After a frenzied year which has seen the release of three singles, one EP and countless shows, Low Monroe is now set to unleash his final statement for 2024, the ominous Exxon Tears. Coupling intense storytelling with dark and unyielding atmospheric sounds, Exxon Tears channels the spirits of visionaries like Bauhaus and Nick Cave as it dredges up the rawest aspects of gothic post-punk, all while remaining unnaturally sleek. A significant release for Low Monroe, Exxon Tears represents a shift into phase two of the project, a transition marked by a refinement of craft and a signal of what is to come.
Narratively, the track follows themes of exploitation and how fatal pseudo-love can be. While writing the song, Low (real name Mark Sergi) was reading a lot about the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. “I found it so fascinating,” explains Low. “In relation to the song, the Exxon Valdez is a metaphor for how selfishness can vastly pour and do so much harm. The song is written as a confrontational cry for help, and the consequences of speaking up to your superior. This is painted in a more brooding light with the sung themes of crime, violence and corruption.”
Low Monroe began as the solo project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Mark Sergi in 2022, with the release of debut single Second Try Theme. Almost as much a performance piece as a musical project, Low Monroe is heavily influenced by the stylised visuals and hardboiled stories of Old Hollywood and its gripping crime and noir genres. “I really began to fall in love with the specific character tropes of these films, all through the lens of the antagonists and their slow, eerie demise,” says Low. “I started writing in a very character-driven manner, similar to what I was watching; and from there the Low Monroe character started taking form.”
And it’s this approach; the character, the performance, the story, that is central to the idea of Low Monroe. “I surprisingly felt more comfortable playing a theatrical character. I was heavily inspired by local artist ‘Cong Josie’ and his ability to adopt an alter ego so well.”
Although originally a solo project, during the release phase for second single Velvet Cell, Low began recruitment for a live band. Before long The Fugitives were born, and they performed their first show at the launch for Velvet Cell in September 2023. Sliding steadily away from a solo project and closer to a collaborative effort, Low Monroe and The Fugitives have been increasingly busy, playing shows and releasing two new singles together; Dead Star Revolver and Smoke Show [both 2024].
Exxon Tears was recorded, produced, and mixed by Low Monroe in an undisclosed location.
With thanks to Wild Gift PR
