BIOGRAPHY
Anna Iachino from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, of Italian descent is a songwriter, vocalist, rapper, spoken word artist, poet, electronic music composer, dancer, and storyteller with a comical bent. Arnold Ludvig from the Faroe Islands is the composer, arranger, and award-winning virtuoso bass player. Together, they are a dynamic husband and wife team and the creators of MonkeyRat founded in 2006, in the Faroe Islands. MonkeyRat delivers multi-genre music rooted mainly in Funk. The band was formed in Copenhagen, Denmark with award-winning guitarist, Alain Apaloo from Togo, Africa, and superb Danish drummer Jens Stoklund.
MonkeyRat released their 2010 debut album, “Fuck The Jante Law” followed by “Sunshine” in 2012 with great reviews and many #1 hits. In 2016, 4 funky digital singles were released with The Hentze Horns and received international radio airplay. Get into The Light, MonkeyRat’s first hip-hop/gospel collaboration with Debbie Cameron, Deborah Herbert, and Joanita Zachariasen was released in 2018 with resounding success. “Get Into the Light” was mastered by Randy Merrill, a master at mastering Grammy-winning albums and singles by artists such as Mark Ronson’s, smash single, “Uptown Funk”.
On March 20, 2020, MonkeyRat started the year with their hit single, “Good Morning Reykjavík”, a super funky dance number with a comical spin on the infectious chorus. “U Gotta Love Being U ft. Alain Apaloo” with Deborah’s soulful vocals on the chorus is MonkeyRat’s first pop/singer-songwriter/soul, single and Anna’s first co-written song with Hans Andrias Jacobsen and Beinir Troest Rasmussen. In these dark and uncertain times, “U Gotta Love Being U” lifts the spirit and raises the vibration spreading a message of positivity and love.
On March 18th, 2022, MonkeyRat released “The Child”, their 1st bedroom-pop/ dream-pop/neo-soul single, recorded and mixed by Arnold Ludvig. Additional mix by Kurt Uenala and mastered by Kurt Uenala, Grammy award-nominated producer of Depeche Mode. “The Child” is sung by up-and-coming rising star, Anna Sofía Skoradal from the Faroe Islands.
MonkeyRat released their critically acclaimed “Isolation” EP on April 15th, 2022, a powerful poem set to 70’s Psychedelic Jazz Rock / Art Rock.
On June 24th, 2022, Anna Iachino received a master’s in music at Iceland University of The Arts.
On April 25th, 2024, MonkeyRat started the year with their funky smash hit single and funny YouTube video on Tutl Records, "Niels Uni Dam". Their Instagram dance reel by Slash Music from L.A. garnered MonkeyRat over 29.000 views.
On May 10th, MonkeyRat goes in reverse and blasts into overdrive to the psychedelic rock sounds of 1969, with the spectacular screaming solos of virtuoso guitarist, Alain Apaloo together with the hailing cries of Anna’s voice expressing, “What A Crazy World”!
On June 14th, MonkeyRat dives into African funky beats and vocals with featured guest rapper, dancer, and multi-percussionist extraordinaire, Ayi Solomon. MonkeyRat’s, “Where’s The Peace?” is the first song where all musicians of MonkeyRat composed the music together in collaboration with Ayi Solomon. It makes for a groovy feel-good dance number to the funky African rhythms and edgy Punk and Funk in an uplifting and positive message embracing the warm sounds of children’s laughter in times of Peace.