’t think of a better way of doing it. Is it quite convenient doing it that way?
from Cambridge, England. Aside from doing
Did you go to any art schools or college courses or university?
animation and illustration work for top artists
Nah, I went to sixth form college but I got a C for my Art. (Laughs) I didn’t do cartoons, I was trying do normal art that they set, but I didn’t really see what was normal art... So I guess my art has always been a personal thing to me.
and record labels like Hospital Records and Metalheadz, Monsta is also a music producer,
Who and what inspires you and influences your work?
DJ, and a really nice guy... interview by Iain McColl 32
Well, it’s something I’ve always done. I used to work for DHL and I just got bored of working a nine-to-five, so I thought I’d try art and just properly went hard at it. And about a year after my work, Goldie got in touch with me, and every job led on to another ever since. Yeah, that’s about it.
like Robert Crumb and his art from the seventies. I also like lots of graffiti. Oh, and HR Giger, I’ve always liked his work too.
Yeah, definitely. I would say it just comes naturally to me that way. Also on the computer you can see the work come together really quickly and it’s a really fun way of doing it, I love it. Where do you normally work, at home or in a studio? It’s all at home really. I tend to work totally on my own. I put music on and I never do it around people.
I guess it’s just thoughts in my head, and things I can’t explain with words, that’s mainly what my pictures are about. But I really 33
What sort of music do you listen to? Well, dubstep is the music I always listen to, I’m never short of new music, so I guess it inspires how the pictures turn out sometimes. But I think if I listen to something like Burial I’ll produce something depressing. (Laughs) Yeah, I listen to all sorts, I listen to comedy and stuff as well...
Yeah, really good. He’s a really nice guy, I went round his house a couple of times. I remember you did a Metalheadz Podcast with him and Heist once. (Laughs) Yeah, I vaguely remember that. It was definitely good, I really like Goldie, he’s a nice guy.
Do you ever collaborate with other people in your work or is it solely you?
I particularly like your animation video for Roska’s track “Squark.” Did he approach you to create the music video?
It’s solely me, I don’t do art with other people. There are some people I’d like to collaborate with, but when it comes down to it I don’t know how you go about it. Like if I could do a picture on one side and the other person does the other side? ... I just don’t know if it would really work. But yeah maybe it’s something I’d like to do in the future. I’ll figure a way to do it. (Laughs)
Well, before that I did a video for his “In Your Handbag.” The track was maybe a bit more disco than I was used to, and it was a really big drawn-out project, because I did it all in the wrong format and I had to change it... It was all a bit awkward, but after that he approached me to do “Squark.” It was a track which suited my sort of style a lot more and I was a lot more comfortable with that. And I’m really happy with the animation. Also there’s another one going to be coming soon, so look out for that.
I don’t do art with other people ... I don’t know how you go about it. Like if I could do a picture on one side and the other person does the other side?... I just don’t know if it would really work. Brilliant. What would you say was your best or favorite piece of work so far? My favorite... well, I’ve got a picture called “Tea,” and it’s an old man drinking tea. I had the idea for it when I saw this crumbly wall, so I took a photo of it and drew the old man and placed him in front of the crumbly wall. For some reason it came out exactly how I wanted it. I guess this is what pictures are about to me, and that just sort of sums up what sort of ideas I have. And also the single I did for the Malice in Wonderland EP on Metalheadz Recordings; they are two different pictures for the single and the album, and I really like them too. How did the work with Goldie and Hospital Recordings come about? Both of them are through www.dogsonacid.com forum, I think I’ve been on that board ten years now. Alright yeah, I think I was on there once.
I believe you have a few music releases of your own. How would describe your sound? I’ve always described it as midistep, like the sort of sound you get on a midi keyboard. I started when dubstep didn’t really have a name, people were calling it grime, and I was sort of going for that grime sound with a lot of my tracks. But my tracks always sound different, because I always aim for a different sort of sound... But I guess it’s all dubstep now. What is more successful, your art or your music career? Definitely my art. I don’t think I’ve made much money through my music. I’ve done what I wanted to do with it though, I’ve had a couple of releases. But it’s definitely not something I can make money out of. But art is something I do every single day and I like it that way. Do you see exhibitions as an important way to promote your work? Have you had any exhibitions in the past? Do you have any planned? I will definitely do one at some point and they are a great way to get out there. I haven’t done one for a long time. I’ve only done two and they both went well, they were both in Cambridge where I’m from, but I think I should definitely do one in London, because Cambridge is a very small place, and London is the place to do it.
What? You’ve given up now!? Yeah, I kind of gave up after a while. (Laughs) Yeah, it can definitely do that to you, I’m not on it as much as I used to. But that site kind of gives you an instant audience for whatever you do. And I was just doing jokey things on there, like comics of different people in the scene, and Goldie must have just seen a couple of them. I remember the e-mail was from Chris Metalheadz and he just said, “Goldie’s been trying get in touch with you, let me know.” And that’s all it said! I was buzzing about that, so I got in touch and then it all turned into this big project which was amazing. The same was with Hospital Recordings they just contacted me through Dogs On Acid forum.
...I’ve had a couple of releases. But it’s definitely not something I can make money out of. But art is something I do every single day and I like it that way. Where can people find your work and follow you? myspace.com/redeyemonsta Facebook at Monsta Art Twitter.com/MonstaArt Whom would you like to Big Up?
It must have been interesting working with someone so influential as Goldie. What was it like?
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I wanna big up Roska, Qbert, Goldie and Chris at Metalheadz, Bukez Finezt, Mr. Boogie, Skinzmann, all my life4land family and everyone who supports what I do, I love you. 35
Alien Man
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Tea