Montreal spoke with Sally Shaar, Jordan Circosta & Zach Zanardo of MONOWHALES, one of the most exciting bands currently breaking through in Canada, right after their Osheaga set.
Sally arrived with bloodied knees after performing the NIN cover of Hand That Feeds, while on her knees on the gravel in the middle of the audience.
“It was a risk I was willing to take. I was down. I didn’t care. I wanted to be out there with everybody, having fun.” said Sally, as she lifts up her knees as proof for the camera.
Our first interaction goes back to September 2015, when something compelled me to reach out to the band.
I saw an ember of talent that I knew, deep inside, would eventually erupt into the fiery flames of success.
I first saw them at O Patro Vys, then Escogriffe and Petit Campus, each time getting a bigger stage. Recently, they opened for Mother Mother at Corona Theatre, which was a tipping point, as many new fans became mesmerized by a band giving their all.
Osheaga 2022
Osheaga Saturday was a dream come true for the band.
“Incredible!” shared Zach.
“I’m still high!” admits Sally. “You know that joke…you can be sober but be high. I feel enlightened. That was an incredible experience that I will never forget for the rest of my life.”
Jordan agrees, and even fixed a drumkit sound issue mid-song, essentially without missing a beat.
Yes, MONOWHALES perform like seasoned musicians who have been doing this for multiple decades.
Not surprisingly, those in the crowd were singing along to the songs showing just how much of an impact this band is having right now.
A following like that placed them on the Mountain Stage.
“Straight to the main stage, baby!”, chimes Sally.
Getting Unstuck From The Middle
One song got me teary eyes: Stuck In The Middle. During the intro, Sally shared how she was determined to finish the song, then give up on life.
“That was a very dark time. These guys were very involved, honestly, in terms of helping me. A week before we went into the studio, I kind of dropped off, and these guys didn’t hear from me.”
It was a pre-paid, pre-planned studio session, but Sally was M.I.A..
“I couldn’t be anywhere, except my floor, every day. Made it to the sessions, kind of out of guilt, which I don’t say is a bad thing. Sometimes, those are the things that keep you alive, you know? I felt too guilty to not be there.”
First, I want to applaud the bravery that Sally has, to share such private emotions. Second, I want to applaud the men in her life, who noticed, and stretched out a helping hand. Not all heroes wear capes…some strap on guitars or bang on drums…but most importantly…they take the time to listen.
“Stuck in the Middle was very cathartic in terms of the way I was feeling.”
Sally screamed that song out, during multiple takes, like a valve letting out explosive steam in small bursts…
“Every time, I was just trying to give everything out. It was the last thing I could give.”
Zack helped by getting things done on the record, while Jordan would have helpful conversations on the roof with Sally…both being a safe space for Sally to unload.
“I’m grateful for them.”
The second thing that got me teary eyed during the show, was when Sally saw a friend, Samantha Weinstein, and sang to her from the barricade.
“Sam Weinstein, also an incredible artist in her own right.”, admits Sally.
I interviewed Sam, back in 2021. She has since been fiercely fighting ovarian cancer. Sam is one of those friends who doesn’t get jealous but is genuinely happy by her friend’s success.
“All we want to do is support our friends in the same way they support us.” (Sally)
Knowing that back story and seeing Sally taking a moment to sing to her friend…let’s just say that my eyes were sweaty…a little…from the heat…yeah…the heat.
Fantasy Rock Band
When I asked the band to create the ultimate fantasy Rock band, these were their choices.
Lead singer: Eric Nally (Foxy Shazam) chosen by Sally. “I don’t know why. That just came to me all of a sudden. Such an incredible performer. Seeing him do what he did really helped and inspired me. And…he’s very much a Freddie Mercury type guy.”
Drums: Loel Campbell (Wintersleep) chosen by Jordan.
Bass: Steven Drozd (The Flaming Lips) chosen by Sally. “I love a melody leading bassline.”
Nick Harmer (Death Cab for Cutie) was a close second.
Guitar: Annie Clark (St-Vincent) chosen by Zach, as Sally exclaims: “Yes! Oh that’s a good band.”
I think back to my first Osheaga experience, and a chance meeting with Annie Clark while watching Kendrick Lamar.
Sally is the opposite of St-Vincent. Sally is just as exuberant onstage, as she is offstage. What you see if what you get.
Annie Clark is a powerful force on stage, but in person, she is, for lack of a better description, an introvert. I was blown away at briefly hanging out with a shy Annie Clark, versus the strong persona she was during her performance, just hours prior. She will change to adapt to the situation, feeding off the power of the audience.
Zach considers himself as “very introverted”, yet quite the opposite when he’s on stage behind a guitar. Like St-Vincent, he can transform into a powerhouse.
“I don’t know. You are also such a charming, people person.” argues Sally.
Jordan is “an extroverted introvert. I learned how to be extraverted to live my life. Being introverted was too painful, so I figured out how to be social and do things. At my core, I’m an introvert. On stage, it’s fun to let loose. I like to follow where the feeling is taking me. Today was super emotional, so it was pulling a lot out of me. Today was intense.”
The MONOWHALES gave everything in that performance, and for those that were lucky enough to arrive early, they got to start their Saturday experience with a bang.
The band would next be driving to Nova Scotia for Rock The Hub, a long drive, to continue their touring journey, gathering more new fans. They will be playing with Crown Lands, JJ Wilde, July Talk and The Glorious Sons.
They will also be touring in the fall including an intimate show at Petit Campus on October 23rd, 2022. Get your tickets!
“All we want to do is play shows every day, try to put out as much music as we can and connect with the fans. That’s what the shows are all about.” (Sally)
The Antarctic Blue Whale comes in at up to 400,000 pounds, approximately 33 elephants. Being at a MONOWHALES show is like being hit full force by 33 elephants. It’s something you won’t easily forget…and it’s much safer than dodging a horde of mammals!
Interview: Randal Wark is a Professional Speaker and MasterMind Facilitator with a passion for live music. You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. His Podcast RockStar Today helps musicians quit their day jobs with out-of-the-box advice from Ted Talk Speakers, Best Selling Authors and other interesting Entrepreneurs and Creatives. He created the Rock Star Today Music Business Jam Session for musicians. Randal is a collector of signed vinyl, cassettes and CDs.
Photos – Steve Gerrard
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