On May 12, The Mono Jacks will release their new album during a concert at Sala Palatului, and on this occasion lead singer Doru Trăscău gave an interview to HotNews.ro.

The Mono Jacks, a band founded by Doru Treskeu in 2008, is currently one of the most successful indie rock bands in Romania and is playing more and more indoor concerts all over the country.

Over the years, The Mono Jacks have gone through numerous line-up changes and managed to survive a two-year hiatus before regrouping in 2017 in their current lineup.

So far, their music has been played at major festivals (Sziget, Exit Festival, Eurosonic Noorderslag, ARTmania, Electric Castle) and on tours across the country, talking about the thoughts and feelings we all feel.

In 2023, The Mono Jacks release “Norul Nouă” on May 12 at Sala Palatului in Bucharest. It is the band’s fifth album and the third recorded with the band’s most prolific line-up, following “Ușor Distorsionat” and “Gloria”. The material is available on all streaming platforms and in physical format at the concerts of the tour.

About “Norul Nouă” Doru Treskau says: “This is an album that was recorded in two stages, almost a year apart. The 10 winning tracks were chosen from the recording sessions and they make up what is probably the band’s most upbeat album yet.”

The album also benefited from a national promotional tour that started in March, which included concerts in Sibiu, Cluj, Bystrica, Constanța, Galați, Iași, Bacău, Suceava, Brasov, Baicoy. HotNews.ro talked to Doru Trăscău about the new album, the music industry from us and much more.

“It seems that he will be able to take on almost all the tasks of the creative industry”

You are nearing the end of the national promotional tour of your latest album “Norul Nouă”. Tell us a little about him.

Doru Trăscău: “The New Cloud” was created in almost two years. The first recording session took place in January 2022, and almost a year later we crossed the threshold of the studio again, thus completing the album. There is no favorite track, nor can I say how I differed from the previous album. However, I feel that I have taken an important step. How this will translate later remains to be seen.

You were on a national promotional tour. Where were the coolest concerts, the coolest audience?

The tour took us to all corners of the country, but the biggest surprise was Suceava. This is the first concert in the club we support in Suceava after more than 10 years. We didn’t know what kind of fan base we had there, and we were happy to find a cool club and an audience that made us feel important.

Tell us a little bit about the jobs you’ve had. What did you do for a living before you started doing just music?

For almost 17 years, I worked alongside music and paid my bills as a graphic designer.

What advice do you have for young people who want to pursue a career in music?

If you want to pursue a career in music, know that you will work, travel a lot, sleep little, eat a lot, and then work again. Making a career in music is just like making a career in any other profession, except that the musician gets the applause. If all this suits you, then this will be the adventure of your life.

What have you learned from your experience in the music industry? What would you do differently if you had it to do over again?

If I had done something else, I wouldn’t be here. We do not regret anything.

How do you think the music industry will develop in the coming years and what changes will you be watching with interest?

I wish I had a crystal ball and could tell you how the music industry will evolve in the future. One thing is clear, everything is changing, and the rate at which it is changing is outpacing the rate at which we can adapt.

AI seems to be able to take over almost all the tasks of the creative industries, so it doesn’t sound too good. But I’m sure if this continues, there will come a day when someone shuts down the servers.

How would you describe the way in which The Mono Jacks’ musical style has evolved over time, especially since the last album, Norul Nouă, you said would be the most optimistic?

A big change has happened since 2013, when I decided to return to singing in Romanian. Otherwise, the music progressed with me, with us. The fact that “Cloud Nine” is our most “upbeat” material is more of a post-recording realization, and that’s something I’m happy about because it covers the positive vibe I’ve been feeling since the beginning of the year.

What is the most important thing for you during a concert, so that everything goes well?

That there was a decent stage, that there were functional cables, that there were no microphones and that there was such an audience in which we can be reflected.

Speaking of which, May 12 is your first concert at Sala Palatului. What does this mean for you as a band or for you personally? The palace hall, as they say, a test?

Test, test, two-ten, two-ten. The concert on May 12 at Palatului Hall is the biggest event we organize. The location is typical of Bucharest and has a history worth considering if we want to look at the artists who have performed here. Now we will also be part of this list.

What have been your biggest gigs so far?

There are many big concerts, but the most impressive would be the iMapp Bucharest concert, where I went on a giant stage and performed in front of an audience of about 50,000 people.

What do you think makes your band different from other alternative music bands in Romania?

Our band is not trying to do something different. We love to sing and that’s enough.

How would you describe your relationship with the other band members? How do you collaborate in the process of making music?

We have an enviable musical chemistry and work very well together.

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