Indie-rock/pop outfit The Infamous HER recently released their new single/music video, “Make You Mine,” a delicious, mesmerizing, thoroughly rocking track that harks back to the British Invasion while simultaneously sounding modern.
“Make You Mine” provides an appetizer for the band’s upcoming album, Hula Hoop, and is the latest musical magic trick from a band with no shortage of inventiveness, attitude, glamour, and talent. In the past, The Infamous HER has evoked the glories of glam rock, the contagious hooks of new wave, the iconoclasm of punk, the roar of metal, and the irresistibility of contemporary pop.
But the true focus, and namesake, of The Infamous HER is singer and songwriter Monique Staffile, whose fearlessness, impertinence, passion, and good humor give this band its unforgettable personality. On “Make You Mine,” Monique is single-minded, intense, fiery, and self-assured — and just when listeners think they’ve got her pegged, she flips an entire verse in flawless French.
The video, directed by David Dutton, gives viewers a spinning mosaic of Monique, as she and the band appear at a house party set in the ‘80s.
Tattoo.com spoke with The Infamous HER to find out more about the inspiration for “Make You Mine” and the band’s creative process.
What inspired your latest single/music video, “Make You Mine?” –
“Make You Mine”, is a trippy rock n’ roll earworm, so with that in mind, we wanted to create a music video that did just that. A rock n roll, avant-garde ‘Alice In Wonderland’ video shoot with a 360 camera that never stops.
Who directed the video and where was it shot?
It was directed by David Dutton and shot at The Madness in Nashville TN.
What do you want people to take away from the video?
It’s stylistically fun, trippy, sexy, and makes ya think ‘What did I just watch?!’
Who is in The Infamous HER and which instruments do they play?
I would give away the ‘Infamous’ if I told ya who The Infamous HER is! We are a 4-piece band, guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. But we are very much a DIY band. We write together, Caleb KBC Sherman who plays guitar in the band is also the producer. I’ve been called ‘HER’ since I was 18.
Your new album is entitled ‘Hula Hoop.’ What can you share about the album?
It’s my favorite album I made to date. It’s an alternative rock pop album with vintage flair, wildness, and fun.
How did you get started in music?
I was born with a guitar and mic in my hand. There was no start date, growing up in NYC, I was surrounded by creativity, inspiration, and the streets. All made me who I am.
Which singers/musicians influenced your sound?
Damn, that’s hard cause my sound is like a melting pot, but growing up in NYC I gotta give it up to Blondie, Beastie Boys, The Ramones, Bob Dylan, Velvet Underground, and Cyndi Lauper.
If you had to describe your sound to the uninitiated, what would you say?
It’s rock n roll mixed with pop.
Why do you make music?
I make music to save Music.
What can you share about your writing process?
I’m usually coming up with song lyrics and melodies in the car while driving. I guess that’s when my brain is free. I bring the idea back to the band and/or Caleb who co-writes and produces our records, and he makes sense out of my dribble. For most of this album, we all were together and wrote the album as a band, camped out at my house for a couple of weeks, and tracked and recorded it.
Which artists in your opinion are killing it right now?
Any artist going outside the box.
How do you define success?
Success is in the mind if you’re happy that’s all that matters.
What can your fans look forward to over the next six months? Live gigs? Music videos?
Our Album ‘Hula Hoop drops June 28th. We have a couple more singles and music videos that will be released before that. We will be touring Europe in the Summer and Fall promoting the album, but always find us on our socials for real up-to-date stuff.
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