MONO - Rock symphonies from the Land of the Rising Sun

Just ahead of their two Italian dates – November 20th at Legend Club in Milan and November 21st at Largo Venue in Rome – we meet Takaakira "Taka" Goto to retrace the sonic journey of the Japanese band.

We want to express life and death, joy and sorrow, the light and shadow of our lives. As for our sound, the idea came from imagining what it would have been like if we'd played a cinematic piece in the style of Ennio Morricone, using the spectacular guitar sound of My Bloody Valentine.

After the EP released in 2000, your debut album, "Under The Pipal Tree", came out on Tzadik, probably the most important label in the avant-garde scene. What were your compositional ideas at the time? What direction did you take with such a prestigious label?

It all started when a friend of mine in New York recommended our first EP to John Zorn. Being an unknown band, touring mostly in the United States, we were thrilled to get worldwide distribution through Tzadik.

On “One Step More And You Die”, your sound suddenly feels leaner and more direct, with the introduction of electronic textures. You've said it yourselves: MONO don't want their sound to feel the same to the listener every time. What's behind this shift?

Every time we want to challenge ourselves and do something new, something we've never tried before. As the years go by, the way I feel, see and perceive life – what's inside my heart – changes, and there's never a shortage of new discoveries, new expressions and new interests when it comes to composing.

Then came John Peel, who invited you to play on his famous sessions, right as MONO were also breaking through in the American market. What was it like meeting him? Would you call it a turning point in your story?

He passed away about five days after our appearance on the John Peel Sessions in 2004. I'm honored to have had the chance to take part in his legendary, hotly anticipated radio show.

Okay, let's break the chronological order. Can you share an interesting story from your tours? The strangest gig, or the toughest one?

I'll never forget the concert we played in New York to celebrate the band's tenth anniversary. It was a special show, planned and organized by Jeremy, the owner of our American label Temporary Residence Ltd., and it was the first time we performed with an orchestra. I was really nervous, but also really excited about that dream stage, completely different from usual. I think the success of that concert is what led us to become who we are today.

You'll be back in Italy in November for two dates, November 20th at Legend Club in Milan and November 21st at Largo Venue in Rome. What should Italian fans expect? What kind of show will it be?

We'll be playing a powerful set, a mix of old and new material (including some old tracks we haven't played in a long time). We're really happy to be playing in Italy again after so long, and we hope you'll come and see us.

On “You Are There” (2006), you worked again with Steve Albini, bringing in more violent passages, bordering on metal. Can you share a memory of Steve?

Steve was our eternal hero, a dear friend, an exceptional partner and a mentor. He hated imitations and was a top-tier engineer who respected every instrument's natural tone. For 22 years, every time we went to Chicago to record, it was a special, sacred moment that let us see how far we'd come.

Your latest album, “Oath”, is an indictment of a world dominated by the perverse desire to get rich at the expense of the weakest, now populated by human beings who have lost their ultimate meaning. What role does your music play in a world that seems to be falling apart because of the climate crisis, war and social injustice?

We'd be very happy if listening to our music made you feel better and lifted your spirits, even just a little. Whatever you see with your own eyes right now, if you focus on the true hope deep in your heart, it will eventually become reality. We hope our music helps you connect with your soul.

Thank you so much, see you in Italy!

Thank you so much to you, see you soon!

(November 20, 2025)

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google