Shamis / Monarx

@monar.x

Shamis McGillin is a multimedia artist working as a freelance fashion photographer and art director. Better known as his Character Monarx, Shamis creates looks on himself that are so beautifully unique, so inventive and surreal that its easy to see why his artistry has harvested so much attention, stating "I think the strangest thing is that I've now gained a sizable following. I'm not Kylie Jenner, but I have an audience and they are paying attention." Born and raised in Iowa Shamis pulls much of his inspiration from sound and nature, "even though I grew up in a progressive university town that has some kind of public transit and culture, there really wasn't much." Shamis said" When I have nothing around me aside from nature and sound I am at my peak." Moving from the green landscape of Iowa at 17 to Chicago for School he settled into the Midwest before moving to New York where he had a complicated relationship with the City. "When I lived in NYC I found myself the most uninspired I'd ever been because there was too much happening around me, everything was clear and harsh. When I'm somewhere more remote, there's a lot left to the imagination" saying "After living in NYC I just felt like a pawn for others, So much hard work and hours of overtime and lack of sleep, only to have no paycheck at the end of it because people expect you to work for free" Feeling broken and exhausted Shamis moved back to Iowa to regroup "I never wanted to feel that heartbroken again. Something told me to get out of bed one day and just play with makeup and costumes. It's always what I loved doing, so I started to share and everyone fell in love." Curating every aspect of Monarx himself Shamis is a true artist through and through. "What's odd for me is that people don't get to see all the work that goes behind the images. I create everything. I make the wigs, hats, headpieces, garments, masks, I also do all the photography ,conceptualize and execute all of the makeup artistry myself. " Just a scroll through his Instagram and its easy to see why Shamis/ Monarx has already been signed to an Agency, has been in multiple print magazines, had a solo show in N.Y, and is working on projects with people he's always idolized. A long time follower of Shamis myself and an absolute fan and lover of his art i was fucking thrilled to be able to collaborate together, get to know him a little more and create this mix for him. Based off of artist and songs that helped inspire his art as Monarx and shape Shamis himself please enjoy his mix I've titled Metamorphosis. 

Metamorphosis- Monarx's Mix

00-4:46 -Madonna- Isaac-- Opening with an alluring chant 'Isaac' from Madonna's 'Confessions On A Dance Floor' is Shamis's  favorite track from her !0th Album, Which is always playing. Surprised he hasn't been banned from abusing the album stream, Shamis said Isaac stands out to him because "It has an epic arch in the melody. There’s so much energy to that song but then it pulls back for a second and calms down, only to throw you back in the wild energy of the Chorus." Taking inspiration from Madonnas ever evolving visual artistry and persona its easy to see why Shamis would connect with the original queen of pop.

4:46-7:25 Azealia Banks- Luxury- When asked what he was currently listening to Shamis replied with "Right now I'm really in an Azealia Banks mood. I know she has a problematic past and can be such a divisive figure. Azealia Banks could spit in my face, but her music is still better and more innovative than most other artists out here." with Van Vogue being one of his favorite tracks from Ms.Banks i chose to use "Luxury" to highlight a different side of the misunderstood rapper. One of her shorter less known songs still packs a punch but with a softer side  with her spitting lines like "Let me in your world You know what I spy, Spy you looking lonely, ya know boy that's why I wanna be your lady Your love, your luxury  ya know what I would If I could" Regardless of the rappers troubles Shamis said she never fails to get him in "a MOOD"

7:26-12:32 - CocoRosie-Fairy Paradise(Live at KEXP) - An artist and song i chose to include, the Surreal sister duo of CocoRosie is an artist that i hear in my mind when looking at the Looks Shamis shares as Monarx.  The beautiful mix of singer Bianca's childlike voice and her sister Sierras strong operatic vocals blend together to create music thats uniquely their own. Using kids toys and a beatboxer as their bassist Cocorosie's main influence much like Shamis has always been sounds and nature.The beauty in any one CocoRosie song along with the looks Shamis creates, is it finds you either capable of taking it in or looking at it sideways and wondering what it is exactly you're seeing, what exactly it is you're hearing. It takes you a second to arrive at any kind of familiarity but even if you don't you can't help but be sucked into its hypnotizing allure. 

12:33- 16:47- FKA TWIGS- Glass & Patron- When asked who he would love to see perform live Shamis chose the english Voguing chanteuse FKA Twigs saying " She’s herself curated. I hope to be as curated as her. Her image is so distinct and clear" Choosing Glass & Patron from her EP M3L115XX, This song captures the singer's unique charisma both musically and visually, Google any live performance of this song or even take a look at her music video for it to see Twigs dance just as hard and intricate to this song as the music is itself. A true power house in Recent music, Seeing FKA Twigs live is nothing short of jaw dropping.

 16:48- 20:58 -Coldplay- Yellow (The Alpha Remix)- Asking for a song that will forever be attached to a favorite memory Shamis Chose Coldplays ' Yellow" saying " Its one of those songs that will make me freeze. It transports me straight back to 2000 when I was like 5 or 6. That was my life before stress, depression, and all these other wild life experiences. I wasn't yet jaded. That song along with that album used to be the CD my mom would put on at night to get my brother and I in our bunk bed to get to sleep. That's when I couldn't understand or respect a bed time and wanted nothing more than to wake up at 7 am to start my day. I wish I felt like that 100% of the time" Choosing the dreamy Alpha remix to echo those nights spent falling asleep to it.

21:00-25:24-  Marina And The Diamonds- Heartbreaker (Acoustic Live)- I asked Shamis what one of his favorite albums of all time was and Marina And The Diamonds Electra Heart won that spot. "I've never seen an artist curate a conceptual album with a character so flawlessly without losing a sense of the artist behind the character. Marina created a WHOLE STORY and a world of different archetypes that fit a chronological linear timeline. Listening to that album is like reading a book or watching a movie. It's one of the most underrated pieces of work of all time." Choosing a live version of Just Marina and her keyboard highlighting her Sweet and strong voice, heartbreaker was her introduction to Electra Heart. A personal favorite as well i have to agree with it being a completely underrated piece of pop music.

25:25-30:50- Fleetwood Mac- Gypsy- I always ask for a band or a song that will always be timeless and Shamis Chose Fleetwood Mac saying "Stevie Nicks is a witch who transcends all timelines. That music will never be old. Those songs I took for granted while I was listening as a child. It was always playing in the background as noise but in the past year I’ve really been listening to the music. So much of that music is associated with those past memories and with that nostalgic sound, It really connects me to my younger self when I was more carefree. " Choosing the early version of their Hit Gypsy, I feel like this song encompasses the freedom we all strive for which in the end like Stevie Sings "It all comes down to you".

30:51- 35:00- Burial- Ashtray Wasp (ending)  One of his favorite artist British electro producer and musician Burials 'Ashtray wasp' is an epic 12 minute song that bumps and thumps its way through your mind with Shamis saying he could listen to it on an endless loop and never complain, i chose to use the last 4 minutes which was Burial demo version of the song before connecting the rest and creating the longer version on his record.

35:01- End- Bjork- Unison (live)- Seeing Bjorks insanely visual music videos as a child was the catalyst that started Shamis connection between music with a visual element, A main source of inspiration for his art. Unison was his pick for one of the most beautiful songs he's ever heard saying " That's the song I'd want to have played at my funeral someday. That song is like a toothache. It's light and painful with emotion, but has moments that balance it out, just like when the pain from a toothache goes away for a few seconds. There's a pleasurable relief,  ultimately  you know the pain will be gone, but you also know it's gonna come back before it goes away completely. So I also think that fits very well with mourning" Choosing to end this mix with a live version that encompasses not only the beauty of Bjork but the insane unique beauty of Shamis and his character Monarx.

/ Soundcloud /