Monde UFO
Ray Monde
Los Angeles-based duo Monde UFO, made up of Ray Monde and Kris Chau, return with their most immersive and adventurous release to date - "Flamingo Tower", out now via London’s Fire Records. Known for their genre-defying sound, the band continues to push the boundaries of experimental music, expanding their palette with a hypnotic fusion of psychedelia, avant-jazz, and ambient textures.
Compared to earlier releases like "7171" and "Vandalized Statue to be Replaced with Shrine", "Flamingo Tower" feels like a deeper dive into dreamlike, otherworldly terrain. Tracks like the also radio-friendly “Gambled House We’re Wiping Fire” and “Sunset Entertainment 3” weave together mantra-like vocals, trance-inducing rhythms, and lo-fi jazz-infused atmospheres, creating a sonic tapestry that’s both enigmatic and captivating. It's a record that doesn’t just play - it pulls you in and invites you to explore.
What’s striking in speaking with Ray Monde is the disarming honesty and looseness with which he approaches his work - Flamingo Tower might be a deeply thought-out mosaic of moods and sonic fragments, but it’s also the product of impulse, post-show blues, and a genuine obsession with “space echo on a drum kit.” There’s no master plan, no tight concept, just a drive to follow feeling and form until something strange and moving emerges. That’s exactly what makes the album and this band so quietly magnetic.
We had the chance to chat with Ray about the making of Flamingo Tower, his creative process, and what lies ahead. Enjoy the full conversation below.
Flamingo Tower (out 7/3/2025)
The Basement: Ray, congratulations on the release of Flamingo Tower! How does it feel to have this album out in the world, and how has the reception been so far?
Thank you! To be honest I'm not really sure how I feel. When it was finished, I went into this weird postpartum kind of depression. Post-show blues, as Chau says. But it's nice to have it out there, and people have been very kind to us about the record.
The Basement: The album presents a rich tapestry of sounds, from ambient textures to jazz-inflected rhythms. Can you walk us through the creative process behind Flamingo Tower?
I've never made a mosaic, but maybe in a sense something like making one of those? Each song had a vague vision or maybe just a feeling I was trying to create. But the songs were assembled using a lot of different pieces or improvisations cut up and stuck together to try and contribute to that vision - or lack thereof. I'm not even sure if I know what a mosaic is, so this might not make any sense.
The Basement: Your music often blends various genres seamlessly. What draws you to this experimental aesthetic, and how do you approach merging different musical styles?
The beauty of experimenting is getting results that you didn’t really fathom. I think that the greatest musical joy is being in the studio and just trying different approaches and getting results that were not at all anticipated. From there it sparks a lot of further inspiration - for me at least.
As for the genre blending, it's getting obsessed with various sounds. Like I just love space echo on a drum kit, and the melodies and harmonies of bossa nova. And free improvising saxophone and guitar. So I guess it’s just a big-ass rando soup at the end of the day.
The Basement: Looking back, how did Monde UFO come into existence? What inspired you to start this project, and how has your musical journey evolved since then?
I was just playing in other bands and had these ideas that were not really being facilitated in a manner that I would have done it. I had never had my own project before so I just wanted to have a side thing that was just my ideas. I was then able to play in those other bands with less pressure and not feel like my whole musical reality was being compromised. Monde UFO really allowed me to evolve because I also started recording all the music, so I just spent so much more time with it. I was able to go at it from different angles and processes without wasting other people's time or money. I feel very fortunate to be able to have spent this much time thinking about and messing around with the project.
The Basement: Tell us more about Kris Chau. How did your collaboration begin and how do your differing musical backgrounds complement each other?
Kris and I were living together and going to a lot of ambient and experimental shows around LA. Kris is a visual artist and has never played music or been in a band. I thought it would be interesting to have someone like that in a project because her ear was just so different than mine. Chau grew up with a more hip hop background and I was more on the punk side of things. But we met at like Alice Coltrane and Lee Perry and like K Records and Yo La Tengo.
The Basement: Your collaboration with Fire Records marks a new chapter. What led you to connect with them for Flamingo Tower?
I think Jonathan from the label heard our first record and sent it to James, the big dawg over there. Jonathan booked us a show in Bologna and mentioned Fire could be interested, and I was like, oh hell yeah, sounds sick. I love everyone over there. What a great crew at Fire, mad love to those folks. They changed my life!
The Basement: The album feels both cohesive and exploratory. Were there any specific influences or inspirations that guided the direction of Flamingo Tower?
I would say two major influences are Archie Shepp's Attica Blues and the soundtrack to The Tree of the Wooden Clogs. In terms of how I wanted to shape the record. Arto Lindsay was a big influence as well.
The Basement: As a Greek-based magazine, we're curious — have you ever had any interactions with the Greek music scene, or are there any Greek artists you've connected with?
Sadly not much, only Green Cookie Records really. I would love to get to Greece and play with some bands out there. Seems like great things are happening.
The Basement: Looking ahead, what are your plans for Monde UFO? Are there upcoming projects, collaborations, or performances we should look forward to?
We are touring Europe for 3 weeks in May, which should be interesting. Then a Southeast USA tour in October. Been at a slight loss recording lately, but I feel like it is turning around. I did a song with our friend George from Javelin and Actual Magic that I'm pretty psyched on, and hopefully can do an EP/LP with him. Hoping to get in the studio a bunch later this year. Then we are back in Europe in December. Hopefully Greece!
The Basement: Lastly, for our readers who are just discovering Monde UFO, how would you describe your music, and what do you hope listeners take away from Flamingo Tower?
Some people have said NU Jazz, some NO Jazz Psych Folk, and some say we sound like The Doors. I kinda agree with it all. It’s a huge ask, but I hope that they think we are almost as good as The Doors.
