Powers of the Monk Connects with Us for a Deep Dive into the Darkly Captivating New Release "Bread & Circuses"
- STAFF
- Oct 8
- 7 min read
By: Staff
“Bread & Circuses” is a stunning, mind-bending masterpiece that captivates and leaves you speechless.
The haunting new track "Bread & Circuses" by Powers of the Monk has left listeners mesmerized, and with good reason. The song pulls you into a world where delusion, chaos, and spectacle collide, an experience unlike anything you've heard before. With its intricate instrumentation and a vocal performance that teeters on the edge of brilliance, it's an unsettling yet captivating journey into the psyche of a schizophrenic mind. But what’s the story behind this musical masterpiece?
We spoke with the artist behind the song, diving into the thought-provoking narrative of "Bread & Circuses." With its eerie and surreal visuals, such as lions devouring clowns, the track’s vivid imagery packs an emotional punch that lingers long after the music fades. What was the inspiration behind these striking visuals? Is it a reflection of the artist's own experiences, or simply an exploration of the mind’s complex landscapes?
The title itself, “Bread & Circuses” holds deep philosophical meaning, one that resonates with the chaos of modern society. We explore the significance of this phrase, its ties to the themes of the track, and whether it speaks to broader cultural narratives. But beyond the symbolism, the song delves into the intricacies of mental health, asking us to consider the fragile line between reality and illusion.
As we uncover the layers of the song, we also look to the future. What’s next for Powers of the Monk? Will we see more sonic experimentation, or is there something even more unexpected on the horizon?
Join us as we delve deeper into the story behind this thrilling new release and explore what truly fuels the creative fire of this enigmatic artist.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Powers of the Monk, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. “Bread & Circuses” blew us away. It's a hauntingly terrifying track, yet we couldn’t stop listening, it had us completely captivated. The intricate instrumentation and unique vocal delivery felt like true mastery at work. Can you tell us about the story behind your musical journey? How has your personal evolution in music led you to this point? Was the transition into a professional career gradual, or was there a pivotal moment that set everything into motion?
A. We reformed as a band in 2020 and started writing new songs and soon realized that our music had matured. That led us into new territories and produced some exciting new material.
Q. "Bread & Circuses" revolves around the experience of a schizophrenic patient facing delusions. Where did the idea for this unique and incredibly intriguing premise come from? What inspired you to bring such a complex mental health narrative into the song?
A. We try to look for song stories in areas that are not normally heard in modern music. Mental health issues have always been around but in general, people tend to not focus on them because they are uncomfortable to deal with and can lead to devastating real life events. This song is just one scenario but hopefully it makes people think about the issue and possibly get involved to help those that need solutions.
Q. The title "Bread & Circuses" carries a lot of weight. What significance does it hold for you? Does it tie into the themes explored in the track, or does it have a broader historical or philosophical relevance?
A. The term “B & C” has been around for hundreds of years and in general means that governments can placate the masses with entertainment and food, hoping the people will be distracted enough to not hold their leaders responsible for vital services, for example, mental health financing.
Q. The track paints vivid, almost nightmarish images, like lions devouring clowns. What inspired these surreal visuals? Are they meant to be symbolic, or do they represent something deeper within the character's psyche?
A. In the song we intentionally don’t make it clear if these events are really happening or are delusions in the patients mind but either way, they are very disturbing and contribute to showing the complexity of the situations and the treatment that someone may need to reach a solution for these types of problems.
Q. Do you find that your most vulnerable moments often lead to your strongest songs? Are you open about your personal feelings, or do you prefer to keep certain aspects of your story veiled, allowing listeners to interpret them in their own way?
A. Intense subjects tend to lead to some of the best songs. Any song that can connect with a listener and make that person rethink the subject, is a successful, impactful song IMO. You can really only bring up a subject and say very little about it in 3 or 4 minutes, so there is always the need for the listener to interpret many aspects of the story. As a songwriter I think you also like to implant a little bit of mystery into the song to make it more interesting.
Q. Your music often blends diverse sounds and styles. How did the arrangement of "Bread & Circuses" evolve in terms of instrumentation and mood? Was there a specific emotion or atmosphere you were hoping to evoke with the production?
A. I knew I wanted to do something to highlight mental illness and that makes it a little dark to begin with. From there, we just added lyrical and auditory elements that were true to the story.
Q. Mental health and identity seem to be recurring themes in your work. How do you approach writing about such complex and delicate topics without oversimplifying or sensationalizing them?
A. It’s a delicate subject. We try to respect the people we are writing about, while still attempting to get to a point where the song has faced the issue head on. It’s tricky but possible.
Q. As an artist, how important do you think vulnerability is when dealing with deeply personal or uncomfortable subjects? Do you ever feel exposed in that process, or do you see it as an opportunity to connect with your audience on a deeper level?
A. If it’s a serious subject, I think you have to put yourself in a slightly vulnerable position to tell the story effectively. If we can write a song that faces the issue, connects with an audience and sounds good too, we have succeeded.
Q. We often ask artists to create playlists that complement their music. Instead, we’d love to hear about three classic films that you think would pair perfectly with "Bread & Circuses." What movies do you feel capture the same spirit or themes as this track?
A. The ones I was most thinking of were, “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest” and “A Beautiful Mind”. There are many more, “The Soloist”, “Ordinary People”...All of them highlight the issues that we are talking about.
Q. How did collaborating with Dani Macchi and Belladonna influence the sound of Powers of the Monk in 2023 and beyond? Were there new creative elements brought into your work that shaped your songwriting or production approach?
A. Anytime you work with an outside producer, that person will influence what you are working. Dani taught us many new ideas and techniques to improve our music. I think you are always striving to eventually produce your own music, for the simple fact that your music actually becomes 100% the band's creation, start to finish.
Q. Do you have any plans to take your music to local stages or embark on a tour? How do you feel about getting your songs in front of live audiences?
A. As of this time, we are strictly working on recorded songs but we haven’t ruled out performing. We’ll have to see how the response to the music is. We don’t want to force our music on anyone, but if there is a demand we would love to play some live shows at some point.
Q. Looking ahead to 2026, with the remixed version of "Strip the Bone" and the cover of "These Boots Were Made for Walkin’," what are your expectations for how these tracks will resonate with your audience? Is there a specific new angle you're hoping to explore in these upcoming releases?
A. We have dabbled with a few covers but prefer to work on our original material. We have several new songs started and of course would love it if they resonate well.
Q. When it comes to your music and this interview, what do you want people to remember most about you after hearing it all?
A. That we are attempting to create and release high quality, unique music that tells some of the many stories of life in a realistic and hopefully sonically pleasurable experience.
Q. We’d love to know more about the origin of your artist name, Powers of the Monk. What’s the story behind it, and how does it relate to your identity as a musician?
A. It’s very simple. My name is Monk and my partner's name is Powers…it seemed too obvious. Powers of the Monk, is literally us.
Q. We can’t thank you enough for sharing these intimate details with us! So, what’s next for you? Can you give us a sneak peek into your upcoming projects and let your fans in on what they should be excited about?
A. Our next song is called “Sleepy Fields” and will be out in mid November. I think it is our best song yet. Hopefully people will love it. Thanks for chat!
Powers of the Monk, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Powers of the Monk’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
