Dr Monika Demmler
Dr Monika Demmler, formerly known as Stony Sugarskull, is the sonic project of Berlin-based pioneering singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Dr (PhD) Monika Demmler. With her innovative style, her unique voice, that calls to mind the music of Mazzy Star and Nico, coupled with her boundless creativity, she transcends borders by blending punk, shoe gaze, electronica and psych in a very unique and captivating way - her second album “Princess” released in 2022.
The most distinctive thing about Monika Demmler is her unique vocal style and transcendent delivery: a collage of dreamy, playful, innocent, ironic, clever, earnest, at times even spiritual psychedelia. Her artsy sound blends shades of the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Marianne Faithful and Mazzy Star into its own best. The music also functions in part to expand on aspects of her doctoral research in metaphysics and music philosophy: she has been credited as the first who combines the power of sound frequencies with rock ’n’ roll music (Louder than War).
Currently, Stony Sugarskull is finishing her second album “Princess” (funded by Initiative Musik) with Kristian Bell (The Wytches, UK). In 2020, her debut album “Lioness” (funded by Initiative Musik and Musicboard Berlin) was released on her own label, Sugarskull Records, mirroring the socio-political downfall in the 21st century. She has also received scholarships for her music productions by Gema, GVL, and Musikfonds Germany.
Her earlier releases include the single “Butterflies” (2018), the EP “Trust” (2016), the single “Bentley” Remix (2021), the single “Gaia” Live (2021) and the studio EP “Gaia” 2017), having collaborated with bassist Ben Ellis (Iggy Pop), recording mastermind Thomas Stern (Einstürzende Neubauten, Nick Cave), the legendary photographer Martyn Goodacre (Kurt Cobain, Ozzy Osbourne), producer and filmmaker Mark Reeder (New Order, B-Movie) and Franz Bargmann (Michael Rother/Neu!), the highly renowned filmmaker Judith Jerome (3 REMI), among others.
In an international context, “The excellent fronted-female Stony Sugarskull” (Mojo Mag) has been touring the UK, the US (California) and all over Europe at most prestigious venues with hundreds of gigs to date, and appeared in live streams such as the Mondo NYC Festival (2020). Her music has been picked up by major radio stations like Soho Radio London (Naked Lunch, Soho Garage), Radio Citta Aperta Rome (Thursday the New Friday), or Alex Radio Berlin (Mädchenradio). Songs of her debut album, e.g. “House on Fire” have gained up to 30k plays on Spotify or been included in playlists such as “Harvey Specter Suits” or “360: The Best Indie Music.”
Listen
Don’t miss Dr Monika Demmler’s single “Princess”!